Research Compliance Navigator
Centralize research compliance tracking across funding agencies and institutional policies
What You Can Do
You can map compliance requirements from NSF, NIH, DOE, and other funding sponsors against institutional policies, identify conflicting mandates, track documentation deadlines, and maintain centralized records for 40+ simultaneous awards. This skill converts scattered email, spreadsheet, and system-based compliance data into structured matrices that reveal gaps, dependencies, and upcoming actions—reducing audit risk and administrative overhead.
Features
overlay requirements from federal agencies and institutional policies side-by-side to spot conflicts and dependencies
organize compliance activities by sponsor, timeline, and required evidence with deadline alerts
identify missing documentation, incomplete certifications, or unmet policy requirements across active awards
structure compliance evidence hierarchically by award, requirement type, and submission date for rapid review
track updates to Title IX, COI policies, data security rules, and other evolving compliance landscapes
build fiscal and calendar-year compliance schedules with dependencies flagged
create coordinator onboarding guides for institutional policies and sponsor-specific requirements
systematize decisions when sponsor mandates conflict with institutional policy
Example Output
Example 1: Multi-Sponsor Compliance Matrix
| Requirement | NSF | NIH | Institution Policy | Due Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conflict of Interest Disclosure | Annual + new disclosures | Annual + new disclosures | Bi-annual | 12/31 | On track |
| Cost Share Documentation | Required if proposed | N/A | Always required | Final report | ⚠️ Missing for Award #4 |
| Export Control Review | Pre-award | Pre-award | Pre-award | 30 days before start | ✓ Complete |
Example 2: Compliance Gap Report
- Award #7 (NIH R01): Missing post-award COI update (Due: 2/28) — Coordinator assigned
- Award #12 (NSF): Cost share documentation incomplete (3 of 5 invoices needed) — Send reminder to finance
- Award #18 (DOE): Export control certification expires 6/15 — Flag for renewal in May
Example 3: Compliance Onboarding Checklist
✓ NSF Awards (5 items): Proposal routing, annual reporting, closeout procedures
- ⚠️ Restricted funding (3 items): Export controls, sensitive research protocols
✓ Institutional compliance (7 items): COI disclosure, safety committees, cost share tracking
What's Included
- SKILL.md instruction file with compliance tracking methodology:
- Compliance Requirements Matrix template: map sponsor and institutional mandates side-by-side
- Deadline Tracking Calendar: organize compliance activities by due date with dependency flags
- Gap Analysis Checklist: identify missing documentation and incomplete certifications by award
- Compliance Onboarding Guide: training framework for research coordinators covering sponsor-specific requirements
Who It's For
- Research administrators managing 40+ simultaneous awards across multiple funding sources
- Grants managers preparing for federal audits or NSF/NIH compliance reviews
- Department chairs or research directors overseeing unfamiliar funding types or compliance regimes
- Research coordinators and post-award specialists implementing new institutional policies
- Compliance officers designing research governance frameworks for departments or institutions
Best For
- Onboarding to new institutions or expanded research portfolios
- Audit preparation and compliance reviews by federal agencies
- Managing post-award compliance for multi-site or multi-sponsor projects
- Resolving conflicts between institutional policy and sponsor mandates
- Training research coordinators on complex, evolving compliance landscapes
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