NORDP 2018 Conference Cameo: Jim Izat

#NORDP2018 starts Monday, May 7 in Arlington, VA. Keep checking back here at the blog and on our Twitter feed (@NORDP_official) for live conference updates. Register here: http://www.nordp.org/conferences.
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Who: Dr. Jim Izat, Senior Research Development Officer
Where: Texas A&M University
Number of years in research development: 8
Length of NORDP membership: 5
Number of NORDP conferences attended: 5
How do you unwind? I design and build bespoke furniture and home goods.

I began work at Texas A&M University in 2010 following serving on the faculty at West Texas A&M University. My work is currently focused on tenure track faculty proposal development for federal funding agencies. In addition to consulting with NSF research faculty, I co-lead the university’s Junior Faculty Proposal Writing Academy program and direct two internal faculty research support grant programs. I also create and deliver approximately two dozen research development seminars and workshops annually on various aspects of internal and external research proposal development.

I joined NORDP about five years ago after doing an internet search for a professional organization through which I could accelerate my growth as a research development professional. It was, and remains, an essential resource to me as I continually look for new strategies I can apply in assisting faculty at Texas A&M University to be more successful in securing research funding.

By far, the most important benefit I gain through attending NORDP conventions is meeting experienced, talented research development colleagues. There is no doubt that they are among my most important resources for my professional growth. I have learned from them new strategies of research development delivery and ways I can improve what I already do in my day to day work. Of special value to me are opportunities to learn how to assist Humanities and Arts faculty for whom research funding support is often very difficult to find and secure.

I’m really looking forward to this year’s conference to again get the chance to interact with research development professionals who do what I do. Of special interest to me this year is having the chance to meet with and talk to colleagues with whom I am co-presenting on the topic of the challenges faced by universities in supporting Humanities and Arts research faculty efforts.

My most important recommendation for this year’s NORDP conference attendees is to get out there and meet as many colleagues as they can! Every year I am always amazed at the wealth of knowledge my fellow attendees possess and how generous they are in sharing their knowledge and experience with me both at the conference and afterward.

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We hope to see you at the Conference, which will be held May 7-9, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, VA.  For more information about the conference program or to register, visit http://www.nordp.org/conferences. Follow @NORDP_official on Twitter for all the latest #NORDP2018 updates.

NORDP fosters a culture of inclusive excellence by actively promoting and supporting diversity, inclusion and equity in all its forms to expand our worldview, enrich our work, and elevate our profession.