ChatGPD Podcast
New episodes monthly
ChatGPD is a graduate professional development podcast hosted by Dr. Pamela Plant, and designed and led in partnership with graduate student leaders.
Through candid conversations with alumni who have embarked on diverse and inspiring career paths, we invite our guests to share their journeys, lessons learned, and how their time at IMS helped shape their careers.
ChatGPD Ep. 12: Senior Administrative Leader: Being an Enabler of Science & Education
Behind every successful scientific breakthrough is a team that makes the work possible.
In this month’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Sara Sharifpoor, Director of the Office of Research and Health Science Education at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, to unpack the world of research administration and what the work looks like day to day.
With a foundation in science and strengths in organization, collaborator coordination, and problem solving, Dr. Sharifpoor shares how she realized her skills in managing data and keeping complex projects on track could meaningfully support research without leading a lab of her own. Instead, she applies these strengths to lead a team that ensures students, faculty, and departments across Temerty Medicine have what they need to succeed and keep major initiatives moving forward.
She breaks down what senior research administration involves, from strategic planning and team leadership to fostering collaboration and accountability across large systems. She also reflects on how graduate training builds transferable skills such as adaptability, analytical thinking, and care for both people and process, all of which are essential in leadership roles.
Dr. Sharifpoor outlines practical entry points into research administration and explains how you can use your network to test whether this path aligns with your strengths and career goals.
Tune in to learn how leadership behind the scenes shapes discovery and education, and how you can build a career that advances science by enabling others to thrive.