Elizabeth Lance, PhD, is a Manager of Research Administration at Northwestern Qatar. Liz also serves on NURAP Programming Subcommittee and you may have seen her during NURAP@noon monthly meetings. Liz often says she “comes from the future”, because of eight hours time difference between Qatar and Chicago/Evaston Campuses. In this issue, Liz shared with us her experiences in research administration on another continent.
Tell us a little about yourself?
I am curious about everything, cherish my friendships, and get terribly seasick (unfortunate only because I married a mariner whose retirement dreams include a sailboat and the wide open seas).
What is your educational and professional background?
The most formative educational experience I had was the year I studied abroad in Nepal as an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. During that year, I learned how to be curious in a way I never had before. That led to a change in major from journalism to South Asian Studies and a move back to Kathmandu after graduation. After returning to the U.S. in 2003, I worked in arts administration and print and radio journalism in Colorado and California before returning to Nepal again on a Fulbright scholarship in 2008. During my Fulbright year, I completed a multimedia documentary project on women and body image. Afterward, I completed my master’s in journalism at the University of Missouri. When Northwestern Qatar established the Research Office in 2013, I was happy for the opportunity to move to the Middle East and begin working in research administration. With Northwestern’s generous tuition benefits, I completed my PhD in Media and Cultural Studies from Newcastle University (UK) this past summer.
What are the most interesting aspects of working in research administration in Qatar?
I really enjoy having colleagues from so many different places and really understanding different cultural approaches to communication and negotiation.
What are the challenges for a research administrator on Qatar Campus?
As an international branch campus, our PIs are a bit more limited in their eligibility for U.S. federal grants. But this actually leads to more collaborations with U.S. colleagues, which is a benefit to everyone. The challenge is in finding and building collaborative networks.
What is your experience in collaborating between NU Campuses?
Remote working has made collaborations with home campus so much easier! We no longer need to rely on Bluejeans-equipped conference rooms! It’s also made it possible to participate in so many more activities at Northwestern, including serving on the NURAP Steering Committee. On the research administration side, in Qatar we don’t work in the U.S. federal model with our primary sponsor, so there can be a lot of idiosyncracies to navigate when NU’s research administration framework is built off the federal model.
What new projects are you working on?
I was so happy to onboard a new employee recently and double the capacity of my unit. This will allow me to shift my focus into working more proactively with PIs on grantwriting and network building, which I love to do.
Would you agree that being a research administrator is rewarding?
It definitely feels rewarding when I am able to collaborate with colleagues and find creative solutions to the myriad “well, it depends” situations we find ourselves in as research administrators!
What do you like to do in your spare time?
About a week after I defending my dissertation, I bought a sewing machine and finally taught myself how to quilt. I come from a long line of Midwestern quilters, and I am finding a lot of joy in this creative outlet. I’ve been in love with textiles since visited my first Nepali fabric shop as a college student, and I love that quilting is finally providing an excuse to keep buying fabric wherever I go! I also run and swim and cook and read.
Do you have any advice for research administrators wanting to advance in their careers?
One of the things I love most about research administration is the community of professionals. Every research administration professional I’ve ever met has been willing to answer questions, discuss issues, and share ideas. I have learned so much from my colleagues that given me the confidence to take on more complex projects and advance my career. These colleagues also become the network of people who can be references or share new opportunities. If you are seeking advancement at NU, join NURAP and get to know colleagues that way. If you are seeking advancement in the U.S., NCURA and SRA are great for the same purpose.
Learn more about Northwestern University Qatar Campus and NU-Q Research.