RADPN Events

RADPN hosts periodic webinars and discussion sessions for research advancement and development professionals at the University of Minnesota. Descriptions of past events are listed below. Recordings and resources are linked when available.  All past recordings can be found here: Webinar Recordings and Materials 

If you are hosting or know of an event that may be of interest to RADPN members, we are happy to help with publicity.  Please email radpn@umn.edu.

Upcoming Events

What is a Federal “Program Director/Manager”? (April 24 from 12:30-1:30pm)

This webinar will cover what a Program Director/Manager (PM) is, including what their role is, how they differ across various federal funding agencies, and how to build and maintain a positive relationship with a PM.

Presenter: Jamin Dreyer, Director of External Research Activities, College of Science and Engineering

RSVP here

Responsible Use of AI (May 1 from noon-1pm)

This session explores the practical and ethical integration of AI within research administration and project management, bridging the gap between basic administrative support and advanced strategic proposal development. Drawing from real-world experiences in the Research Development Office, Pediatrics Department, and College of Veterinary Medicine, participants will discover how AI-driven workflows streamline the creation of government-style templates, executive reports, and project timelines. The presentation introduces a strategic "Stoplight" framework to guide iterative and transparent AI use, emphasizing the importance of human oversight for accuracy and alignment with the University 2030 Strategic Imperative. By moving from a "shortcut" mindset to one of collaborative partnership, this session provides a roadmap for using AI to enhance communication clarity, improve project visualization, and strengthen the overall quality of grant proposals.

Panelists:

Shannon Kasperson, Veterinary Medicine

Stacy Valenzuela, Medical School

Matthew Golembeck, Research Development Office

RSVP here

Research Development Office (RDO) Presentation (May 14 from noon-1pm)

Join us for a conversation with the Research Development Office (RDO) to learn more about how they support the University’s research enterprise. Executive Director Robert Hampshire and members of the RDO team will dive into the "who, what, and how" of the RDO, outlining their core mission to catalyze large-scale research and detailing the specialized services and resources offered.

The session will also highlight current initiatives and offer concrete examples of how the RDO has collaborated with research teams across UMN and beyond. This is an informal opportunity for the RADPN community to meet RDO staff, ask questions, and explore ways to work together to strengthen UMN’s research impact. We hope to see you there!

Presenters:

Dr. Robert Hampshire - Executive Director

Robyn Kennedy - Research Development Program Coordinator  

Melissa Mueller - Senior Research Development Strategist

Stephen Streng - Research Development Strategy Lead

Cami Connell - Research Development Program Manager (Proposal Development)

Brittany Mader - Research Development Finance Officer

RSVP here