Professional Development

NORDP Career Navigator – Mentorship for Exploring Careers in RD

Written by: Kellie Gross, NORDP Career Navigator Program

For many, research development (RD) is a career that is discovered by chance, and with that discovery, questions abound: What jobs exist in RD? How do my existing experiences and skills apply to a job in RD? Is this field a good fit for me? The Career Navigator mentoring program was developed to help NORDP’s trainee members answer these questions and more. In this program, trainee members are paired with NORDP Career Navigators who share similar backgrounds and career paths of interest to the trainee. Through a mentee-driven relationship, trainees can learn more about the field of RD and find support for landing their first RD position.

To date, this program has supported 10 NORDP trainee members. Mentor Dr. Kathy Partlow, who has promoted and supported interdisciplinary research development since 2012, and mentee Dr. Sofia D’Ambrosio, who transitioned into RD from her PhD in Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, participated in the program in 2020. Over several months, Kathy and Sofia met to discuss topics such as Kathy’s path to RD, how to navigate an RD job search, and how to translate academic research skills to an RD job. Sofia credits a piece of advice from Kathy – build relationships with your local RD office – with helping her to land her first RD position at Washington State University, her PhD institution. She is now a Research Development Specialist within the Office of Research Development at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Learn more as Sofia and Kathy reflect on their experiences with the Career Navigator Program:

What influenced you to join the Career Navigator program as a mentor or mentee?

Sofia: I first heard about the Career Navigator program through the NORDP listserv in 2020. I was a PhD student at the time and knew RD could be a potential career path for me after graduation. But I really wasn’t sure how to start with the job hunt as I approached the end of my degree. Where do I find RD job postings? What are typical RD positions I should be on the lookout for? And most importantly, how do you ‘spin’ your skills as an academic scientist towards an RD career?

The Career Navigator program seemed like an easy way to get advice from someone that had made the transition from PhD researcher to RD professional. As a busy PhD student, I was also drawn to the fact that the program offered an informal setting without too much time commitment or pressure.

Kathy: I’m passionate about mentoring and have experienced first-hand as a mentee and now as a mentor the impact mentoring can have on your professional and even personal growth. So many of us have stories about how we somewhat blindly stumbled into research development. I conducted informational interviews that were extremely helpful in supporting my transition to RD, but I think we can all look back and wish we had someone who was dedicated to shepherding us through the process. This is exactly what the Career Navigator program offers for NORDP trainee members who are aspiring RD professionals. I was excited for the opportunity to share my lessons learned and a-ha moments to make that transition easier for the next generation.

What was your favorite part about your mentoring relationship?

Sofia: Kathy made the transition from academic research to RD seem feasible. Prior to our mentoring relationship, I felt like all my research training had set me up for a postdoc, researcher, or faculty position after graduation – and not much else. Kathy opened my eyes to the possibility of leaving the bench for RD.

Kathy: When Sofia and I met, she was already making all the right moves for exploring RD as a career and gaining experience in writing, grantsmanship, and the RD101 course. She was extremely easy to mentor. I mostly reaffirmed that she was taking the right steps and shared my confidence which in turn built her confidence.

Sofia, you are now serving as a mentor in the Career Navigator program – what drew you to taking on this role?

Sofia: I wanted to help postdocs and PhDs understand that RD exists as a potential career path. I had no idea RD was a field until I happened to run into a NORDP member at a science communication conference during my PhD. And I had no idea I was actually qualified for positions within that field until I met mentors like Kathy showing me the path from academic research to RD! I wanted to show other academics that RD can be a brand-new way of contributing to the research ecosystem that they hadn’t thought of before.

What have you found most rewarding and most challenging about being a mentor?

Kathy: I always find the relationships formed to be the most rewarding aspect of mentoring. I learn just as much (and maybe even more) when I’m the mentor. The challenge can be overcoming common misconceptions (e.g., you need more experience, it takes too much time, etc.) that are not true and can prevent you from becoming a mentor. I found it very rewarding to share my experience and revisit what I learned when securing my first RD position. I’m amazed at the impact, as Sofia and I only met over the course of a few months. The Career Navigator program is very focused, where the mentees are graduate students or postdocs that are interested in pursuing a career in RD. If you took a similar career path, I highly encourage you to volunteer to be a mentor!

Any words of wisdom or encouragement to those who are considering a transition into an RD career?

Sofia: Don’t be afraid to cold contact RD professionals for an informational interview. Plenty of folks will never get back to you, but you’ll be surprised how many people say yes! Even just 10-15 minutes of someone’s time asking about their career path and any advice they have can be valuable. They may even connect you to another helpful resource or person that you would never know about otherwise.

Kathy: I think you can be intentional and thoughtful about your transition to RD. NORDP and its community are supportive and have resources to help, so seek them out and you can make those stories about stumbling into RD part of the past.

NORDP Career Stories

Compiled by Daniel Campbell, Member Services Committee

Career Stories are a partnership of NORDP LEAD, the Professional Development Committee, and the Member Services Committee. These informal “fireside chats” highlight the professional trajectories of NORDP members by showcasing the multiple ways that members end up in research development as well as the variety of paths available for career growth and advancement.

NORDP Charter Fellow and Emeritus Member, Jan Abramson, was part of the group that worked to create this series of conversations. Jan adds, “Career Stories is always a highlight of my month. We have a great team of volunteers who make this event happen, and it is always fun to connect through conversation with NORDP members. Career Stories is a great way to start volunteering or sharing your personal path with NORDP colleagues.”

These 30-minute listen and learn sessions along with participant Q&A, began in January 2021 with Karen Fletcher, Director of Grants Resources & Services at Appalachian State University, and have continued monthly since then.

Gagan Bajaj, PhD, Grant Proposal Developer at the University of Vermont notes, “I joined the team at Career Stories in September 2021, bang in the middle of the pandemic—I was craving human connection, and boy, did the series deliver! Career Stories is my monthly dose of inspiration, and I am so grateful for all the wonderful people I have met through this forum.”

Career Stories from this year are listed below with a bit of background bio on the featured members. All Career Stories have been recorded and are accessible by NORDP members through the NORDP LMS.

January – Sammy Rodriguez Flecha (Washington State University)
Sammy Rodriguez Flecha, PhD is currently the director of the Washington State University’s Team Mentoring Program, a network serving underserved undergraduate students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) and health fields. Prior to this new role, he served as interim director for the WSU Office of Research Advancement & Partnerships. His research development and administration career has spanned over 10 years. His PhD is in educational psychology and his Master’s degree is in English literature. He’s been a member of NORDP’s Nominating Committee, a mentor for NORDP’s mentoring program and participated in the inaugural cohort of NORDP LEAD.

February – Jaime Rubin (Columbia University)
Dr. Jaime Rubin is currently the Vice Chair for Investigator Development in the Department of Medicine at Columbia University. She has held senior level positions at Columbia University Medical Center, including Acting Associate Dean for Graduate Affairs, was the founding Director of the Office of Graduate Affairs, and served as the Acting Associate Vice President/Acting Associate Dean for Research Administration – and was one of the founders of the Office of Research Administration. Dr. Rubin completed her PhD at the Ontario Cancer Institute, University of Toronto. She is currently a Fulbright Scholar awardee with the Republic of Kosovo’s Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation. Her responsibilities include working on projects to increase extramurally-funded research with international partners.

March - Elizabeth Lathrop (University of Maryland)
Elizabeth Lathrop works as a Proposal Development Specialist for the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland. She provides critical support to the Clark School's capacity for complex, multidisciplinary research initiatives in response to targeted funding opportunities. Elizabeth is a Professional Track Faculty with degrees in sciences and was the Associate Director of Programs for a DOE EFRC: Energy Frontier Research Center - Science of Precision Multifunctional Nanostructures for Electrical Energy Storage.  Elizabeth is currently a co-chair of the Mentoring Committee, and participates in the iKnoW, (immigrant Knowledge and Wisdom) Affinity Group.

April - Jason Charland (University of Maine)
Jason Charland serves as Senior Advisor to the President and Executive Director of Research Development at the University of Maine. He oversees research development service provision to faculty and researchers across the University of Maine System, which comprises five primarily undergraduate institutions, a regional comprehensive university, a law school, and an R1 research university distributed across a rural state. He is also responsible for implementing university-wide extramural funding strategies for federal, state, and foundation funding and executing strategic research initiatives.

May - Elizabeth Festa (Rice University)
Elizabeth Festa is a Research Development Specialist in the Office of Research Development at Rice University. She received her Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University and her B.A. from the University of Notre Dame. She is an IRB affiliate at Baylor College of Medicine and a past screener for the Fulbright-National Geographic Fellowship. Before transitioning into RD, Elizabeth was Associate Director of the Program in Writing in Communication at Rice, and the Associate Director of the Center for Academic and Professional Communication. Elizabeth holds leadership positions in NORDP’s Strategic Alliances Committee and Member Services Committee.

June - Camille Coley (University of San Francisco)
Camille Coley, JD, CRA is the inaugural Associate Vice Provost for Sponsored Programs and External Partnerships at the University of San Francisco.  She has worked in research administration and research development for more than 20 years including at the American Museum of Natural History (in New York City, NY), Florida Atlantic University (FAU), and Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center and the Center for Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology at FAU. She is a certified Research Administrator as well as a Certified Mediator. Camille shares her experience and expertise through the NORDP PEERD program and is a consultant for NORDP’s Pilot Project for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

July – Eric Wayne Dickey (Oregon State University)
Eric holds an Honors Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, both from Oregon State University (OSU), and is a certified Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute. He is also a published poet, children's author, and translator of German Poetry, and his work can be found online and in print. In July 2022, Eric began a new role as the first ever Director of Sponsored Programs for OSU’s Division of Extension and Engagement. He has 20 years of experience in research development and proposal and project management and has worked for OSU’s College of Forestry and College of Liberal Arts, for Oregon Sea Grant, and at Western Oregon University where he established its inaugural Sponsored Projects Office. For NORDP, Eric currently serves on the Member Services Committee and is a co-representative for the Pacific Region. He is also on the Mentoring Committee and has recently agreed to serve on the Conference Committee.

August - Jessica Venable (Thorn Run Partners)
Jessica Venable, PhD is known for her work in higher education policy and reform, particularly as it pertains to how underserved and underrepresented individuals, institutions and groups are represented in, and benefit from, the Federal funding landscaper. In her career, she worked in RD at Virginia Commonwealth University, and at NASA Langley Research Center and NASA Headquarters. She has also served as a grant reviewer for numerous federal agencies, and prior to joining Thorn Run Partners served as Vice President at McAllister & Quinn.

Elizabeth Festa noted, “As a person who transitioned to RD mid-career, the experience of being interviewed for Career Stories was a validating one. The field of RD is still emerging and the opportunity to draw upon a wide variety of experiences and skills to impact the profession, as opposed to following a clearly defined path, has ultimately been rewarding. Career Stories made me recognize the value in my unique path, and those of my NORDP colleagues.”

Don’t miss our Fall 2023 slate of speakers:

September 13 – Nina Exeter Register Here
October 10 – Josh Roney Register Here
November – Katie Lindl
December 12 – Sarah Robertson Register Here

If you are interested participating as a conversation facilitator, technical host or sharing your own story please contact Gagan Bajaj at gagan.bajaj@med.uvm.edu.

If you are curious about a previous session you were not able to attend you can find them on the NORDP LMS under NORDP LEAD presents: Fireside Chats. https://nordp.mclms.net/en/package/4461/course/9169/view

Applications Sought for NORDP LEAD Cohort 3

Applications for the third cohort of NORDP Leadership, Engagement and Development (LEAD) are being accepted through Friday, September 1, 2023.

A free professional development opportunity for NORDP members, LEAD was established to help create opportunities for member development, engagement, and leadership. One goal for LEAD is to help develop future leaders for committees, working groups, and NORDP’s board of directors.

Participants in the LEAD cohort program spend around 12 hours during an eight-month period devoted to learning about and reflecting on topics like:

Identifying individual strengths and strengths-based leadership
Strategic planning for professional and personal growth
Inclusive collaboration in team-based scholarship
Non-profit board operations and opportunities for service and leadership within NORDP

Through the LEAD cohort program, participants develop a personalized plan for growth as a research development professional and/or as a NORDP member.

LEAD cohorts are limited to 12 individuals to maximize opportunities for learning, community building, and professional networking. Cohort meetings will be on the third Thursday monthly from October 2023 to May 2024.

The 90-minute sessions will run from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Eastern/11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Central/10 to 11:30 a.m. Mountain/9 to 10:30 a.m. Pacific on the following dates:

October 19
November 16
December 21
January 18
February 15
March 21
April 18
May 16

Following each session, participants have the option to remain on Zoom for up to 30 minutes for informal networking with other cohort members and the program facilitators.

Cohort 3 applications should be submitted via InfoReady by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Friday, September 1. Applicants must submit their contact information; a short statement of interest and readiness; and a copy of their curriculum vitae or résumé.

All NORDP members are eligible to apply. Application review criteria include the:

alignment between an applicant’s interests in joining LEAD and their readiness to participate in the program.
applicant’s past record of contribution within NORDP or the field of research development and their potential for future, more significant impact.

Participants will be selected based on the diversity of the applicant pool and their willingness to commit to missing no more than one monthly meeting of the cohort. Selection notifications will be issued by Friday, September 22. For additional information about NORDP LEAD – Cohort 3, contact Lisa Lopez or Nathan Meier.

Tools ‘n Tips: Making Presentations that Stick

Presented by Melanie Bauer

Many of our workshops to faculty contain some pretty dry information. How do you keep them engaged for the entire presentation? You need to give out “nuggets of wisdom” (takeaways that apply to them). These “a-ha” moments better stick when they directly benefit them.

Examples of workshop topics and how to turn them into a “nugget of wisdom”

Timeline
- From – Create a detailed timeline for your proposal writing journey
- To – Planning to write takes longer than you think
Sections
- From – Learn about the sections of a grant proposal and how to tell a compelling story
- To – Be a storyteller and entrepreneur
Pitfalls
- From – Understand common pitfalls for first-time and experienced grant writers
- To – Find your fits and reach out & All the pieces matter
Tips
- From – Find out tips for making your proposal stand out
- To – Get graphic & Grant writing is like applying for a job

Additional “takeaway” examples

Follow the money
Don’t be a square
Know how funders walk and talk
Funder priorities are the sprinkles
Win friends and influence reviewers
Third time’s a charm
Level up or move along

Resources:

How to design & teach workshops that work every time by Robert Fitzpatrick & Devin Hunt (www.workshopsurvival.com)
Prezi (there is a free version) – www.prezi.com
This TNT presentation was recorded and can be viewed HERE.

Past TNT recordings can be found on the NORDP Learning Management System (LMS).

Past TNT recordings can be found on the NORDP website.
Log into your NORDP account (www.nordp.org)
Look for the “Quick Links” menu (blue)
Select “NORDP LMS”
Make sure you are seeing “All Courses” – scroll down to the bottom and select “SHOW ALL COURSES”
Search for “TnT”
Select the “TnT (Tools and Tips) Talks”

The next TNT presentation will be Tuesday, December 6^th at 12:00pm (eastern).

TNT: Writing for a Lay Audience – Presented by Susan Elkins
Register HERE.

Do you have a great Tool or Tip you would be willing to share? If so, please contact Dawn McArthur or Emily Devereux. We would love to hear any requests and we’ll see if we can’t find a presenter!

Virtual pilot short course for early career RD professionals

November 8, 2021 – December 17, 2021 • Seats are limited!

REGISTER NOW

What is research development (RD)? How is it done? Even professionals who have worked extensively with funded research and researchers throughout their careers may feel like they only understand their specific jobs and responsibilities. Because RD roles in organizations and institutions vary (and units are often siloed), it can be hard to get a full picture of RD as a field and how it fits into the research enterprise. RD101 will help you understand the field, expand your existing skill set, and explore new ways to support research at your institution.

NORDP is once again offering a pilot virtual short course, RD 101, which introduces the field of RD. This 12.5-hour course (not including readings and other coursework) presents a framework for understanding who RD professionals are, the skills that make them effective in their roles, the hows and whys of what they do, and the resources they rely on.

There are no prerequisites for RD 101; it is intended for new RD professionals (those with fewer than two years of experience in RD) or those considering becoming RD professionals. The instructors are experienced RD professionals from a range of institutions (e.g., centralized and decentralized, R1s, PUIs) and have designed the course around the skills and information they wish they’d had when they first entered the profession.

Course topics include:

What is RD? Who is the RD Professional?
Components and Elements of the RD Process—Institutional and Professional Cultures and How They Affect the Work of RD
RFPs and Proposals: Requirements and Constraints
Helping Researchers Produce Effective Proposals

In addition to the weekly meetings, you will have additional activities to contextualize yourself and your position within the RD profession. The course will help you to develop a personal career development plan.

General sessions: Mondays 1:00pm – 2:30pm ET (November 8, 15, 29, December 6 & 13)

Breakout sessions (choose one per week):

Thursdays 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET (November 18, December 2, 9, & 16)
Fridays 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET (November 12*, 19, December 3, 10, & 17)

* Two break out rooms will be hosted on Friday, November 12 to accommodate the Veteran’s Day Holiday

This pilot will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Please confirm that you will be able to attend ALL course meetings and one breakout session prior to registering. There will not be a waitlist. There is no charge for this pilot workshop, but registrants must be NORDP members. Future RD 101 offerings will have a registration fee. Future offerings will be announced in early 2022.

Registration is limited to 25 participants. Registration closes Tuesday, November 2, 2021.

For questions or more information, please contact Joanna.Downer@duke.edu or Faye.Farmer@asu.edu.

Registration link HERE.

Facilitators:

Paige Belisle, Harvard University – While pursuing a MFA in Writing at the University of New Hampshire, Paige Belisle discovered her career path by serving as a graduate student intern in UNH’s Research Development Office. Through NORDP, she met the members of Harvard University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences Research Development Office and joined their team in 2016. She serves faculty members by identifying funding opportunities and providing proposal development support. Her current specialty is in providing Research Development outreach to new faculty members in the arts and humanities, as well as assembling monthly funding opportunities newsletters.

Katie Shoaf, Appalachian State University – Katie Shoaf is the Associate Director for Grants Resources and Services at Appalachian State University. She holds an M.A. and M.L.S. from Appalachian State. She has been a NORDP member since 2017 and serves on the Mentoring Committee and the Professional Development Committee. In the Office of Research at Appalachian, she administers limited submission competitions, internal competitions, and the internal peer review process. She is also charged with developing the international research process and opportunities for the Office of Research.

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.

NORDP PUI Survey

Do you support research development (RD) at a predominately undergraduate institution (PUI) or other small, teaching-intensive institutional context?

Please help us to build knowledge about the ‘landscape’ of RD at PUIs by completing the NORDP PUI survey!

Findings from the survey, which should take approximately 15 minutes to complete, will help the research team (members of the NORDP PUI Affinity Group) to understand the context and needs of RD professionals at PUIs, and ultimately to develop supportive resources, programming, and advocacy tools. Participation in the survey is voluntary. No individuals or institutions will be publicly identified, and no identifying information will be released outside of the research team.

Thank you in advance for contributing to the advancement of RD at PUIs! Questions may be directed via email to any of the research team members at the below addresses.

Best Regards,
PUI NORDP Survey Research Team

Jessica Bishop-Royce, DePaul University (jbishopr@depaul.edu)
Dean Gerstein, Pomona College (dean.gerstein@pomona.edu)
Jennifer Glass, Eastern Michigan University (jglass5@emich.edu)
Kara Luckey, Seattle University (kluckey@seattleu.edu)
Peggy Sundermeyer, ORG Transitions (PeggyS@ORGtransitions.org)

We want YOU for our focus group exploring research development certification!

NORDP launched the Certification Taskforce in Fall 2020 to explore the potential of certification for our organization. We have completed several brainstorming sessions, which resulted in a path forward for our work and requires your help.

Fall 2021 will launch focus group discussions in parallel with examining the path to certification for other similarly situated organizations as a comparison. The focus group will inform the design of a member survey to explore overall interest in pursuit of certification for Research Development.

We are holding four focus group sessions based on key demographics of our members:

Transitioning to RD + Early Career (interested in career in RD but not in RD; currently working in RD <=3 years)
Experienced (working in RD for >3 and <=10 years)
Advanced (working in RD for >10 years, but not at an executive level)
Executive (VP, Sr. Director)

These focus groups will be meeting during fall 2021. Participants will be asked to work with our facilitators for one 90-minute session. *Sessions will be recorded.*

We are interested in hearing from RD professionals from all levels of experience as well as from all institutional designations and RD unit types. Whether you are a leader in RD planning your personnel’s budget for professional development or an entry level RD professional seeking to gain knowledge and skills to take your career to the next level, we would love to hear from you!

If you have interest in and ability to participate and identify with one of the above groups, please complete the interest form here: LINK. We ask that you submit your information on or before Aug 30, 2021. We will follow up with invitations throughout September for sessions in October.

Thank you for your interest in supporting this work in support of NORDP’s KRA 3.4 – Career and Professional Development–Explore potential for formal certification of RD.

We Want YOU for Research Development 101!

As part of the organizational commitment to make Research Development (RD) 101 the signature offering of the National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP), we have been investing in the professionalization of the course. As part of that work, we are interested in creating a sustainability plan for facilitators for the course. We are asking for expressions of interest via a Google form: https://forms.gle/Sat1vqCAZF4VL5jN9

Request is open until: The positions are open on an ongoing basis.

Remuneration: This is a volunteer position.

What you will do: You will be working with the two lead facilitators and a small team of board champions to deliver established curriculum and contribute to improvement of that curriculum over time. You may be asked to train others once you are proficient. If you have interest other than facilitating, please consider adding your name to the list as well.

What you will need to bring to the role: A passion for sharing what Research Development is.

How often will you be asked to participate: The lead facilitators will reach out to individuals as needed to determine interest and availability. If you’re interested now or later, sign up now. They will work with your schedule and keep the list alive.

How long will you volunteer: The frequency and duration of RD 101 is evolving as it improves, but we hope to offer it up to three times per year. Facilitators can do one or more courses.

Questions? Email Joanna Downer at joanna.downer@duke.edu or Faye Farmer at Faye.Farmer@asu.edu.

Upcoming Career Stories: Fireside Chats

You are invited to attend the next Career Stories: Fireside Chats, a collaboration of NORDP LEAD, and the Professional Development and Member Services Committees on Thursday, February 18 at 1:00 pm EST / 10 am PST.

This conversational series, developed in response to member requests, will highlight the professional trajectories of NORDP members. The series will showcase the multiple ways NORDP members ended up in research development and the many paths available for career growth and advancement.

The February speaker will be Susan Carter, Research Development Director at Santa Fe Institute (New Mexico). Susan is a founding board member of NORDP and has over 20 years’ experience in research and faculty development, diversity and team science, and as a research funding program officer and administrator. Susan will share her journey in research development, and the ways in which involvement in NORDP has supported her professional development.

Mark your calendar for next month’s Fireside Chat. Mark Milutinovich, Director of Large Center Development at the University of New Hampshire will be sharing his research development pathway on Wednesday, March 10 at 2:00 pm EST / 11:00 am PST.

You can register for Mark’s conversation HERE.

Career Stories: Fireside Chats are designed to be 30-minute listen and learn sessions, with time for follow-up questions. The sessions are being archived and made available for later viewing via the NORDP LMS. If you are interested in sharing YOUR RD story, please contact Jan Abramson.

NROAD is on the NORDP website!

Submitted by Samarpita Sengupta

Thank you NORDP community for your interest in the NROAD to RD resource. This resource can be used to create training programs to train people interested in a career in RD or it can be used to onboard new team members. Accessing NROAD to RD is now easier than ever because the resource is now on the NORDP website behind the membership firewall. Step by step instructions on accessing the resource are below:

Step1: Login to NORDP using your username and password.

Step 2: Click on the Resources tab.

Step 3: Click on the NORDP Professional Development and Webinars tab on the next page.

Step 4: Under NORDP professional development, the first option is NROAD.

Step 5: Once you fill out a brief survey, so we can track usage and follow up for feedback, you will be emailed a PDF copy of NROAD to RD.