A partnership between:

​From Discovery to Delivery – Lead with Business Insight

Offered in partnership with the School of Business and Pitt Research, the Research Facility Director Academy is a five-day professional development program for Research Facility Directors. This in-depth, on-site program will build your business knowledge and leadership skills.

Through thoughtful instruction, specifically designed for you, the program has been developed by School of Business faculty in collaboration with experienced subject-matter experts.

You will explore five core areas: accounting, marketing, operations management, strategy, and leadership and team development, gaining practical tools you can apply immediately.

• Measure what matters
• Connect with colleagues
• Improve stakeholder engagement
• Strengthen long-range planning
• Optimize evidence-based decision making
• Leverage leadership and collaboration

Week at a Glance

Session format

• 8:30 to 5:00 p.m. daily
• Blend of lecture, small group discussions, case studies, stakeholder journey mapping, and simulations
• Networking during breaks and meals

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Course Overview

Accounting

Led by Professor Patrick Martin

Sound financial management and forward-looking planning are critical to long-term sustainability. The accounting session builds your working knowledge of core financial, grant, and managerial accounting concepts, with a focus on modeling revenue and cost-saving decisions, managing pro forma financial statements, and navigating regulatory constraints.

You will also develop strategies for capital renewal and gain a practical understanding of depreciation and inventory management. The session will extend into forecasting, equipping you with quantitative and qualitative tools to develop projections, estimate demand for space, products, and services, and adjust models as new information emerges.

Marketing

Led by Professor Kiersten Maryott

Effective marketing is essential to growing awareness, engagement, and utilization of Shared Research Facilities. The marketing session introduces core marketing foundations, including the 4Ps, SWOT analysis, value propositions, and the customer sales journey, and applies them directly to the SRF context.

You will explore the link between customer satisfaction and facility KPIs, the importance of user participation, and how journey mapping can be used to improve experiences for all customers.

Operations Management

Led by Professor Prakash Mirchandani

Efficient, well-planned operations are the backbone of high-performing facilities. This session will equip you with the tools and strategies needed to optimize how facilities function. You will explore the core components of project planning, develop strategies for improving scheduling, and examine how supply and demand dynamics influence facility utilization.

The session also covers practical approaches to measuring and increasing both utilization and efficiency, giving you the insights needed to make informed operational decisions and maximize the value of your space.

Strategy

Led by Professor Ravi Madhavan

Shared Research Facilities are more than operational spaces; they are strategic assets that enable complex research capabilities across the university. The strategy session will highlight principles of strategic thinking and how they apply directly to the SRF context.

Using proven frameworks and practical tools, you will learn to inform facility development and guide investment decisions, while also developing the skills to communicate SRF strategy effectively to audiences ranging from research teams to university leadership.

Leadership and Collaboration

Led by Professor Kim Abel

Strong collaboration and professional networks are essential to leveraging the full potential of Shared Research Facilities across the University. Woven throughout the week, this focus introduces key concepts of teamwork and collaboration, helping you identify opportunities to work across boundaries and leverage shared resources more effectively.

You will build practical networking skills, recognize opportunities to connect with peers, and establish lasting professional relationships across shared research labs, fostering a foundation for ongoing collaboration well beyond the program.

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Additional Information

• On site at the Center for Executive Education, Fifth Floor, Alumni Hall
• Schedule adjustments may be made as program content is finalized
• Certificate and Digital Badge will be awarded upon the successful completion of all course activities

PARTICIPANT SPOTLIGHT