Guided by this year’s theme, E Ho‘omau: Riding the Tides of Opportunity, the 2026 Annual Meeting centers on continuous learning, professional growth, and building the skills research administrators need to navigate change and lead with confidence.
E Ho'omau—meaning to persevere, to continue, and to move forward with resilience and purpose—reflects the mindset at the core of research administration and the spirit behind this year’s educational programming. As policies evolve, compliance requirements grow more complex, and institutional priorities shift, research administrators must continually adapt, build new skills, and strengthen their expertise.
This year’s meeting will be held on-site at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, between October 10 - 14, and provide a platform for thought leaders, experts, and professionals from diverse backgrounds to engage in meaningful discussions, share best practices, and gain insights into the latest trends and developments in research administration.
Learn more about the wide variety of educational opportunities this meeting has to offer and join us as we continue moving forward—together—toward excellence in research administration.
Taught by some of the most innovative, inspiring and creative leaders in the industry, you will keep your skill set competitive and fresh.
Keynote |
World-class experts inspire by sharing unique experiences, knowledge and ideas. |
Concurrent Session |
60-minute session that could be in the form of presentation, case study, discussion, panel, step-by-step, or roundtable presentation. The majority of concurrent sessions at SRAI meetings have typically fit in this category and form the core of conference offerings. Presenters are encouraged to use active learning techniques to engage audiences, distribute materials and respond to follow-up requests for more information. |
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Deep Dive |
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Fishbowl Discussion |
A Fishbowl Discussion is an interactive session format designed to foster inclusive and evolving dialogue among a group of speakers and participants. In a fishbowl, a few chairs are arranged in an inner circle or a table (“the bowl”), with the remaining audience seated around them. A subset of panelists or audience members sit in the bowl to discuss the topic while others listen. At any time, audience members can rotate into the bowl to contribute, ensuring an evolving, participatory conversation. This format is ideal for sessions where multiple perspectives, real-time problem solving, and shared learning are valued. It allows for rich engagement between panelists and attendees. |
Workshop(additional fee) |
3 ½ or 7 hour workshops on specific learning topics, led by one or more experts. These are designed to allow attendees to more fully explore an area of interest and learn new skills or develop new strategies. Workshops may include more hands-on exercises, discussion groups, and other in-depth experiences. Workshops are only offered on the Saturday and Sunday before the conference. |
Learning Lab |
3 ½ hour sessions that are a blend of lecture based instruction, case studies, peer learning and interaction. The Learning Lab gives the opportunity for attendees to explore an area of interest and gain new knowledge. |
Symposium |
Each year SRA International has a tradition of publishing contributed posters at its annual meeting, which are designed to enhance and enrich the body of knowledge of research administration and management as an art and science. |
Communicating Research for Impact and Innovation |
Identifying, measuring, and communicating on the impact and outcomes of research and scholarly activity; bibliometrics; altmetrics; developing community partnerships & engagement; research/science outreach activities; knowledge mobilization; uses of social media for research communications; communicating research impact in the context of policy influence; developing adaptive communication strategies to reflect changing societal and regulatory landscapes; and global best-practices for maximizing research impact. |
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Research cost accounting; auditing; OMB requirements for universities, hospitals, private sector; matching funds issues/cost sharing; financial conflict of interest issues; facilities and administration costs; purchasing; salaries, compensation, honoraria; and travel allocability and allowability; working with sponsoring agencies and subrecipient monitoring. Resilience in financial planning amidst regulatory changes; adapting financial strategies to align with evolving science policy and compliance requirements. |
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Delivery of operational services and research and financial compliance programs; facilities management; research infrastructure such as capital programs and building and managing of science and technology parks; human resources and international personnel management; and supporting collaborations with international organizations, and building operational resilience to support research continuity; adaptive leadership in managing international research collaborations. |
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Continuing education commitment; building on personal growth and development; leadership; quality of life development; self-assessment; supervisor/staff relations; industrial/workplace psychology; navigating uncertainty and fostering resilient leadership in dynamic research environments; leveraging personal influence in science policy discussions; emerging role of research administrators within the culture of research. |
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Human research; animal research; peer review; mentor/trainee relationships; publications; collaborative research ethics; scientific misconduct; research security, and standards for the responsible conduct of research /research ethics education programs, curricula, requirements, and approaches; resilience in ethical decision-making under evolving regulatory frameworks; adaptive leadership in fostering a culture of integrity in research collaborations. |
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Patents; copyrights; intellectual property; technology transfer; undue influence and conflict of interest; Stark, Safe Harbors, Anti Kickback, HIPAA; institutional liability assessment and corrective action planning; FAR/DFAR; OMB Circulars and CFR’s; anticipating and adapting to emerging science policy and legal changes; emerging regulations and statutes; interrelationship of federal, state and local law; international issues; import/export and licensing issues; data sharing, monitoring, management, and ownership. |
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The nature of “sponsorship”; defining roles and responsibilities between sponsors, grantors, awardees; private sector sponsors: technology, foundations; state sponsorship issues; federal agency updates; new initiatives in research; international agency relations; adaptive relationship-building with sponsors to navigate changing research funding priorities; leveraging partnerships for science policy influence in research funding and collaborations; working with program officer leadership; and sponsoring agency rules. |
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How to develop collaborative partnerships with industry, government and non-profit sectors; identifying strategies in developing public-private partnerships; institutional capacity building, including supply-side partnerships; strategic adaptability in forming cross-sector partnerships; faculty, positioning; effective grant writing techniques; the role of the research administrator in sponsored programs development; developing resilience in institutional capacities to respond to evolving funding landscapes; diversifying funding sources; communication strategies in sponsored programs development; and organizational and team structures to support successful program development. |
Technology Solutions in Research Administration |
Technology Solutions in Research Administration explores practical, scalable tools and strategies that simplify and strengthen the day-to-day work of research administration across institutions of all sizes—including smaller schools and primarily undergraduate institutions. This track highlights how technology can reduce administrative burden, improve compliance, and support efficient management of pre-award, post-award, contracts, training, and human and animal research protections. Sessions emphasize real-world implementation and hands-on use cases, from adopting solutions to integrating systems. Topics include: data and analytics for operational decision-making; research development tools that identify funding opportunities; the responsible use of emerging technologies such as AI to enhance workflows; best practices for data security and privacy.
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Financial and Post-Award Administration
Management and Operations
Professional Development
Research Ethics and Compliance
Research Law and Regulations
Sponsors and Agencies
Sponsored Programs Planning, Development and Deliveries