This session aims to explore targeted professional certifications and credentials that contribute to the success of research development (RD) professionals. Our panelists will look beyond terminal degrees and instead, reference the astounding variety of skills, knowledge, and tools we must master to continually excel in our work.

Knowing that there is no concise, satisfying, and all-inclusive definition for research development and as our community evolves, we now reflect a wide range of experiences. Indeed, qualifications and experiences of RD professionals vary significantly depending on our institution’s priorities and expectations. This means we often engage across a spectrum of activities, including research administration, communication facilitation and networking, project management, writing and editing, curriculum and instructional design, graphic design, and other niche work that often compliments our terminal degrees. Examples may include, but may not be limited to: technical writing certificate, grant writing certificate, certified research administrator (CRA), editor of life sciences (ELS), proposal management (CF.APMP), and project management (PMI).

The goal of our session is to introduce some of the common certifications and credentials that RD professionals currently hold and explore the return on investment for earning them. Learning outcomes include (1) a deeper appreciation of how augmenting and complementing existing skills with certification may strengthen an RD office and (2) greater knowledge of professional education resources (with or without certification and/or credentialing) that can contribute to increased productivity individually and within an RD office.

Presenters: Faye Farmer, Arizona State University; Melanie Steiner-Sherwood, University of Utah; Andrea Stith, University of California, Santa Barbara; Kellianne Lauer, McAllister & Quinn, Washington

This session is free to NORDP members; nonmembers are invited to attend for $30. Visit https:nordp.mclms.net/en for more information.