Research Project Management (RPM) has existed in practice for a long time, but people doing this work have often been scattered across institutions, countries and job titles. Many RPMs found themselves:
reinventing tools and approaches on their own,
having to explain their role from scratch in every new context,
lacking a stable, shared home for their practice, and
being isolated from peers.
INRPM grew out of the simple idea that RPM deserves a clear, global frame and a community of its own: a place where people can see their work reflected, share experience across contexts and develop the field together.
Connection to earlier initiatives
INRPM did not arise in a vacuum. The idea of a more coherent, international and independent home for Research Project Management had been discussed informally for several years, as multiple regional and national RPM initiatives were established or being explored. Some of the people who joined INRPM’s early conversations had previously been involved in some of these efforts. One of the more prominent and visible examples was the EARMA Post‑Award Project Management thematic group. When it was discontinued, it became one of several signals that there was a need for a global, independent RPM community. INRPM builds on some of the learning and momentum from these earlier efforts, while remaining independent of any single association, funder or institution.
Founders and the Foundational Framework
INRPM was founded in February 2026 and this Foundational Framework was established on the initiative of the following founders:
Senior Research Project Manager at KTH, passionate about bridging science and structured project management. With a PhD in Molecular Genetics and more than 10 years of experience, I focus on enabling researchers to succeed by managing complex projects efficiently.
As the Director of the Program Management Office (PMO) at the University of Colorado Boulder, I lead and inform strategic execution of research programs across campus. With more than 18 years of experience spanning government, industry, non-profit, and higher education in program development and management, project management, and business operations, I am passionate about connecting with the research project management community and partnering for joint development and fellowship. I focus on driving efficiencies, fostering collaboration, and ensuring compliance across complex, multidisciplinary teams ensuring the focus is on our ability to meet outcomes and impacts. I lead a team that supports research project strategy and execution while helping shape broader institutional approaches to research program management, partnering closely with university leadership, faculty, and administrators to advance project and campus goals. I also contribute actively to the broader research project management and research administration community through presentations, professional development, and community-building efforts (NCURA/SRAI/NYC RAD Series/UIDP to name a few), including as co-founder of the International Network of Research Project Managers. I am a co-PI and PM for an NSF GRANTED planning grant focused on research project management survey and data analysis to discover potential interventions in the RPM field. I also served on the EARMA PAPM core team and several groups including survey/studies, complexity tool, and global RPM certification before the PAPM was reorganized - work that I would like to continue. I am currently leading an effort, with other RPM colleagues, within SRAI to launch the first RPM certificate and within NCURA to create a new dedicated RPM theme group. I hold an EMBA and am certified as a PMP, CRA, and Prosci Change Practitioner, and am committed to strengthening communication, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement to help our RPM community research teams achieve high-performing, compliant outcomes.
Nicole Quartiero joined Notre Dame Research in 2022 as the inaugural Director of Research Project Management, where she leads the Research Project Management Team and oversees strategic initiatives supporting large and complex research efforts across the research enterprise. In this role, she partners with faculty, research leadership, and administrative stakeholders to strengthen research operations, improve project execution, and advance institutional research goals. She is also a member of the Notre Dame Project Management Community of Practice.
Prior to joining Notre Dame Research, Nicole spent more than a decade working across the full research lifecycle in academic and clinical research environments, building expertise in research administration, compliance, operations, and project management. She was recognized by the Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI) as a Future of the Field Rising Star in 2021 and later served as Chair of the Future of the Field Subcommittee. Nicole currently serves as a Board Member for SRAI and is a frequent national presenter and contributor focused on advancing research project management as a strategic function within the research enterprise.
Nicole earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Arizona State University and a Master of Science in Clinical Research Management. She is a Certified Research Administrator (RACC) and is currently preparing to sit for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam in June 2026.
The founders initiated the concept, drafted the first version of the Foundational Framework, and started to test the ideas with RPM colleagues in different organisations and regions.
The Foundational Framework defines INRPM’s Vision, Mission, definition of Research Project Management and Core Principles. It was written to be stable over time, so that RPMs around the world can refer to the same basic understanding of what INRPM is and what it stands for.
