Recharge Your Research: Beyond “Funded”: Budgets That Survive Review and Award Setup

Presented by Allison Vorp, CRA, Operations Team Lead, Health Sciences Research Administration Office, University of Pittsburgh

Getting funded is only the first hurdle. This session walks PIs, as well as their research administrators and scientific teams, through building a budget that holds up with sponsors and still works once the award begins. We will cover what sponsors look for in a budget, how the choice between a subaward and a service agreement changes the cost, and why timing matters: when subawards, equipment, and enrollment can realistically start. We will also look at travel and publication costs, how budgets move through PERIS and the sponsor forms, and the proposal submission timeline, with practical tips for working with your research administrator from the idea stage.

 WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

- The questions to answer, and what sponsors look for, before you build a budget

- How to decide between a subaward and a service agreement, and how that choice affects cost

- How to build realistic timing into your budget for subawards, equipment, and enrollment, and how to plan for travel and publication costs