Virginia Tech’s sponsored research portfolio has been steadily growing for decades. Current active awards exceed more than $1.8 billion with every dollar of sponsored research funding managed by the Office of Sponsored Programs’ post-award team.

Post-award associates play an integral role in how researchers successfully perform funded research projects. Associates offer expertise in financial accounting and contract administration; serve as liaisons with academic departments and sponsors, pre-award, the controller’s office, and the procurement department. Various duties include sponsor billing, post-award budget revisions, administering no-cost time extensions and cost transfers, cost-share monitoring, and award and contract closeout.

“In response to Virginia Tech’s Beyond Boundaries strategic plan highlighting the need to  grow research, the post-award team must be structured to meet the needs of the faculty and accommodate sponsor’s ever increasing expectations for program oversight and financial management.” said Trudy Riley, associate vice president for the Office of Research and Innovation’s Office of Sponsored Programs. “The improved structure will allow for sustainable growth of the team and reduce competing priorities in order to increase our support to faculty and researchers across campus.”

The restructure is currently underway with final implementation expected in Spring 2022. The restructure is in alignment with peer and aspirational peer institutions that have comparable numbers of research faculty members and portfolio depth.

The new post-award structure will be function-based and divided into two specialized teams for project management and financial management functions.

The project management team will be two-pronged. One side will be charged with award and billing set up and award modifications. The contract management side will serve as the point of contact with sponsors and the principal investigator, approve high risk transactions; manage expenditures, cost share, and overdrafts, manage subrecipients, and closeout. 

The financial management team will also have two primary functions. The first group will handle invoicing and billing, financial reporting, receivables management, cost accounting review, and close out. The second group will take care of cash management, letter of credits, and manage the aged accounts receivable report.

Research faculty and administrators are invited to discuss ideas regarding the restructure with the Office of Sponsored Programs. The office will be holding a series of office hours to engage with faculty and department/college faculty and staff to better understand challenges and ways to better service needs.

Register to attend an office hours session to  learn more >>>

Dec. 8 |  145 Steger Hall  |  10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Dec. 10  |  2420 North End Center  |  1-3 p.m.
Dec. 17  |  310 Kelly Hall  |  10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 12  |   145 Steger Hall  |  1-3 p.m.
Jan. 21  |  310 Kelly Hall  |  1-3 p.m.

Note: Registration will close 24 hours prior to each session.

For questions, contact:
Trudy Riley
Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation, Sponsored Programs
trudyr1743@vt.edu
540-231-5281

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