Researchers and faculty to benefit from PERA, new research administration system
The Purdue Excellence in Research Administration (PERA) system is being implemented to make research administration more streamlined and efficient. It is an integrated software platform that simplifies multiple grant- and regulatory-related processes and will replace several disparate systems.
PERA is Purdue’s name for the Huron Research Suite, a next-generation system that automates processes required to apply for research grants, manage research funding and apply to regulatory committees that oversee research with human subjects, vertebrate animals, biohazards and other compliance matters.
In April 2023 the Purdue Board of Trustees approved a multimillion-dollar investment for an innovative electronic research administration system to serve all Purdue campuses and affiliated organizations such as the Purdue Applied Research Institute (PARI), Purdue Global and Purdue International Inc. The PERA implementation work is currently underway and will roll out in phases beginning in September 2024 through October 2025.
“PERA will take us to the next level by streamlining and integrating how we operate,” said Karen Plaut, Executive Vice President for Research. “For our research teams, it means spending less time on administrative matters and having more time to focus on research and the pursuit of that next giant leap.”
PERA’s first four modules to go live in September 2024 will address the following areas:
- Grants (pre/post award)
- Agreements
- Financial Forecasting
- Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
By October 2025, the following modules will be added:
- Export Control
- Safety Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
- Conflict of Interest
- Conflict of Commitment
- Institutional Review Board
These are just a few of the improvements to expect:
- Provides a unified platform for managing and monitoring research projects
- Enhances transparency for the Purdue research community
- Automates research administration business processes
- Provides a dashboard with centralized and consolidated information
- Automates workflow, routing, approvals and communication
The PERA team will keep faculty and staff informed regularly throughout the implementation project. We encourage you to take advantage of the following information sources:
- A regularly updated PERA website will provide helpful information.
- An online toolkit contains a PowerPoint presentation, fact sheet and FAQs.
PERA executive sponsors
Karen Plaut, Executive Vice President for Research
Ian Hyatt, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
Chris Ruhl, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Use the links below to find archived communications and background information on the PERA initiative.
- PERA updates
- Office of Research Academic and Research Excellence Update, May 8, 2023
- Office of Research Academic and Research Excellence Update, August 15, 2023
- Board of Trustee Approval (Purdue Today)
Please email questions about PERA to peracomms@purdue.edu.