Ella Trubman, MBA, CRA
Federal & Charitable Grant Strategy
Eighteen-plus years leading research administration at top-tier institutions, now guiding organizations and investigators through federal and charitable funding — from strategy and proposal development to compliance and systems implementation.
About Ella
Ella Trubman, MBA, CRA, has spent more than eighteen years building and leading research administration operations at top-tier institutions, including The Scripps Research Institute and the University of California, San Diego. As Senior Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs at Scripps Research, she directs enterprise proposal and contract operations under delegated authority to legally bind the Institute — overseeing award portfolios that include the Scripps Translational Science Institute award ($28M), the Precision Medicine Initiative Cohort Program ($172M), and multi-institutional consortia such as CHAVD and AViDD.
Ella built the Institute's Research Development function from the ground up, doubled the capacity of its Sponsored Programs & Compliance office within a single year, and has been promoted twice for leading Scripps through complex, enterprise-wide eRA system implementations. Earlier, as a Senior Grant Analyst & Supervisor at UC San Diego, she held Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) authority to submit NIH and AHRQ proposals valued up to $20M annually, while hiring and coaching a five-analyst team.
A Certified Research Administrator and President of the Southern California Chapter of SRAI, Ella brings a people-first leadership style to every engagement — pairing deep technical fluency in federal compliance with the ability to translate complex policy into clear, actionable guidance for faculty, staff, and boards alike. She holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a BA in Linguistics and French from the University of Arizona, and is fluent in English and Russian.
“Great research doesn't stop at a good idea — it depends on the strategy, compliance, and partnership behind it. That's the work I love.”Ella Trubman, MBA, CRA
Career Timeline
La Jolla, CA · 2016 – Present
Senior Director, Office of Sponsored Programs (2021–Present) · Director, PreAward Administration (2018–2021) · Manager, PreAward Administration (2016–2018)
San Diego, CA · 2008 – 2016
Senior Grant Analyst & Supervisor (2012–2016) · Grant Analyst Supervisor (2010–2012) · ARRA Specialist / Project Specialist (2009–2014) · Administrative Assistant III & Lab Manager, The Scripps Research Institute (2008–2009)
Services
Engagements are tailored — from a single proposal review to ongoing, embedded support for your grants operation. Select a service to see what's included.
Structuring competitive proposals for NIH, AHRQ, and other federal sponsors — including complex cooperative agreements and multi-institutional awards — from concept through submission.
Funding-landscape research and case-for-support strategy that connects your mission to the right private foundations and charitable funders.
Cradle-to-grave oversight of sponsored awards — budgeting, reporting, and federal compliance — so nothing falls through the cracks after the award letter arrives.
Hands-on guidance through eRA system selection and rollout — helping your team transition with minimal disruption to ongoing operations.
Proposal planning, center-grant strategy, and large-scale collaboration support to help your team compete for transformative, high-value awards.
Custom staff training and process design that builds lasting, in-house grants capacity — not just a one-time fix.
The Concierge Experience
Every engagement is confidential, and scoped to exactly what your team needs — nothing more, nothing less.
A confidential conversation about your funding goals, current capacity, and the opportunities ahead.
A clear, prioritized plan — target sponsors, timeline, and the specific support you need at each stage.
Ella works alongside your team through proposal development, compliance review, or systems design — as much or as little as you need.
Support doesn't end at submission — ongoing guidance through award negotiation, compliance, and reporting keeps you funded and protected.
Get in Touch
Share a few details about your organization and funding goals, and Ella will follow up to schedule a consultation.