A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

The Michigan Neuroscience institute was established in 1955 to bring together investigators from across the University of Michigan campus to probe the mysteries of the brain on a cellular, molecular, and behavioral level. Its 170 faculty and members seek to understand the function and dysfunction of the human brain. 

Why MNI

• Work at the center of a leading, nationally recognized neuroscience institute 
• Support research that spans discovery to clinical impact, across disciplines and campuses 
• Partner directly with top-tier faculty and institutional leadership 
• Operate in a role that combines strategy, execution, and influence 
• Help shape a modern, high-performing research administration model 
  

The Michigan Neuroscience Institute (MNI) is seeking an exceptional Research Administrator Senior to serve as a strategic partner to faculty and Institute leadership, supporting a dynamic and highly interdisciplinary research portfolio spanning basic, translational, and clinical neuroscience.

MNI brings together investigators across neurology, psychiatry, neurosurgery, engineering, and the basic sciences to advance discovery in brain health and disease. This role sits at the center of that work; ensuring that complex, multi-investigator research programs are financially sound, operationally seamless, and fully compliant, while enabling faculty to focus on scientific innovation.

This is a high-impact, high-trust role for someone who operates with rigor, foresight, and ownership; anticipating needs, navigating complexity, and delivering clarity in a fast-moving research environment.

Pre-Award Strategy & Execution

• Lead end-to-end proposal development across a diverse neuroscience portfolio, including multi-PI, multi-site, and center-level submissions (e.g., NIH program projects, training grants, and collaborative initiatives) 
• Develop fully compliant, strategically aligned budgets that reflect scientific scope, sponsor expectations, and long-term funding strategy 
• Serve as a key advisor to faculty, translating sponsor guidelines into clear direction and strengthening the competitiveness of submissions 
• Drive proposal assembly and routing through institutional systems (eResearch), ensuring accuracy, completeness, and on-time submission 
• Anticipate risks, manage timelines, and coordinate across departments, cores, and external collaborators 
• Partner closely with ORSP and Medical School Grants Administration to ensure seamless proposal submission and award setup 
• Contribute to continuous improvement of proposal development processes, tools, and faculty support models within MNI

Post-Award Financial Leadership

• Own the financial management and performance of a complex portfolio of sponsored and non-sponsored funds 
• Deliver forward-looking financial analysis and projections, enabling faculty to make informed decisions about hiring, spending, and research direction 
• Monitor burn rates, funding gaps, and compliance in real time; proactively recommend and implement corrective strategies 
• Ensure full alignment with sponsor requirements and Uniform Guidance, maintaining the highest standards of financial stewardship 
• Lead effort management strategy, proactively aligning effort distributions and minimizing retroactive adjustments 
• Support progress reporting, carryforwards, re-budgets, and closeouts with precision and timeliness 
• Coordinate subawards and multi-institution collaborations, ensuring smooth financial and administrative execution 
   

Operational & Procurement Excellence

• Facilitate complex procurement activities, including research equipment and sole-source justifications 
•  Ensure efficient processing of purchasing, reimbursements, and vendor payments in coordination with Shared Services 
• Resolve issues quickly and decisively to avoid disruption to research activity 
   

Institute-Level Impact

• Identify and implement process improvements that enhance efficiency, transparency, and scalability across MNI 
• Serve as a connector across faculty, departments, and central offices, strengthening collaboration and alignment 
• Support internal controls, audit readiness, and compliance reporting 
• Exercise independent judgment in a fast-paced, evolving research environment 
• Contribute to building a high-performing, service-oriented research administration function within MNI 
  

• Bachelor's degree and 5-7+ years of progressive research administration experience across pre- and post-award 
• Strong knowledge of sponsored research regulations, financial management, and compliance frameworks 
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, interdisciplinary research portfolios and competing priorities 
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills 
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with strong attention to detail 
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a highly matrixed environment 
   

• Master's degree or advanced professional certification 
• Experience supporting neuroscience or similarly complex, interdisciplinary research portfolios 
• Advanced proficiency in institutional systems (e.g., eResearch, M-Pathways, Business Objects) 
• Experience with NIH and other federal sponsors, including large-scale and multi-project awards  
•  Deep understanding of Uniform Guidance and post-award compliance 
• Strong financial modeling, forecasting, and reporting capability 
  

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

This position may be underfilled at a lower classification depending on the qualifications of the selected candidate.

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings.  Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.