Research Administrator Trainee (RAISE)
Required Qualifications (as evidenced by an attached resume):
Bachelor's degree (foreign equivalent or higher). An Associate's degree combined with two (2) additional years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of a Bachelor's degree. One (1) year of full-time experience in administration, finance, or research (relevant research experience gained during a Master's or Doctoral training program will be considered). High proficiency and professional experience with computer applications, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Workspace.
Preferred Qualifications:
Advanced degree (foreign equivalent or higher). Additional years of full-time experience in administration, finance, or research beyond the required minimum. One (1) or more years of related professional experience (e.g., grants development/management, research administration, finance/accounting, or advanced administrative support). Prior experience in customer service. Prior experience working within a higher education environment.
Brief Description of Duties:
The RAISE Traineeship offers a comprehensive, 12-to-18-month immersive experience across multiple units within Stony Brook's Office for Research and Innovation (OR&I). These units provide critical research administration services to the entire university community, including the University Medical Center and the Health Sciences Center.
Trainees function as full-time team members, independently driving a diverse range of operational projects and administrative duties. This is an intensive "learning-by-doing" environment where expertise is built through active execution of a full-time workload. To support this high level of engagement and ensure success, each trainee is backed by a structured support network-including a Supervisor to oversee placement readiness, a Trainer to teach specialized processes, and a Mentor for dedicated coaching and career development. The ultimate goal of this program is to prepare trainees to successfully transition into entry-level research administration roles within OR&I or the broader University.
Core Competencies & Expected Learning Outcomes Here are some examples of competencies that RAISE Trainees will deliver during the traineeship:
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Proposal & Award Analysis: Deconstruct funding opportunity announcements and award notifications; create and execute proposal checklists and timelines.
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Grant Submission Support: Develop, review, edit, and upload necessary administrative documents for research grant proposals across diverse (federal, state, non-profit, corporate) sponsors.
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Budget Development: Construct detailed research grant budgets that align with sponsor guidelines and institutional policies.
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Financial Management: Support invoicing, financial reporting, and expenditure tracking while collaborating closely with Accounts Payable, Procurement, and Human Resources.
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System Navigation: Gain proficiency in key external sponsor portals (e.g., Research.gov, ASSIST, Grants.gov) as well as internal university systems (e.g., myResearch, Report Center).
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Award Compliance & Policy: Navigate federal, state, foundation, and institutional compliance guidelines regarding award terms, expenditures, and reporting.
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Customer Service & Communication: Provide high-quality administrative guidance to faculty and staff, and professionally manage inquiries from external sponsors.
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Technology Transfer & Commercialization: Gain insight into the intellectual property lifecycle by assisting with invention disclosures, patent workflows, and university-industry licensing principles.
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Other duties as assigned.
Special Notes:
The Research Foundation of SUNY is a private educational corporation. Employment is subject to the Research policies and procedures, sponsor guidelines and the availability of funding. This is a full-time appointment. FLSA Non Exempt position, eligible for the overtime provisions of the FLSA.
For this position, we are unable to sponsor candidates for work visas.
Due to U.S. Export Control laws and regulations, the candidate hired will need to be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or other "protected individual" (as defined by 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1324b(a)(3).
This program utilizes an in-situ, immersive learning model. It is not a classroom-based training program, nor does it feature daily lecturing. Trainees are expected to carry a standard, full-time operational workload, developing their skills dynamically through active contribution to daily business operations.
RAISE Trainees are required to rotate their time between at least 2 of the 6 units in the Office for Research and Innovation. The length of time in each unit may vary.
RAISE Trainees are expected to be highly adaptable to the evolving needs of their assigned units. This includes a range of "other duties as assigned" to support operations, which can involve event support, meeting minutes, procurement of supplies, travel arrangements, inbox management, and other tasks.
This is a high-volume, deadline-driven environment. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required to meet strict institutional and sponsor deadlines.
Each RAISE trainee will be provided with a work laptop and will be expected to return the laptop at the conclusion of the traineeship.
Supplemental Application Statement (Required)
As part of your application, we ask that you include a supplemental statement (maximum 2 pages) describing your interest in the RAISE Traineeship. Your statement must address the following prompts:
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What specific aspects of research administration interest you, and why do you want to pursue a career in this field?
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Tell us something compelling about yourself that isn't reflected in your resume. How does this unique trait or experience shape your approach to work, your problem-solving abilities, and your commitment to professional excellence?
What are your short- and long-term career goals, and how will this specific traineeship help you achieve them?
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The application deadline is August 1, 2026. Late applications cannot be accepted under any circumstances.
For more information about the program and the application process, please visit the RAISE website linked
HERE.
Recorded Information Session:
The Office for Research and Innovation (OR&I) will make available a comprehensive overview of the program via a recorded information session.
What to expect: Learn about the different facets of the RAISE Traineeship and review tips for submitting a competitive application.
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The recording will go live on the RAISE website linked HERE by Tuesday, July 7, 2026, and will remain available until the application deadline.
Drop in during our designated office hours for a casual, open-forum Q&A session.
What to expect: Speak directly with representatives of the RAISE Traineeship program, ask specific questions about the application components, or learn more about working at Stony Brook University.
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Date & Time: Tuesday, July 14, 2026 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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Date & Time: Tuesday, July 21, 2026 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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To Register: [Registration Link]
Get in Touch: If you have any remaining questions about the program or the workload expectations, please reach out to us directly via email at
[email protected].
Resume/CV and cover letter should be included with the online application.
Stony Brook University is committed to excellence in diversity and the creation of an inclusive learning and working environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status and all other protected classes under federal or state laws.
If you need a disability-related accommodation, please call the university Office of Equity and Access (OEA) at or visit OEA.
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The starting salary range (or hiring range) to be offered for this position is noted below, it represents SBU's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
Salary: $56,000 - $70,000
To apply, visit https://stonybrooku.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=2602170&tz=GMT%2B00%3A00&tzname=UTC
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