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SPA Certification Program: Application Period for Cohort 3 Opens January 12, 2026

This program is open to a committed group of early-career and/or new UT Southwestern staff who are interested in furthering their career in research administration. 

For more information, please visit our SPA Certification Program webpage!

Salary & Wage Confirmation

The next Salary & Wage Confirmation (SWC) deadline for third quarter reporting is July 15, 2025.  

Regulatory Hot Topics

Please visit the SPA Regulatory Updates site to stay on top of what's new!

 

New and Improved eAgreements and eGrants Coming in 2026

SPA is excited to announce a significant future upgrade to the eResearch platform, including the eGrants and eAgreements systems. The re-design will enhance performance, improve security, and provide a more seamless user experience for all system users.

Go to our News & Events section for more details.

Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA) provides research faculty and staff with resources to navigate proposal development, secure funding (awards), and ensure appropriate use of those funds. SPA champions our research community in their quest for academic excellence, shields UT Southwestern from financial and reputational risks, and assists our sponsors in fulfilling their scientific and programmatic objectives.

Keys to a Successful SPA Partnership

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Enroll in the Certification Program

The SPA Certification Program is for early-career professionals and new UT Southwestern staff members looking to build essential skills in navigating submission processes and effectively managing sponsored projects. Participants will gain the knowledge necessary to support principal investigators and research teams while advancing their own careers in research administration.

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Leverage the PI Portal

SPA now offers the PI Portal, a centralized resource tailored to the needs of principal investigators.

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Learn the SPA Process

The process for finding and managing funding through SPA differs depending research types. We provide specific guidelines for both Clinical Research and Basic Science.


Contact Us

The expert SPA staff is organized by area of expertise. Our purpose is to assist you throughout the entire award life cycle with reliability and efficiency. See our Contact Us page to find the SPA staff member for your specific needs.

SPA Leadership

Our purpose is to assist you throughout the entire award life cycle with reliability and efficiency.

Megan G. Marks, Ph.D.

Associate Vice President

Cheryl Anderson, CRA

Director, Pre-Award Services

Ali Ismail, MBA

Director, Post-Award Services 

Sara Streich

Interim Director, SPA Finance 

Julia Spesivtseva, MBA, CRCP

Director, Clinical Research Services

Alina Grays, MPA

Assistant Director, Education and Business Process

Jamie Maiden, MBA, MHSM

Assistant Director, Pre-Award Services

Carol Walters

Assistant Director, Compliance & Operations