Join the Optimum Department Research Administration Community

Looking for a space that actually gets what you do? The Optimum Department Research Administration Community is a free, private space built specifically for research administrators working in academic departments, centers, schools, and institutes. It’s a place to connect, share ideas, and support each other—without the noise of algorithms or the pressure of performative networking.

This community is for the people in the trenches—navigating grants, compliance, finance, operations, and research strategy. We focus on the practical, the possible, and the future of our profession.

Who this space is for:
✔️ Research Administrators (pre-award, post-award, finance, compliance, and research operations)
✔️ Department Administrators / Finance Staff working closely with research portfolios

Who this space is not for (and we say this with love):
❌ Postdocs and graduate students
❌ Vendors, consultants, or software providers
❌ Faculty PIs, department chairs, or academic leadership
❌ Research staff/clinical coordinators

Why the limits? It’s not because we don’t value others—it’s because we have a lot to fix in our corner of the research world, and this space is laser-focused on that mission.