Author: Katie Rieger

2023 Innovation Award Winner: The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Office of Proposal Development

The NORDP Innovation Award recognizes individuals, groups, or teams; functional units; or organizations who leverage unique skills or resources to kick-start innovation in research development and advance the profession or the field in ways that generate evidence of promise or demonstrable results. Innovators leverage partnerships, experiment with tools and techniques, or generate and share knowledge to advance NORDP and the work of its members.

Then NORDP President Anne Maglia, left, and NORDP Vice President Nathan Meier, right, present the NORDP Innovation Award to University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Office of Proposal Development (OPD) team, from left, Matthew Dwyer, Katie Pelland, Tisha Gilreath Mullen, Jaclyn Tan, and Amanda Bohlin, at the 2023 NORDP Conference in Arlington, Va., on May 10. UNL OPD won the award for their leading-edge programming to help UNL faculty win National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program (NSF CAREER) grants. Not pictured: Jocelyn Bosley.

NORDP is proud to spotlight the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Office of Proposal Development (OPD), a group recognized May 10 with the Innovation Award. UNL OPD won the award by exhibiting inventive approaches and fostering impactful change on campus through its CAREER Club programming, which is designed to increase faculty success in securing these prestigious awards from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

At the core of UNL OPD’s success lies a team of dedicated individuals with unique expertise and roles positioned within the institution’s central research development (RD) structure. Team members include:

  • Amanda Bohlin, Proposal Development Coordinator
  • Jocelyn Bosley, Research Impact Coordinator
  • Matthew Dwyer, Senior Proposal Development Coordinator
  • Tisha Gilreath Mullen, Director of Proposal Development
  • Katie Pelland, Senior Proposal Development Coordinator
  • Jaclyn Tan, Proposal Development Specialist

In UNL’s NSF CAREER Club, the team employs a three-pronged, integrated approach focusing on programming, personalized proposal development support, and fostering connections among researchers and partners—both internal and external. What started as a one-week program in 2017 has since evolved into a six-month program. Key to innovation is the team’s commitment to constant evaluation and improvement: sessions are evaluated annually and OPD uses data-informed practices to evolve. 

Over the years, UNL’s NSF CAREER Club has shifted from didactic-centered interactions to more conversational sessions, assisted networking, one-on-one mentoring, and continued support. Today, programming also emphasizes synergistic networking to catalyze future research through cross-departmental and external collaborations. Through this networking, faculty develop connections across and beyond campus, ultimately increasing the sense of community Principal Investigators (PIs) feel at UNL. OPD offers one-on-one mentoring and safe spaces to create what they call “collateral beauty,” where PIs receive valuable feedback, support on deferment or selecting better fitting mechanisms, or encouragement to submit. These spaces integrate difficult conversations seamlessly into a strategic, positive experience. OPD also developed two new tools to enhance how researchers communicate their vision: a career trajectory graphic that visualizes past, present, and future growth, and a mini poster designed to facilitate virtual conversations with program officers, impact partners, and other stakeholders.

As a testament to their successful innovations, UNL now averages six or more CAREER Award winners per year—a significant increase over the past five years—with a 50% success rate for faculty who complete CAREER Club. Through partnerships with external NSF consultants, UNL OPD demystifies the process, supports their investigators, and ensures PIs acquire the necessary experiences and co-mentorship to achieve their goals.

For institutions wanting to start a similar program, UNL OPD recommends evaluating how programs can work together to maximize impact despite limited resources and bandwidth. Institutions can start by taking inventory of unique assets and strengths, chart them against leadership priorities, then develop objectives and define metrics for success. Consistent messaging and marketing before, during, and after programming is crucial as well.

Additionally, OPD encourages leveraging the wealth of NORDP resources in developing programs. The team conveyed gratitude for the NORDP community’s invaluable expertise and support in catalyzing their innovations from ideation to execution. For example, their mini poster tool was refined based on NORDP members’ input. Many OPD members also applauded the NORDP Mentoring Program as a hub to ideate, problem-solve, and gain resources related to programming. The team praised NORDP’s contributions to the RD field, such as providing a common vocabulary, offering growth frameworks, working toward developing an RD credential program, and creating virtual spaces for engagement. Furthermore, NORDP’s collaboration with other professional organizations, such as ARIS (Advancing Research Impact in Society), has driven the field further. OPD also noted that a former NORDP president now serves as the director of NSF GRANTED, further exemplifying the impact of NORDP involvement.  

OPD’s CAREER Club stands as a beacon of innovation and a catalyst for progress. By providing personalized support, fostering connections, and engaging with the NORDP community, the UNL team has propelled researchers to new heights of success. Through constant evaluation and collaboration, they continue to push boundaries and empower researchers to embrace innovation. As institutions seek to innovate, UNL OPD serves as an exemplar that offers tangible steps for success and advocates for the power of networking, resource sharing, and co-innovation within the NORDP community.

NORDP 2023 Rising Star Award: Erica Pitre

The NORDP Rising Star Award recognizes individuals for their outstanding, early volunteer contributions to NORDP and strong potential for future contributions to the organization and the profession or the field. 

Erica Pitre, Rising Star Award Winner

Who: Erica Pitre

Where: Emory University

Title: Director of Research Development 

Number of years in RD: 6 years

Length of NORDP membership: 5 years

Erica was nominated for her work on the NORDP Journal subcommittee for her integral voice in shaping the direction and creation of the journal; her service as manager of the NORDP Consultants Program; her active work on NORDP’s Competitive Intelligence Working Group, where she brings her project management and industry experience while also building the community; and her dedication to sharing resources and solutions to the NORDP community at large.

Erica began her career in the energy industry, specializing in proposal development and technical writing. After transitioning to academic research development (RD), she was part of a bustling R2 hub where she launched the institution’s first, formal RD support unit. She brought her extensive skillset to Emory, where she currently serves as Director of Research Development and supports strategic initiatives, mega proposals, and seed funding, among other RD initiatives.

When asked about the initiative she’s most proud of, Erica shared it has been the NORDP Consultant Program, led by Kimberly Eck, MPH, PhD. Through this program, Erica has had the opportunity to interact with NORDP consultants who possess cutting-edge approaches and collaborate with them to support researchers. In addition to her work in the Consultant Program, her commitment to the future of the field is evident through her involvement in the NORDP startup committee for the organization’s journal. Intrigued by the absence of certain resources, she applied her project management skills and simultaneously acquired new ones, which proved crucial in laying the foundation for the journal’s future launch. Erica emphasizes that newcomers shouldn’t hesitate to get involved in committees and contribute their fresh perspectives. Volunteer communities like NORDP thrive on diverse insights and welcome individuals who are willing to put in the work and learn new skills. 

In addition to getting involved in committees, Erica offers valuable advice for newcomers. She encourages involvement in the NORDP Mentoring Program and joining resources like the NORDP listserv and Basecamp to tap into the collective knowledge and expertise of the community. She also suggests that new members keep an active running list of topics to learn more about and roadblocks encountered. Members can then use that running list to connect with the NORDP network to find solutions. Erica shares that one of the standout features of NORDP is the generosity of its members, who make time to support and guide others. One of the key examples she provided was when she used her running list to seek out information from a key NORDP member. She was able to connect with this individual, which led to very fruitful conversations, and an opportunity to transition to her current university. 

Having been part of NORDP for the past 5 years, Erica has witnessed fellow new, NORDP professionals gain recognition and awards alongside her and encourages others to speak up and get engaged. When looking at the potential for future rising stars, Erica urges folks to remember the untapped potential of industry professionals. Erica firmly believes that colleges and universities should consider industry professionals as valuable assets for research development roles. While advanced degrees are advantageous, equitable work experience outside academia also brings a fresh perspective and a very transferable, rich skill set. There exists a vast pool of individuals capable of fulfilling the demands of this work, and the opportunity lies in helping them understand the academic ecosystem. Erica’s journey from industry to academia research development exemplifies the potential for professionals to make a significant impact in the RD field. Her involvement with NORDP has been instrumental in not only her growth and success but also the evolution and growth of NORDP and RD programs. Her work highlights the power of community, collaboration, and volunteerism. As the field continues to evolve, recognizing the value of diverse backgrounds and experiences will continue to be vital in nurturing the next generation of research development professionals.