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Ghostwriting Grants: Uncovering the Experiences of Professional Research Staff in Grant Capture

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Title: Ghostwriting Grants: Uncovering the Experiences of Professional Research Staff in Grant Capture
Language: English
Authors: Jacqueline M. I. Torti, Kevin Oswald, Farah Friesen, Mariam Hayward, Lorelei Lingard
Source: Journal of Research Administration. 2025 56(2):114-126.
Availability: Society of Research Administrators International. 500 North Washington Street Suite 300, Falls Church, VA 22046. Tel: 703-741-0140; Fax: 703-741-0142; e-mail: membership@srainternational.org; Web site: https://www.srainternational.org/resources/journal
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Grantsmanship, Grants, Program Proposals, Professional Personnel, Research Administration, Universities, Foreign Countries, Staff Role, College Faculty, Recognition (Achievement), Employee Attitudes, Administrator Attitudes
Geographic Terms: Canada
ISSN: 1539-1590
Abstract: Universities worldwide are increasingly employing professional research staff (PRS) to support institutional research missions of driving research revenue and excellence. A primary function of PRS roles is to support faculty in grant capture, particularly as funding bodies emphasize equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), knowledge mobilization (KMb), and Indigenous research. Due to their growing prevalence, PRS roles have attracted attention to improve their visibility and sustainability. However, they remain underexplored in institutional research settings, particularly regarding the pre-award grant landscape. This study examines the evolving roles of PRS in Canadian universities, focusing on their contributions to grant capture and the structures influencing their recognition. Using a descriptive qualitative design, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 17 participants, including PRS and research office leaders, from 10 universities. Participants held roles spanning EDI, KMb, research development, and grant management, offering diverse perspectives on the challenges and contributions of PRS. Thematic analysis revealed four key findings: PRS play multifaceted roles that blur technical and conceptual; PRS roles are perceived to be misunderstood by those utilizing their services; recognition of PRS efforts is inconsistent and often limited to informal or interpersonal contexts; and PRS work remains undervalued. Together, these issues perpetuate the invisibility of PRS work, challenging the success of current strategies to address visibility and highlighting gaps in institutional acknowledgment. Our results suggest that undervaluing PRS contributions risks limiting their potential and undermining grant capture success. This study underscores the need for deeper engagement with PRS experiences to enhance their roles and contributions in academia.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1491789
Database: ERIC
FullText Links:
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  Data: Ghostwriting Grants: Uncovering the Experiences of Professional Research Staff in Grant Capture
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jacqueline+M%2E+I%2E+Torti%22">Jacqueline M. I. Torti</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kevin+Oswald%22">Kevin Oswald</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Farah+Friesen%22">Farah Friesen</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mariam+Hayward%22">Mariam Hayward</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lorelei+Lingard%22">Lorelei Lingard</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Research+Administration%22"><i>Journal of Research Administration</i></searchLink>. 2025 56(2):114-126.
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  Data: Society of Research Administrators International. 500 North Washington Street Suite 300, Falls Church, VA 22046. Tel: 703-741-0140; Fax: 703-741-0142; e-mail: membership@srainternational.org; Web site: https://www.srainternational.org/resources/journal
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  Data: 13
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grantsmanship%22">Grantsmanship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grants%22">Grants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Proposals%22">Program Proposals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Professional+Personnel%22">Professional Personnel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+Administration%22">Research Administration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Universities%22">Universities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Staff+Role%22">Staff Role</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Faculty%22">College Faculty</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Recognition+%28Achievement%29%22">Recognition (Achievement)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Employee+Attitudes%22">Employee Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Administrator+Attitudes%22">Administrator Attitudes</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Canada%22">Canada</searchLink>
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– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Universities worldwide are increasingly employing professional research staff (PRS) to support institutional research missions of driving research revenue and excellence. A primary function of PRS roles is to support faculty in grant capture, particularly as funding bodies emphasize equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), knowledge mobilization (KMb), and Indigenous research. Due to their growing prevalence, PRS roles have attracted attention to improve their visibility and sustainability. However, they remain underexplored in institutional research settings, particularly regarding the pre-award grant landscape. This study examines the evolving roles of PRS in Canadian universities, focusing on their contributions to grant capture and the structures influencing their recognition. Using a descriptive qualitative design, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 17 participants, including PRS and research office leaders, from 10 universities. Participants held roles spanning EDI, KMb, research development, and grant management, offering diverse perspectives on the challenges and contributions of PRS. Thematic analysis revealed four key findings: PRS play multifaceted roles that blur technical and conceptual; PRS roles are perceived to be misunderstood by those utilizing their services; recognition of PRS efforts is inconsistent and often limited to informal or interpersonal contexts; and PRS work remains undervalued. Together, these issues perpetuate the invisibility of PRS work, challenging the success of current strategies to address visibility and highlighting gaps in institutional acknowledgment. Our results suggest that undervaluing PRS contributions risks limiting their potential and undermining grant capture success. This study underscores the need for deeper engagement with PRS experiences to enhance their roles and contributions in academia.
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  Data: EJ1491789
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 13
        StartPage: 114
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Grantsmanship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grants
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      – SubjectFull: Program Proposals
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      – SubjectFull: Professional Personnel
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      – SubjectFull: Recognition (Achievement)
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      – SubjectFull: Employee Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Canada
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      – TitleFull: Ghostwriting Grants: Uncovering the Experiences of Professional Research Staff in Grant Capture
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