Do you struggle to move your ideas into reality? Are you unsure who to contact when you have questions about getting things done at Penn State? Or, have you ever just wondered what it is a project manager does?
In this seminar, we’ll shed light on the role of a research project manager by highlighting the experiences of a few of the research project managers at the Prevention Research Center. Through this conversation, you will better understand the value of project management in a research setting and how to leverage this role to:
- develop project scope, goals, timelines, and work plans;
- oversee project operations;
- guide study teams;
- act as a point of contact for both internal and external partners;
- prepare IRB submissions, project reports, and manuscripts;
- ensure compliance; and
- assist with proposals.
During the second half of the presentation, participants will have the chance to ask questions and share experiences. We will summarize the conversation with a list of best practices for leveraging this versatile role within a research context.
About the Speaker
Jessica Wolfe Connor is a program management professional who excels at moving projects and programs forward in the health and behavioral sciences. She brings a deep knowledge of research operations and program development to her role as Director of Research Operations with the Evidence-to-Impact Collaborative, where she leads the research program management strategy. She specializes in assessing key factors needed for building consensus to successfully develop and sustain research projects and programs.
After graduating from King’s College with a B.A. in Political Science, Jessica was awarded an Eagleton Fellowship at Rutgers University, where she earned a master’s degree in Public Affairs and Politics. She has experience working in state government systems, has launched a domestic violence offender intervention program, and supported clinician-researchers in the proposal development process at the Penn State College of Medicine.
