Emily Callahan is a Senior Research Administrator in the Basic Science Administration (BSA), Feinberg School of Medicine. Recently, RAP Up Co-Editor, Den Gonzales, got together with Emily to learn more about her background and reflect on her time at Northwestern.
Tell us about yourself?
I am originally from Glendale, Arizona and lived there for 18 years until I moved out to Evanston for college.
What is your educational and professional background?
I studied Social Policy at Northwestern and after graduation took a job at University of Chicago as a Project Specialist. The position was research administration-adjacent, but it was much more data-entry focused and on the periphery of grants administration.
I worked at University of Chicago for two years and wasn’t sure what my next move would be since there wasn’t any clear path upwards, and I was feeling pretty stuck. I ended up chatting with a former colleague from University of Chicago who had moved on to working at Northwestern in RAS ((formerly Research Administration Services – recently changed their name to Sponsored Project And Research Catalysts (SPARCs)). He loved working for Northwestern and encouraged me to start looking for job openings here. Not long after that, he told me about an opening for an Associate Research Administrator (ARA) in the Basic Science Administration department with his former manager, Brent (Bell). I interviewed for the position and was lucky enough to get the job! It’s been almost three and half years since then and I have learned and grown so much – coming to Northwestern was absolutely the best decision for me.
What are some good and not so good experiences you’ve had as a research administrator?
I’ve had experiences that span the whole spectrum, from really high ‘highs’ to some pretty low ‘lows’. The first really ‘high’ moment I experienced was submitting two R01s in one day. Prior to working at Northwestern, I hadn’t submitted any proposals, so it was honestly pretty scary to submit one – let alone two – in the same day. We had some technical difficulties with the final science documents and we didn’t get the grants submitted until just before 5pm (which was super nerve-wracking for me!). What I remember most is the encouraging and kind words I received from the PI and my grants officer after the proposals had been submitted – I felt such a sense of accomplishment and teamwork. The most rewarding moments in my job are when I receive gratitude and appreciation from the people with whom I work.
On the flipside of that, I think the most challenging moments I have as Research Administrator (RA) come from when I’m working with people who have more abrasive personalities. It can be really demoralizing and it’s easy to take it personally when someone is being difficult, so it helps to talk it out with a fellow RA who can share their own war stories. It’s important to be able to lean on your colleagues for reassurance that you aren’t alone in dealing with these difficult / frustrating scenarios.
What new projects are you working?
Currently, the biggest thing I’m working on is my transition to being a Senior Research Administrator (SRA). Something I’m most excited about doing as an SRA is mentoring newer research administrators in my department, since I know how much the Seniors have helped me in get acclimated as an RA. Having a more involved role in training new research administrators really makes it feel like I have come full circle in my time at NU.
Would you agree that being a research administrator is rewarding?
Yes! It’s especially rewarding once you have built a strong knowledge-base and are able to feel more confident in your abilities as an RA. Being able to provide accurate guidance and helpful support to your PI’s feels so satisfying.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
My favorite thing to do is spend time with my dog, Oakley. He’s a one-year-old Boston Terrier and he’s my “Corona-puppy” which means we’ve never spent a day apart. We just recently started agility classes and he absolutely loves them – I feel like such a proud mom watching him take on all of these crazy obstacles with zero fear. He is my pride and joy!
Do you have any advice for research administrators wanting to advance in their careers?
I think one of the most important things is to keep your eyes open for development opportunities that will help you develop both personally and professionally so that when a new position or challenge at work comes up, you are ready to take it on head first. I’ve personally had great experiences with a variety of different programs offered by NU: I have participated in Association of Northwestern University Women (ANUW)’s Emerging Leaders Program, Northwestern University Research Administration Professionals (NURAP)’s mentoring program, and have also taken numerous trainings offered through myHR and the Center for Creative Leadership (Grace Under Pressure and Lead 4 Success are two standouts). Staying in a growth mindset is what matters most!
If you would like to reach out to Emily, she can be reached at emily.callahan@northwestern.edu.