Month: August 2026

Written by: Roshni Singh, Career Stories team

Nearly Three Decades of Service: Mark van ‘t Hooft’s Research Administration Journey

The May Career Stories featured Mark van ‘t Hooft, whose professional journey at Kent State University started in 1998 as a graduate teaching assistant, followed by stints in academic research and sponsored programs (pre-award), before being named Director of the newly rebooted Office of Research Development in 2024.

When he was laid off from his research appointment in 2012 due to budget cuts, Mark had an opportunity to join the Office of Sponsored Programs as an entry-level administrator. Over the next decade, he worked his way up to the position of assistant director for pre-award and expected to spend the remainder of his career in this role. Instead, when a new Vice President for Research began exploring the idea of reviving the university’s research development efforts in 2024, Mark was asked to take on additional responsibilities, overseeing the reestablished Office of Research Development. Now being in a dual role, he reports to both the VP for Research as well as the Assistant VP of Sponsored Programs.

With a limited budget and a staff of only two that was new to research development, initial service offerings were limited to basics such as helping faculty look for funding opportunities, document editing, and overseeing the limited submission process. The many resources available from NORDP, including its Mentoring Program and a 2022 review of Kent State’s research operations through the Program for External Evaluation of Research Development (PEERD), have provided Mark with guidance and support during a period of rapid change and growth. As a result, the Office of Research Development has been able to expand its offerings, including faculty consultations, webinars, and programming for NSF CAREER applicants.

The countless hours spent writing proposals and helping faculty prepare competitive applications have shaped Mark’s career path for a very long time. He realized early on that researchers need support but are often hesitant to seek it out, whether out of fear of appearing inexperienced or uncertainty about who to turn to. Research development plays a critical role within this context, even more so now, given the volatility in the current funding landscape. As he mentioned, “Last spring was really tough for us, and we recognized that faculty were struggling, so we provided the same support we’ve always provided, plus a little bit extra in areas we normally wouldn’t.”

Rebuilding Kent State’s Office of Research Development from the ground up has required creativity and strategic thinking and Mark and his colleague continue to focus on building a sustainable and effective research development office with limited resources, helping faculty and staff identify and interpret funding opportunities, build collaborative research teams, provide resources for proposal development, and offer specialized assistance for large-scale, complex submissions.

Mark is happy to answer any questions you may have, so please feel free to contact him at mvanthoo@kent.edu

Written by: Roshni Singh, Career Stories team

Brooke Gowl’s Journey from Writing Grants to Becoming a Grant Specialist

The June edition of Career Stories featured Brooke Gowl, who brings 17 years of experience to research development (RD). After earning her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Cincinnati and completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan (UM), Brooke’s early career centered on research. During this time, she successfully secured two major grants: an NIH F32 NRSA fellowship and a collaborative National Science Foundation (NSF) award.

It was this NSF award—a joint project between UM and the Society for Neuroscience for the ADVANCE program—that shifted her career path. Her postdoctoral advisor had recognized her strong writing skills and encouraged her to help develop the proposal, which aimed to increase the representation of women in neuroscience faculty positions. Although the topic was outside her immediate area of expertise, Brooke immersed herself in the research, worked closely with the collaborating experts, and helped produce the winning submission. That experience sparked her passion for helping others secure research funding.

Currently, Brooke serves as a Research Development Specialist for Proposal Development and Competitive Intelligence in Grants Resources and Services at Appalachian State University. In this role, she supports faculty throughout the proposal process: helping researchers identify funding opportunities using tools such as GrantPuma, Pivot, Grants.gov, and custom AI agents; reviewing everything from Letters of Intent (LOIs) to full proposals; and advising faculty on aligning proposals with sponsor priorities. She also leverages AI tools, including NotebookLM, to compare proposals with funding solicitations and agency requirements while maintaining confidentiality by using only PI-approved documents.

Throughout her career, Brooke has continually evolved, shifting from a faculty-focused perspective to a dedicated RD outlook while building strong relationships with fellow RD professionals and research administrators. Although capable of leading, she views herself primarily as a “helper,” finding her ultimate reward in ensuring people get the support they need to succeed.

Brooke is a long-standing member of the National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP), where she currently serves as co-chair on the Mentoring Team and co-convener for the AI in RD Peer Mentoring Group. She enjoys collaborating with colleagues, sharing innovative practices, and helping others grow professionally. She recommends maintaining an updated LinkedIn profile and resume, actively participating in professional organizations like NORDP, and creating new opportunities rather than waiting for them to appear. A memorable example came in 2019, when she took the initiative to participate in an Erasmus+ exchange at the University of Salento in Lecce, Italy. By building connections with faculty abroad, she expanded both her professional network and her perspective on international collaboration.

When asked what keeps her in research development, Brooke’s answer is straightforward: she loves helping people and wants to be remembered for treating others with kindness and respect. Her advice for fellow RD professionals is equally practical: track your work and make your office’s impact visible.

Brooke is happy to answer any questions you have for her, so please feel free to contact her at gowlba@appstate.edu.