Research Center Administrator

Job Summary

This position serves as the Research Center Administrator, providing research, administrative, and operational support for the Wright laboratory and associated cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) programs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, including the Cryo-EM Research Center (CEMRC) and the NIH-funded Midwest Center for Cryo-Electron Tomography (MCCET). These programs support a portfolio of federally funded research projects and operate advanced cryo-EM instrumentation that provides critical structural biology infrastructure to investigators at UW–Madison and the broader research community.

The role assists with pre- and post-award research administration, including proposal preparation, budget development and monitoring, procurement coordination, and compliance documentation in accordance with university and sponsor policies. The role also serves as a liaison between the research programs, departmental administration, and campus offices such as Research and Sponsored Programs, procurement, and finance, while supporting operational coordination for center activities, including scheduling logistics, equipment and procurement tracking, and workshops or visiting researcher programs.

The individual in this role will establish and maintain effective collaborative working relationships with diverse individuals and groups across the organization while working independently, using initiative, creativity, and sound judgment to manage projects and solve problems in support of the research laboratory and centers’ missions.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Assures compliance with grant, contract or agreement requirements and determine whether objectives are being met
• Serves as a liaison for the PI, acting as primary schedule and assisting with all matters related to events, and developing training plans for new research staff
• Oversees equipment inventory, management, and maintenance, including procurement of equipment and supplies
• Oversees the certification of projects and researchers for biohazards, lab safety, and proper disposal of wastes
• Serves as a liaison and expert resource for researchers regarding the interpretation of policy and procedure related to overall sponsored project management
• Serves as first point of contact for on-and-off campus program stakeholders
• May identify funding opportunities and disseminate to principal investigators
• Works collaboratively with researchers to prepare non-technical materials for proposals, drafting contracts or agreements for review, and/or advising award setup
• Maintains and monitors grants and contract budgets
• Leads researchers in the preparation and/or maintenance documentation, financial management, and/or reporting requirements related to sponsored grants, contracts, or agreements