Learn: Research Administration Overview

For guidance on developing a proposal, please see the Proposal Development Services (PDS) Research Development Toolbox. PDS was formerly known as Interdisciplinary Research Support (IRS).

• • Overview: Proposal Submission, Review and Award Process
  • Responsibilities: PIs / Department Administrators

Written materials:

• • Sponsored Programs Info Sheet for New Faculty and Staff – 2 page document with helpful links
  • Sponsored Programs Key Terms – 4 page list of definitions
  • UC Davis Contracting Offices – Matrix with general overview of the responsibilities of each campus contracting office.
  • eRA Systems Matrix (can also visit the Electronic Research Administration (eRA) page)

“How to…” videos:

     Note: if a video doesn’t start on the first try, refresh the video and it should then work. 

• • Role of the Sponsored Programs Office (SPO) (length: 2:49)

Trainings:

• • Sponsored Programs Essentials (eCourse only) This online training provides an introduction to the services provided by the UC Davis Sponsored Programs Office (SPO) along with an overview of pre-award, award, and post-award processes. This course is designed to empower participants with key information and best practices to successfully navigate campus procedures for submission of proposals and awards, and is targeted to those new to the sponsored projects enterprise, though may be of value to more experienced personnel. The course takes approximately 40 minutes to complete.
    • “Unlocked” Sponsored Programs Essentials eCourse – this version will not earn you course credit but allows you to navigate to any section (using the menu on left) to find information you seek.
  • Research Administration Certificate Series – UC Learning Center course series: Provides UC Davis research administrators with a basic foundation for the administration of sponsored programs.
  • Electronic Research Administration (eRA) Certificate Series – UC Learning Center course series: Those completing this certificate will not only have a broad base of knowledge regarding the eRA systems used at UC Davis but will also be an invaluable resource in their units.  These classes can be taken individually or as a series.
    • Electronic Research Administration (eRA) (Instructor-Led Training or eCourse) – This course provides an overview on the use of electronic Research Administration systems to prepare and submit research proposals, and manage research awards or subawards, such as eRA Commons, NIH ASSIST and Research.gov. It focuses primarily on Cayuse SP, used to route proposals internally for institutional approvals, and Cayuse 424, linked to grants.gov and used to submit proposals to MOST federal sponsors, and includes exercises in the use of both. The eCourse takes approximately 1 hour to complete. Prerequisite–Recommended: Sponsored Programs Essentials (eCourse)
      • “Unlocked” Electronic Research Administration (eRA) eCourse – this version will not earn you course credit but allows you to navigate to any section (using the menu on left) to find information you seek.
    • Cayuse Professional Profiles & Role Management (eCourse) This UC Learning Center class covers how to work with Cayuse 424 Professional Profiles (which autopopulate into Cayuse SP) and establish Cayuse roles (i.e., grant permissions) for others. It explores the functions and responsibilities of Role Managers, who grant specified permissions to personnel within their units to proposals, awards and subawards, and are essential to the successful internal routing of proposals for required approvals. The eCourse takes approximately 35 minutes to complete. Prerequisite–Recommended: Electronic Research Administration (eRA) (offered as either an Instructor-Led Training or eCourse)
      • “Unlocked” Cayuse Professional Profiles & Role Management eCourse – this version will not earn you course credit but allows you to navigate to any section (using the menu on left) to find information you seek.
    • Cayuse SP: Awards and Post-Award Actions (Instructor-Led Training or eCourse) – This class provides an overview of awards and post-award actions routed through the Sponsored Programs Office, with a focus on the use of the Cayuse SP system for shared document access and internal routing for approvals. The course covers roles and responsibilities related to awards, how awards are created and accessed in Cayuse SP, and the following post-award actions: after-the-fact awards, progress reports to sponsors, award amendments, and advance accounts (pre‐award spending). The eCourse takes approximately 40 minutes to complete. Prerequisites–Recommended: 1. electronic Research Administration (eRA) (Instructor-Led Training or eCourse) and 2. Understanding the Awards Process (Instructor-Led Training or eCourse)
      • “Unlocked” Cayuse SP: Awards and Post-Award Actions eCourse – this version will not earn you course credit but allows you to navigate to any section (using the menu on left) to find information you seek.
    • Processing Subawards (Cayuse) (Instructor-Led Training or eCourse) – This class provides guidance on preparing and submitting proposals in which UC Davis is a subrecipient institution (incoming subawards) as well as proposals that include subawards to other institutions (outgoing subawards). It covers Principal Investigator and departmental responsibilities as well as use of the Cayuse SP and 424 electronic Research Administration systems for subawards. The eCourse takes approximately 50 minutes. Prerequisites–Recommended: 1. Proposal Preparation and Submission (Instructor-Led Training or eCourse) and 2. Understanding the Awards Process (Instructor-Led Training or eCourse)
      • “Unlocked” Processing Subawards (Cayuse) eCourse – this version will not earn you course credit but allows you to navigate to any section (using the menu on left) to find information you seek.

Other Proposal and Award Learning Resources