NSF STAIR launches inaugural undergrad internship in research administration

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Skilled Training in Administration and Institutional Research (STAIR) program, funded by a $5 million NSF award and housed in the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences at Penn State is on a mission to bring accessible training opportunities to research administrators across the country. Despite being essential to grant procurement, system compliance and so much more that underpins research discovery and technological advancement, research administration remains one of the least visible career paths in academia, with the fewest training opportunities.

The program, led by Principal Investigator (PI) Camelia Kantor, associate director of strategic initiatives for the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences; and co-PIs Emily Martell, managing director, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences; Zoubeida Ounaies, distinguished professor of mechanical engineering; and Diane Rudy, associate director of pre-award research administration, Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Office (SIRO), recently launched an undergraduate internship in research administration.

“STAIR is funded via a unique type of NSF award in which the leadership team is a mix of faculty and research administrators with two main goals: to provide training in research administration and to offer team-based proposal development consultancy,” Kantor said. “STAIR is not just another student training initiative; it is a bold, national model for professionalizing the field and building the future workforce in research administration from the ground up.”

Over the course of 10 weeks this fall, students will gain insight into the inner workings of a major research institution; from seeing first-hand how research is developed to attending meetings with research administrators and faculty leading proposals. They will have the opportunity to gain real-world experience in the complexity, creativity and impact of research administration by engaging in live sessions, mentorship, self-paced learning and exposure to real grant development processes, including budgeting, compliance and career pathways in research support. The inaugural interns are five students selected from more than 600 applications from across the United States, representing broad areas of study:

• Makenna Rodriguez, majoring in biology at Howard University
• Catherine Wilson, majoring in finance at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
• Carla Griffin, majoring in economics and in management and organization at Spelman College
• Mikayla Viola, majoring in biology and in public health education at Bloomsburg University
• Gia White, majoring in animal behavior and in Italian studies, with a minor in studio art, at Bucknell University

“Community-driven and expert-led, the program was developed and is administered by a vibrant team of professionals across Penn State,” Kantor said, noting that this team includes Penn State’s SIRO. “Subject matter experts across the University have designed the curriculum, are serving as mentors, and will provide students with a unique perspective on behind-the-scenes strategy and research administration.”

Key mentors and leaders guiding the program include:

• JaLessa Wright, multidisciplinary proposal developer, Office of the Senior Vice President for Research
• Karen Kemirembe, associate director, Office of Foundation Relations
• Emily Kuhns, director, Office for Innovation, Eberly College of Science
• Katie Bode-Lang, director of education and outreach program, Office of the Senior Vice President for Research
• Debra Sokalczuk, proposal and award generalist, Office of Research and Outreach, Penn State Harrisburg

The team is preparing to host the inaugural STAIR Summit on Research Administration Leadership, April 20-21, 2026, at Penn State University Park. The summit will convene leaders from emerging research institutions and research-intensive universities to build bridges, foster collaboration and create a more inclusive national community for research administrators and faculty alike. Details and registration for the summit will be available soon here.

“In an era where research is more complex, collaborative, and higher stakes than ever before, it’s time the unsung heroes of the research world get the recognition and training they deserve,” Kantor said. “And thanks to STAIR, the next generation is already on its way.”