Dr. Stephen Fiore, Pegasus Professor in the Department of Philosophy, and Director of IST’s Cognitive Sciences Laboratory, is one of a set of collaborators recently named a recipient of the Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI) 2025 Rod Rose Award for research article excellence. The award, which he shares with lead author Melanie Bauer, M.A. (Nova Southeastern University) and co-authors Dr. Philip M. Reeves (Johns Hopkins University) and UCF Director of Research Development, Dr. Joshua Roney, is titled “Expanding Roles for Research Administration and Research Development Professionals: A Team Science Coaching Program.” The article appeared in the 2025 Spring Edition of the Journal of Research Administration (Volume 56, Number 1).

From the article’s abstract, “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.”

The project is part of an NSF grant devised to support an understanding of how to improve scientific teamwork on the world’s most pressing problems. Said Fiore, “This project is an excellent example of interdisciplinary and interprofessional collaboration. Receiving the Rod Rose Award for an article meant to support and help develop the research administration community is truly an honor.” The Rod Rose Award is decided annually through an extensive process utilized by the Journal’s Editorial Board. Awardees will be honored at the SRAI’s Annual Meeting this October in Texas.