Kean Director of Research Compliance Nate Rigel, Ph.D., Helps Research Succeed

Nate Rigel, Ph.D., is the director of research compliance at Kean University. Rigel, a former associate professor and associate chair of the Department of Biology at Hofstra University, holds a doctorate in microbiology and immunology and joined Kean’s Office of Research and Sponsored Programs in January. 

Q. What does a director of research compliance do? 

My job is to make sure that Kean’s research activities comply with federal and state regulations, as well as any institutional policies or guidelines issued by agencies that fund our research. For example, this includes overseeing our compliance programs for human subjects research, laboratory safety and research ethics. It’s also really important for the faculty to know that I’m here to help them succeed in their research efforts. I think compliance directors have a reputation for just saying “no.” I promise that’s not the case. I’m here to help researchers find a path to “yes,” but we’re going to do it right to minimize risks along the way.

Q. What are some of your current challenges – things you plan to work on first?

Coming into a new institution is tough at first since you don’t really know the history. During my first month at Kean, I tried to meet as many people as possible. Everyone has been so welcoming and generous with their time, which really helped my transition. I now have a pretty good sense of where things stand, so it’s time to ramp up. There are lots of policies that we need to roll out ASAP – lab safety and data use/transfer are high on my priority list.   

Q. How do you continue to grow and develop professionally?

I read and talk a lot. As you might expect, there’s a ton of information in the compliance world. It’s not sufficient to just read the rules though; you also need to know how to interpret and operationalize those guidelines. So when I run into a wall, I pick up the phone. I have wonderfully collaborative colleagues at several universities in New Jersey and New York who are a wealth of knowledge. I also have great professional mentors who help steer me in the right direction when I get off track.  

Q. What is something exciting you are working on?

One of my first tasks at Kean is to implement a new online platform to streamline operations of Kean’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), a panel that reviews research protocols involving human subjects, to ensure the rights of human subjects are protected and the risk of harm is minimized. Our current system is home-grown; by utilizing this new platform, we’ll be able to reduce the amount of time it takes for the IRB to issue decisions while also making life easier on our IRB review panelists. Service on the IRB is a tremendous amount of work, so I want to ease the burden on our faculty and staff. After we get the new IRB platform up and running, I’m planning to do something similar for laboratory and biosafety. Change is coming. 

Q. What keeps you awake at night?

Other than my two toddlers? Honestly, I worry a lot about the world I’ll leave behind for my boys. Whether it’s climate change or the latest geopolitical flare-up, we live in a very unsettled time. Think about the technological advances from the past 50 years or so, particularly in medicine. While we have the ability to alleviate so much suffering, humanity seems to have a never-ending capacity for doing the opposite.

Q. What is one characteristic you believe every leader should possess?

Communication is key. The best leaders not only need to have a great vision, but they also need to verbalize it – including a plan for implementation. Part of that sales pitch requires creating clearly articulated expectations. Setting clear expectations is important for maximizing productivity and making sure every member on a team reaches their potential. Creating a working environment with open lines of communication also facilitates collaboration and growth.