October 7, 2024

Quinn's research compliance work earns Kudos award

Sara Quinn holds her award as she stands with other university officials after receiving the Kudos honor during the Board of Regents meeting in Kearney on Oct. 4.
Todd Gottula | University of Nebraska at Kearney

Todd Gottula | University of Nebraska at Kearney
Sara Quinn (holding award) received the Kudos honor during the Oct. 4 University of Nebraska Board of Regents meeting, which was held in Kearney. She is pictured with (from left) Jen Nelson; Chancellor Rodney D. Bennett. Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold, NU system president; Elizabeth Herbin, student regent; and Sherri Jones, interim vice chancellor for research and innovation.

For her work to ensure research at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is compliant with all federal and state regulations, Sara Quinn has received a Kudos award from the Board of Regents.

The honor, presented during the board’s Oct. 4 meeting, is reserved for NU system staff employees who go above and beyond in their service to the university and its community.

Quinn has served for 10 years as director of research compliance services and research integrity. Her work impacts programs in human research protection; conflicts of interest/commitment; export control compliance; research misconduct; research data security; and the responsible conduct of research.

“Sara goes above and beyond every day,” said Jennifer Nelson, assistant vice chancellor for research and Quinn’s nominator. “She is a critical member of the research administration team.”

During Quinn’s tenure, there has been a 172% increase in new and changing regulations that directly impact federal research. She is devoted to keeping up with the changes, expanding her technical knowledge of relevant regulations and practices by participating in peers across the Big Ten and other national research universities. She also is committed to offering intensive training to her team and places value on their professional development.

Quinn has recently played key roles in helping to strengthen UNL’s research security and developed the updated conflict of interest/commitment policy that launched this summer.

“We all want our University of Nebraska research enterprise to be regarded with the highest level of respect for the integrity with which we make contributions to science and scholarship,” Nelson said. “Sara is an invaluable member of our university staff who works hard every day to make this possible.”