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Research Administrative Services

Research Administrative Services (RAS) in the Office of Research provides a comprehensive array of support services for faculty and staff as they pursue and manage external funding projects. RAS functions as the steward Howard University’s research and sponsored programs portfolio. It is the role of the RAS staff to ensure that all research and sponsored programs proposals and projects comply with university, federal, and sponsor regulations, policies, and procedures. RAS is comprised of teams that provide faculty and staff with expertise in the following areas: pre award, post award, contract, and compliance. Other areas in the office, provide functional support.

RAS Staff Member RAS Position Responsibilities
Dana Hector, CRA dhector@howard.edu (202) 806-4759 Assistant Vice President, Sponsored Grants & Programs Oversight of day to day operations. Proposal Review; Proposal Submission; Authorized Official; Signing Official for all proposal submissions and award acceptances/grants and contracts agreements; Sponsor Liaison; Legal agreements and Award review, negotiation, and approval/signature/execution; Contract administrative review and execution. Registration and approval of external systems accesses. Reviews and approves all post award amendments. University Performance Reporting Administrative approval on various internally required processes and documents.
Noor Seddiq noor.seddiq@howard.edu (202) 754-2954 Assistant Director, Pre-Award Operations Serves as first level problem resolution for pre-award issues Supervises and trains staff in interpreting sponsor rules and regulations during the proposal process. Oversees obtaining appropriate documentation on University commitments for proposals from Executive Director for Research Administrative Services, VP for Research Provosts, and schools and/or departments as needed. Works in partnership with colleagues in other institutes and centers to forge collaborations on submissions. Directly manages timelines and overall progression of work undertaken by Research Administrators (RAS Pre-Award staff) to ensure the on-time completion of high quality, responsive, and compliant proposal applications and the accurate and timely completion of award set-up packages. Manages data and reports to provide updates to Executive Director on unit metrics and University performance on proposal submissions and award set-Design workshops on behalf of RAS for faculty, staff and students on proposal submissions.
Yasmin Smith, CRA yysmith@howard.edu Post Award Manager Maintains timely coordination and communication with involved parties regarding grant post-award issues. Serves as liaison to internals clients. Coordinates non-financial close-out of awards. Ensures timely processing of RAS staff review and approval of expenditures requests and post award transactions such as rebudgeting requests. Monitors Post award workload; troubleshoots post-award issues; close-out reporting; subrecipient invoice review and approval; reconciles subrecipient payments; documents PI subrecipient monitoring. Reviews and approves Subrecipient Invoices. Documents PI Subrecipient Monitoring.
Laskacia Shields laskacia.shields@howard.edu (202) 806-4759 Administrative Assistant Office administrative support staff. Logs, scans and distributes incoming work/mail. Assigning of pre (proposal submissions) and post award transactions (expenditure and other requests). Handles office telephone switchboard.
Vacant Data Management & Technical Support Specialist Research Administration Systems technical support, data entry and maintenance of reporting, troubleshooting of technical issues, electronic research administration; process improvements through automation of functions and forms. Maintains website. Maintains and provides technical assistance for internal proposal submission routing electronic platform. Maintains RAS department database. Maintains internal electronic platforms.
Teneille Belton tenelle.belton@howard.edu SR. Grants Programs Specialist for Human Resources Provides support to faculty and research staff regarding staffing and onboarding on grants and contracts. Responsible for recruiting on grants and contracts.

Pre-Award

RAS Staff Member RAS Position Responsibilities
Carol Messam, CRA cmessam@howard.edu Senior Research Administrator Responsible for all pre-award functions for College of Medicine (Specific Complex Centers) Reviews for accuracy and compliance with sponsor and University requirements, processes and submits to the sponsor proposals on behalf of the University. Assists faculty with pre-award proposal submission issues. Reviews, then processes new and continuing awards. Processes and ensures new and continuing awards are entered in Financial System.
Vacant Research Administrator Responsible for all pre-award functions for College of Medicine – Specific Departments/Centers. College of Dentistry, College of Pharmacy, and College of Nursing & Allied Health Sciences. Reviews for accuracy and compliance with sponsor and University requirements, processes and submits to the sponsor proposals on behalf of the University Assists faculty with pre-award proposal submission issues. Reviews, then processes new and continuing awards. Ensures new and continuing awards are entered in Financial System.
Caribbean Ross, CRA c_ross@howard.edu Senior Research Administrator Responsible for all pre-award functions for College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Communications, School of Education, and complex proposals on behalf of Academic Affairs portfolio Reviews for accuracy and compliance with sponsor and University requirements, processes and submits to the sponsor proposals on behalf of the University Assists faculty with pre-award proposal submission issues. Reviews, then processes new and continuing awards. Ensures new and continuing awards are entered in Financial System
George Young george.young@howard.edu Research Administrator Responsible for all pre-award functions for College of Engineering and Architecture, School of Divinity, School of Law, School of Social Work, Office of the Provost, and Office of the President Reviews for accuracy and compliance with sponsor and University requirements, processes and submits to the sponsor proposals on behalf of the University. Assists faculty with pre-award proposal submission issues. Reviews, then processes new and continuing awards. Ensures new and continuing awards in Financial System.

Post-Award

RAS Staff Member RAS Position Responsibilities
Taj Peterson taj.peterson@howard.edu Lead Post Award Analyst Responsible for post-award functions (expenditures and post award requests for award changes) for College of Medicine (Complex Awards Portfolio). College of Pharmacy. Reviews and approves award expenditure requests for labor (including completing and submitting of Labor Distribution Transfers to the Retro Team in GCA) and non-labor transactions (excludes Travel, and Student Financial Aid). Reviews for allowability, allocability and proper/like treatment of costs. Reviews, Assists faculty with post award issues.
Vacant Post Award Analyst Responsible for post-award functions (expenditures and post award requests for award changes) for College of Medicine (Specific Departments)., College of Pharmacy, College of Dentistry, and College of Nursing & Allied Health Sciences. Reviews and approves award expenditure requests for labor (including completing and submitting of Labor Distribution Transfers to the Retro Team in GCA) and non-labor transactions (excludes Travel, and Student Financial Aid). Reviews for allowability, allocability and proper/like treatment of costs. Reviews, Assists faculty with post award issues.
Nichelle Brooks nichelle.brooks@howard.edu Post Award Analyst Responsible for post-award functions (expenditures and post award requests for award changes) for College of Engineering and Architecture, School of Business, School of Communications, School of Education, School of Social Work, College of Fine Arts, & Ralph Bunche International Center. Reviews and approves award expenditure requests for labor (including completing and submitting of Labor Distribution Transfers to the Retro Team in GCA) and non-labor transactions (excludes Travel, and Student Financial Aid). Reviews for allowability, allocability and proper/like treatment of costs. Reviews, Assists faculty with post award issues.
Vacant Post Award Analyst Responsible for post-award functions (expenditures and post award requests for award changes) for College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of Divinity, School of Law, Office of the Provost, and Office of the President. Reviews and approves award expenditure requests for labor (including completing and submitting of Labor Distribution Transfers to the Retro Team in GCA) and non-labor transactions (excludes Travel, and Student Financial Aid). Reviews for allowability, allocability and proper/like treatment of costs. Reviews, Assists faculty with post award issues.

Sponsored Agreements

RAS Staff Member RAS Position Responsibilities
Vacant Contract Negotiations Specialist/Research Administrator Responsible for Reviewing (administrative matters), negotiating, compliance review of parties, and processing Clinical Trial Agreements (CTA) Confidential Disclosure Agreements (CDA), Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA), Teaming Agreements, MOU’s Research Agreements, Professional Services Agreements, Testing Agreements, Consulting Agreements, Subawards (in and out), and Contractors Releases. Handles Subrecipient Risk Assessment and ongoing Monitoring.
Javacia Harris j_s_harris@howard.edu Contract and Support Monitoring Coordinator Responsible for Reviewing (administrative matters), negotiating compliance review of parties and processing Confidential Disclosure Agreements (CDA), Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA), Teaming Agreements, MOU’s Research Agreements, Professional Services Agreements, Testing Agreements, Consulting Agreements/Independent Contractor Agreements, Subawards (in and out), and Contractors Releases. Maintains University SAM Registrations.
Esther Onwuzuruike esther.onwuzuruike@howard.edu Subaward Specialist Responsible for Reviewing (administrative matters), Consulting Agreements/Independent Contractor Agreements, Subawards (in and out), and Contractors Releases.