OORI Research Administration
USC Research Administration Navigator
Find research administration guidance, understand requirements, and prepare for your next step.
Start Here
What do you need help with?
Choose a task to see how the Navigator can help and get a question you can use.
Proposal support
Prepare a proposal
Use the Navigator to organize sponsor requirements, identify USC steps, and prepare questions before routing.
“I am preparing a proposal for [sponsor]. Give me a checklist of sponsor requirements, USC routing steps, and information I still need to confirm.”
What It Can Do
Use the Navigator to get oriented and prepared
It can help you work through information before you take an official action.
Understand
Explain requirements, terms, and USC processes in plain language.
Organize
Turn complex information into checklists, tables, or clearly ordered next steps.
Draft
Help prepare administrative emails, summaries, and working documents.
Prepare
Identify questions, documents, and offices needed for formal review.
Protect Information
Can I enter this information?
Select an information type before adding it to your Navigator question.
Choose an information type
Select an option to see whether that type of information should be entered into the Navigator.
When in doubt, leave it out. Confirm USC requirements before sharing information.
Official Help
Which USC office should I contact?
Select the action or official review you need.
Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG)
Proposal review and submission, award negotiation and acceptance, sponsored agreements, outgoing subawards, and sponsor communications.
Visit DCG →Learn More
Navigator resources
Go directly to the guidance you need.
Write Better Prompts
Get clearer, more useful answers from the Navigator.
View guide → HelpNavigator FAQ
Find answers about access, capabilities, privacy, and use.
View FAQ → SafetySafe Use & Data
Check what information should and should not be entered.
Check information → LearningDCG Training
Explore research administration training and learning resources.
View training →Help us improve the Navigator
Report information that appears incorrect, incomplete, outdated, or unclear.