Member Cameo: Joshua Roney

Who: Joshua Roney
Where: University of Central Florida
Number of Years in Research Development: 7
Joined NORDP in: 2013

What is your RD work?

I am part of the Research Development team in the UCF Office of Research & Commercialization (ORC). As part of the central office, we support faculty researchers across the University through a variety of outreach services, proposal support, and funding opportunities. Our goal is to help researchers find funding and support them in preparing competitive proposals. Our focus areas are New Faculty and large interdisciplinary projects, but we also assist any faculty that request our help.

What is your professional background?

Before I joined Research Development, I was a Composition Instructor at a local Community College. I wanted to continue my higher education, so I applied to an Assistantship position in the Research Development team in 2010. They utilized my editing skills for proposal review, and my mentor taught me about multifaceted kinds of researcher support, grantsmanship fundamentals, and helped me identify specialized areas of support that I could provide. In late 2012, I joined the team in a permanent capacity. I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Texts and Technology, with a focus in technical communication and collaboration resources.

What attracted you to NORDP?

Jo Ann Smith, my mentor at UCF, introduced me to NORDP and encouraged me to join. The depth of experience and information, as well as the continual updates on important topics, makes NORDP a vital learning and collaboration resource.

How does your NORDP membership enhance your own career?

The openness to share information, resources, and advice has been valuable to my ongoing training and has helped me to plan my future as a Research Development professional. The topics discussed via the listserv, conferences, and phone meetings have been great indicators of what is occurring at other institutions and what is on the horizon. I look forward to continuing to build a network of colleagues at NORDP and contributing to our collective resources.

Compiled by Daniel Campbell, Member Services Committee