REDCap certificate awarded to thirteen Illinois researchers

Inaugural REDCap Certificate Series helps researchers optimize data collection and management

This October, thirteen researchers across campus became certified Illinois REDcap users after participating in the inaugural REDCap Certificate Series. Led by Michelle Lore, REDCap Application Specialist, the series delved into some of REDCap’s more complex capabilities to help attendees design research projects that streamline and optimize the way they collect and manage their data.

Participants were selected from a pool of more than 60 applicants across the Illinois campus. They were selected based on their knowledge and experience with REDCap and their ability to apply the knowledge they gained from the series to a current or upcoming Illinois REDCap project.

Michael Lotspeich-Yadao, Assistant Director of Research Engagement and Educational Programming at Chez Veterans Center, became more familiar with REDCap after attending the series. “I am excited to use my expanded knowledge of REDCap to begin collaborating with campus stakeholders in the design and execution of a subgroup cohort study, taking into consideration how administrative and survey data helps us answer new questions and implement data-driven solutions for military veterans in higher education nationally.”

The four sessions were held weekly over Zoom and included an introduction to REDCap and its interface, form building, project level settings, and other advanced topics to help users get the most out of REDCap. Lore explained that one of the major goals of the series was to give people more comfort with REDCap and empower them to use its many capabilities.

“I learned so much from the REDCap Certificate Series,” said Anna Keck, Program Coordinator for the Personalized Nutrition Initiative. “The instructor was great and she made each session very interactive and allowed plenty of time for questions.” Rae McDonald, Research Coordinator in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, shared similar feedback. “I think that if you take advantage of the learning opportunities by being engaged with the Zoom sessions, asking questions, etc., you can really gain a lot of hands-on experience,” said McDonald.

REDCap to hold another certificate series in Spring 2022

Due to the interest and enthusiasm generated in the fall, the REDCap team will be offering a Spring 2022 Certificate Series, Feb. 15 – Mar. 8, 2022. Like the fall series, the team seeks applicants from diverse disciplinary backgrounds who can attend all four sessions in the series. The team will be accepting applications through Jan. 20, 2022.

“This course served as a great foundation to gain confidence in using REDCap,” said Jordan Bodway, Project Manager (LittleBeats™ Studies) in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. “I would especially recommend this course to anyone looking to improve their data collection organization.” Maria Jaromin, Senior Research Coordinator at NCSA, recommends the course for new users like herself. She also recommends trying out the web application first using the wealth of resources at the Illinois REDCap and Project REDCap websites.

Congratulations to the Fall 2021 Cohort

Lore is enthusiastic about the course and its impact for Illinois researchers. “We had such an amazing cohort for our inaugural certificate series. It was a lot of fun to see them explore and figure things out in REDCap, and I can’t wait to see how they deploy the skills they learned during the series!”

Alexandria Barkhimer, Graduate Student, Speech and Hearing Science
Jordan Bodway, Project Manager (LittleBeats™ Studies), Human Development and Family Studies
Jeni Bushman, Research Project Manager, Beckman Institute
Daniela Fanta, Graduate Student, Speech and Hearing Science
Maxine He, Graduate Student, Neuroscience Program
Maria Jaromin, Senior Research Coordinator, National Center for Supercomputing Applications
Alicia Jones, Graduate Student, Kinesiology and Community Health
Anna Keck, Program Coordinator, Personalized Nutrition Initiative
Michael Lotspeich-Yadao, Assistant Director of Research Engagement and Educational Programming, Chez Veterans Center
Rae McDonald, Research Coordinator, Kinesiology and Community Health
George Mois, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Kinesiology and Community Health
Ginger Reeser, Visiting Research Specialist, Kinesiology and Community Health
Tai-Te Su, Graduate Student, Kinesiology and Community Health

Visit the IHSI website for more information about Illinois REDCap and the REDCap Certificate Series.