Research Administration Team Lead

Ross Babinec

Serves as Team Lead for the following Centers/Institutes:

  • Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC)
  • Odum Institute for Research in Social Science (ODUM)
  • UNC Research Data Management Core (RDMC)
  • Renaissance Computing Institute (RENCI)
  • Center for Natural Hazards Resilience (CNHR)

Serves as Trainer/Floater and works on Special Projects.

Ross Babinec is a dedicated Research Administration Team Lead at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, bringing over a decade of experience in research finance, grants management, and operational leadership. They oversee a diverse portfolio of research projects, guiding principal investigators and project teams through the full lifecycle of sponsored programs—from proposal development and budgeting to post-award compliance and financial reporting.

Known for their collaborative approach and deep understanding of institutional and sponsor requirements, Ross plays a key role in ensuring the financial integrity and strategic success of research initiatives. They also lead and mentor a team of Research Administrators, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Ross holds a Master of Science in Accounting from UNC Greensboro and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from NC State University. They are an active member of the Society for Research Administrators International.