EXPANDING ROLES FOR RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION AND RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS: A TEAM SCIENCE COACHING PROGRAM

Interdisciplinary research teams are crucial for tackling complex societal issues but often struggle with goal alignment, leadership, and communication. This reflective inquiry article explores expanding the role of Research Administration (RA) and Research Development (RD) professionals as team coaches to address these challenges and improve team effectiveness. A team science program was created to train RA and RD staff in team coaching, using both in-person and virtual activities. Coaches helped teams from formation through the development of research products. The use of team science-informed tools and activities supported these coaching roles. Findings indicate that incorporating RA and RD professionals as coaches is beneficial to faculty, providing logistical support and non-technical perspectives. RA and RD professionals saw this coaching role as a natural extension of their work, although interpretations of the role varied among coaches. This project underscores the potential for RA and RD staff to enhance their support for research teams, particularly those teams that may encounter obstacles integrating diverse perspectives and collaborating virtually over long periods.