RAxMI Research Administration Conference

U-M’s inaugural conference to elevate and advance research administration

April 28, 2026 • Michigan Union • Free and open to all U-M employees

Keynote Speaker

Headshot of Britany Affolter-Caine

Britany L. Affolter-Caine, Ph.D.

Executive Director, Research Universities for Michigan

Dr. Britany Affolter-Caine is the executive director of Research Universities for Michigan (RU4M), an alliance of Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University. As one of the nation’s top university innovation clusters, RU4M is a leading engine for innovation in Michigan and the Great Lakes region. Prior to RU4M, Britany was the talent director for Ann Arbor SPARK, and a senior research associate for the Metropolitan Policy Program of the Brookings Institution on the Great Lakes Economic Initiative. Britany has served as a director on the Michigan Strategic Fund board since 2019. She earned her Ph.D. in higher education policy from the University of Michigan (2008), a M.Ed. in secondary education from Wright State University (1999), and a BA in political science from Wittenberg University (1996).

Opening Remarks

Headshot of Britany Affolter-Caine

Arthur Lupia, Ph.D.

Vice President for Research and Innovation, University of Michigan

Headshot of Britany Affolter-Caine

Shandra White

Associate Vice President for Research-Sponsored Projects, University of Michigan

 

Main Speakers

Andrea Anderson

Executive Director, Sponsored Projects, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

About

Andrea Anderson is the Executive Director of Sponsored Projects for the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects, where she oversees proposal, award, and contract negotiation operations. Prior to joining U-M, Andrea was the Executive Director for the University of North Texas Health Science Center’s Office of Sponsored Programs, overseeing the central office handling pre-award, contract negotiations, post-award, and sponsored project accounting for the institution. Andrea has more than 15 years of experience in research administration and is a certified research administrator. She holds a J.D. from Wayne State University Law School.

Presentation Title

Enriching Partnership Within the RA Ecosystem: Working Towards a Unified Vision for Increased Collaboration Within the Research Administration Ecosystem at U-M

Angela Benke

Director of Talent Acquisition, University Human Resources, Talent Acquisition

About

Angela leads the Talent Acquisition function within central HR with a focus on inclusive recruiting practices and mitigating bias. Her work in this space started almost 30 years ago, and she has developed strategies and practices along her non-traditional career path that included work in marginalized communities in Chicago. Angela works with units across the Ann Arbor campus to support hiring needs and ensure equity and inclusiveness in recruiting.

Presentation Title

Resources for Hiring Research Administrators

Stephanie Blackmore

Research Administrator Process Lead, Finance Dean, College of Literature, Science and the Arts

About

With more than 10 years of experience in research administration, Stephanie Blackmore oversees complex faculty portfolios and aids in large-scale sponsored projects across the full grant lifecycle while mentoring staff and leading training and process improvement initiatives. She also co-leads university-wide certified research administrator (CRA) development programs. A CRA through the Research Administrators Certification Council, Stephanie recently completed her M.S. in research administration and compliance at the CUNY School of Professional Studies. In 2024, she was named a Future of the Field Honoree by the Society of Research Administrators International.

Presentation Title

Mastering Large-Scale Grants: A Practical Guide for Research Administrators

Christy Bohensky

Lead Sponsored Project Officer, Award Management, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

About

Christy Bohensky is the lead sponsored project officer for Award Management in the Office of Research & Sponsored Projects. Her fifteen-year career trajectory — moving from foundational research administration to institutional leadership — reflects her commitment to professional excellence and a deep understanding of the regulatory landscape. She and her Award Management Team enable the university’s faculty to push the boundaries of knowledge while ensuring that the institution remains a trusted steward of external funding.

Presentation Title

From Signature to Science: Understanding the Terms that Drive Research Administration

Amy Brooks

Research Administration Senior Manager, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science – Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

About

Amy B. Brooks has served as a Research Administrator at the University of Michigan for over 25 years. Throughout her tenure in research administration, she has gained extensive experience across nearly all aspects of the field, working in several departments.
She currently serves as a Research Administration Senior Manager in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, within the Electrical and Computer Engineering Division. In this role, she oversees numerous large and complex projects, as well as a research facility that includes staffing oversight. Amy earned her certified research administrator credential in 2019.

Presentation Title

Mastering Large-Scale Grants: A Practical Guide for Research Administrators

Tiffany Brutus, Ph.D.

Associate Director, Office for Research Administration Strategy

About

As the associate director of the Office for Research Administration Strategy in the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR), Tiffany Brutus leads strategic initiatives, including bolstering talent development efforts to align with the University’s future growth and dynamic research landscape, creating data management and business intelligence systems to facilitate benchmarking, optimizing AI use in research administration processes, and implementing opportunities for continuous skill development across the ecosystem. Tiffany previously held the role of assistant director of strategic partnerships in OVPR. With over 15 years of experience, Tiffany specializes in assessing complex situations and designing actionable strategies.

Presentation Title

U-M Research Administration Degree Program

Kellie Buss

Manager, Award Management, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

About

Kellie Buss has been working in the research administration field for more than 20 years in both department and central offices and is currently one of the two managers for the Award Management Team in the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects. She has been part of the RAMP↑ Mentoring program at U-M, assisted with Navigate sessions, developed campus training materials for how to work with several federal agencies, and led sessions for the U-M campus aiM-Higher CRA review group. She has a passion for research administration and the breadth of topics and people research touches.

Presentation Title

Uniform Guidance: How To Not Get Your ACR Returned

Missy Denny

Research Administrator Manager II, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts

About

Missy Denny is a Research Administrator Manager II in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, where she oversees the full pre- and post-award lifecycle for externally funded research. In her current position, she manages a team of research administrators that support faculty across all three divisions in LSA, which includes Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and the Humanities. With 14 years of experience in sponsored programs and financial management, she specializes in post-award management, large-scale federal grants, compliance, financial oversight and team leadership. She is a certified research administrator and holds an M.B.A. in finance and a B.B.A. in accountancy.

Presentation Title

Mastering Large-Scale Grants: A Practical Guide for Research Administrators

Kate Chie

Manager, Pre-Award, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

About

Kate Chie is a member of the ORSP Pre-Award Lead team, which brings together a holistic understanding of the research lifecycle, merging government and private sponsor insights with deep roots in research administration. This diverse background ensures a well-rounded approach to navigating the complexities of the funding landscape.

Presentation Title

Curtain Call: Navigating the PAF Pre-Award Odyssey

Sylvia Galaty

Research Administrator Senior, Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering

About

Sylvia Galaty is a research administrator with several years of experience supporting academic research initiatives. She brings a unique perspective to research administration through her background as an archaeologist, combining methodical attention to detail with a passion for discovery. Sylvia is dedicated to helping faculty, staff and students successfully navigate the research process, and takes pride in collaborative work with others in her network.

Presentation Title

Tailoring Research Administration for Assistant, Associate, and Full Professors

Sam Gibbons

Associate Director, Pre-Award, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

About

Sam Gibbons is a member of the ORSP Pre-Award Lead team, which brings together a holistic understanding of the research lifecycle, merging government and private sponsor insights with deep roots in research administration. This diverse background ensures a well-rounded approach to navigating the complexities of the funding landscape.

Presentation Title

Curtain Call: Navigating the PAF Pre-Award Odyssey (Panel Discussion)

Joanie Hales

ZingTrain Managing Partner

About

Joanie Hales started working at Zingerman’s Roadhouse in 2003 and has held a variety of roles. In 2016, she became a Managing Partner. Joanie’s lengthy experience working at Zingerman’s has given her a unique view of the organization, putting the business philosophies and best practices she teaches into day-to-day practice. She loves sharing Zingerman’s philosophies with others because she knows they work and make a difference. Her specialties are leadership, service and open book management, and she excels at sharing real-life examples that can relate well to her client’s industry. Joanie’s passion for the principles and culture of Zingerman’s shines through in her training.

Presentation Title

Creating a Vision of Greatness

Lizzie Howard

Lead Sponsored Projects Officer, Pre-Award, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

About

Biography goes here

Presentation Title

Curtain Call: Navigating the PAF Pre-Award Odyssey (Panel Discussion)

Ruth Halsey

Chief Department Administrator, Department of Human Genetics, U-M Medical School

About

Ruth Halsey manages the Department of Human Genetics at the Medical School. Ruth is an active trainer with U-M’s Navigate program and has also presented at many past research administrator conferences. Ruth previously served as President of the Society of Research Administrators Michigan Chapter, then as President of the Society of Research Administrators Midwest Section. Ruth is a recent recipient of the Research Administration Recognition Award from the Office of the Vice President for Research.

Presentation Title

Best Practices for Managing Effort and Appointments for Research Administrators

Rula Karapatsakis

Finance Manager, Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research

About

Rula Karapatsakis is an innovative financial leader with over 25 years of financial experience in research administration. She has presented on many research administration topics such as budgeting, post-award management, cost sharing, closeouts, business objects and training grants. Rula has delivered presentations at professional conferences, including those for the National Council of University Research Administrators and Society of Research Administrators International. She is known for engaging audiences through active learning and storytelling, bringing the numbers to life with real-world context and insights.

Presentation Title

Post Award Game Land

Erin Kingsley

Manager, Pre-Award, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

About

Erin Kingsley is a member of the ORSP Pre-Award Lead team, which brings together a holistic understanding of the research lifecycle, merging government and private sponsor insights with deep roots in research administration. This diverse background ensures a well-rounded approach to navigating the complexities of the funding landscape.

Presentation Title

Curtain Call: Navigating the PAF Pre-Award Odyssey (Panel Discussion)

Heather Kraus

Director of Research Administration, College of Literature, Science and the Arts

About

Biography to come

Presentation Title

Enriching Partnership Within the RA Ecosystem: Working Towards a Unified Vision for Increased Collaboration Within the Research Administration Ecosystem at U-M

Patrick Lagua

Research Administration Senior Manager, Nuclear Engineering & Radiological Sciences, College of Engineering

About

Biography to come

Presentation Title

Best Practices for Managing Effort and Appointments for Research Administrators

Melissa Li

Research Administration Manager, Orthopaedic Surgery, U-M Medical School

About

Melissa Li is a research administration manager in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Michigan Medical School, where she oversees the department’s basic research operations. She also serves as chair of the Research Administration Advisory Council Training Subcommittee and co-lead of the Research Administration Managers Forum at U-M. A strong advocate of servant leadership, Melissa is deeply committed to mentoring and professional development. In addition to her daily work in research administration, she plays a key role in the Research Administration Mentoring Program (RAMP↑). Recognizing the evolving needs of the research administration workforce, she spearheaded the creation of the Emerging Research Administrators track, supporting the growth and success of the next generation of research administrators.

Presentation Title

Leading Through Communication: Building Trust and Connection in Research Administration

Mary Mangum

Assistant Director and Center Administrator of the Survey Research Center

About

As the Assistant Director and Center Administrator for the ISR Survey Research Center (SRC), Mary Mangum is responsible for managing the administrative and financial operations for the SRC. These areas include budget and finance, facilities and infrastructure, human resources and faculty affairs, research administration, and administrative services and support for SRC programs and units. She supports the SRC Director with implementing short- and long-term priorities, initiatives and activities that relate to strategic direction and operational goals. She also provides collaborative leadership in the planning, direction, execution and evaluation of programs, policies, services and initiatives at both the center and institute level.

Presentation Title

Under the ISR Umbrella: Research Resources for the University Community

Ute Lowery

Senior Award Management Officer, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

About

Ute Lowery has been with ORSP since fall 2023. Before joining U-M, she spent over 20 years working as a higher education administrator at a variety of institutions. Additionally, she has 14 years of research administration experience supporting sponsored projects and contributing deep expertise in award management and compliance.

Presentation Title

Making Yes Possible: Working with the ORSP Award Management Team

David Mulder

Senior Director, Research Data & Security, Assistant Director of Regulatory Affairs, Office of the Vice President for Research/U-M Medical School

About

David Mulder has been working for U-M since 1999. The majority of that time has been in areas related to research administration and research compliance. Previous roles include assistant director for research administration systems in ITS, training program manager in ORSP/Sponsored Programs, and program manager for international engagement and research security in ORSP.

Presentation Title

Introduction to Research Security

Frederick D. Paffhausen

Research Administrator

About

Frederick D. Paffhausen is a certified research administrator and a research administration lead in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in the Department of Internal Medicine with a cradle-to-grave research portfolio. Prior to joining U-M in 2019, he was a grant writer and grant administrator for a boutique public sector-focused firm in southeast Michigan. A double graduate of UM-Dearborn with a BA in English and history and a master’s in public policy, Fred is a life-long lover of all things Michigan.

Presentation Title

Guest Emcee

Thomas Paluchniak

Contracts Manager, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

About

Biography to come

Presentation Title

From Signature to Science: Understanding the Terms that Drive Research Administration

Huimin Ponchart

Research Administration/Financial Senior Manager, Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering

About

Huimin Ponchart is a seasoned financial and research administration leader with over a decade of experience in higher education and financial management. Currently serving as a Research Administration/Financial Senior Manager in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Huimin oversees complex research center projects, departmental budgeting, compliance and staff development. Huimin is also a certified research administrator.

Presentation Title

Mastering Large-Scale Grants: A Practical Guide for Research Administrators

Alan Phlipot

Chief Department Administrator, Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics

About

Alan Phlipot is the chief department administrator of the Gilbert S. Omenn Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics at the University of Michigan Medical School where he oversees the research administration team and partners with the chair to drive operational excellence and process improvement, and advance the department’s research and academic missions. He previously worked in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Microbiology and Immunology, and Sponsored Programs over his career. He also spent time as the administrator of the Automotive Research Center funded by the Army. Alan presented at the National Council of University Research Administrators national conference in 2024 and is a certified research administrator.

Presentation Title

Utilizing AI in Research Administration

Nick Prieur

Research Administrator Senior Manager, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research

About

Nicholas Prieur is a research administration senior manager in the Survey Research Center at the Institute for Social Research. He has been in higher education research administration for over 20 years and received his certified research administration certification in 2019. Nick currently serves as the overall administrative manager for four large social science research programs within the center, managing a team of professionals in lifecycle research administration for 25 faculty and nearly 50 sponsored research awards totaling approximately $12 million dollars per year. He also serves as a trainer/mentor for several research administration courses at U-M and is a past chair/current member of the RAAC Training subcommittee. He has presented at a multitude of professional research administration conferences for many years.

Presentation Title

Climbing the Pre-award Mountain: Proposal Project Management for Research Administrators

Amanda Reel

Manager, Award Management, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

About

Amanda Reel is one of the two Managers for the Award Management team at the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects. Previously at ORSP, she was a Senior Project Representative on the Government Sponsors team, providing pre-award and non-financial post-award services for sponsored grants and contracts from government funders. She also has over 10 years of program management experience at capacity building organizations supporting nonprofits through volunteer recruitment, grantmaking, and training.

Presentation Titles

“Ask an ORSP Officer” Drop-In
Uniform Guidance: How To Not Get Your ACR Returned

Catherine Seay-Ostrowski

Director of Administration and Center Administrator, Institute for Social Research

About

Biography to come

Presentation Title

Enriching Partnership Within the RA Ecosystem: Working Towards a Unified Vision for Increased Collaboration Within the Research Administration Ecosystem at U-M

Under the ISR Umbrella: Research Resources for the University Community

Annalee Shelton

Membership Development Director of the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research

About

Annalee Shelton is the Membership Development Director at the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), supporting 800+ member institutions who are using data to make an impact on real life. Anna’s previous experience includes the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, American Red Cross and UCLA. She received her MA in Social Entrepreneurship and Change from Pepperdine University, where her thesis included teaching business practices to female entrepreneurs in Nairobi.

Presentation Title

Under the ISR Umbrella: Research Resources for the University Community

Kathleen Sullivan

Senior Award Management Officer, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

About

Kathleen Sullivan joined the ORSP in fall 2025. Prior to U-M, she held research administration roles at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati, bringing experience from both academic and healthcare research environments.

Presentation Title

Making Yes Possible: Working with the ORSP Award Management Team

Danielle Smith

Director of LSI Research Administration, Life Sciences Institute

About

Danielle Smith is the director of research administration, managing pre-and post-award research administration, for the Life Sciences Institute (LSI). With U-M since September 2015, she has been a research administrator for over 25 years and has held various department and central pre-and post-award positions at Harvard University, Smith College, University of Massachusetts Amherst and Northeastern University. Danielle is the LSI representative to the Research Administration Advisory Council and Smaller Colleges Group. She co-created the aiM-Higher CRA Study program and created and co-leads the Research Administration Manager Forum. She is a certified research administrator, a mentor to several research administrators in Michigan and New England, and a member of National Council of University Research Administrators and Society of Research Administrators International.

Presentation Titles

Leading Through Communication: Building Trust and Connection in Research Administration
Enriching Partnership Within the RA Ecosystem: Working Towards a Unified Vision for Increased Collaboration Within the Research Administration Ecosystem at U-M

Becca Timmermans

Award Management Officer, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

About

Becca Timmermans has been at U-M at ORSP since fall 2019 and prior to that worked in various other roles at both Eastern Michigan University and U-M including a research funded project at U-M. Becca’s varied experiences gives her broad institutional perspective as well as hands-on project experience.

Presentation Title

Making Yes Possible: Working with the ORSP Award Management Team

Jocelyn Webber

Manager of Research Administration, LSA Finance

About

Jocelyn Webber has worked in a variety of roles at U-M, most recently in research development, leading activities that support a robust research enterprise. Embracing her passion for people and helping others succeed, Jocelyn became an International Coaching Federation-certified coach in 2024. Building relationships, supporting individuals and teams and leading with listening are key components of her work. This led her to take a position in LSA Finance where she currently mentors and supports both experienced and new research administrators. Jocelyn holds a bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University and a certificate in leadership coaching for organizational well-being from George Mason University.

Presentation Title

The Resilient RA: Finding Calm and Clarity in Uncertain Times

Poster Presenters

Tiffany Brutus, Ph.D.

Associate Director, Office for Research Administration Strategy

About

As the associate director of the Office for Research Administration Strategy in the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR), Tiffany Brutus leads strategic initiatives, including bolstering talent development efforts to align with the University’s future growth and dynamic research landscape, creating data management and business intelligence systems to facilitate benchmarking, optimizing AI use in research administration processes, and implementing opportunities for continuous skill development across the ecosystem. Tiffany previously held the role of assistant director of strategic partnerships in OVPR. With over 15 years of experience, Tiffany specializes in assessing complex situations and designing actionable strategies.

Presentation Title

U-M Research Administration Degree Program

Joey Burns

Senior Award Management Officer, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

About

Joey Burns has been in research administration for eight years. Previously, he held roles in the Office of Sponsored Programs at the University of Virginia, where he was responsible for a wide variety of research administration work including proposal review and submission, award negotiation, financial account setup, and managing outgoing subawards, and the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado, where he focused on outgoing subcontracts. Since 2023, he has been in Office of Research and Sponsored Projects on the Award Management Team.

Presentation Title

eRPM AWD Setup

Patrick Case

Award Management Officer, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

About

Patrick Case started with the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects in 2019 as an assistant project representative on the Government Sponsors Team, and is now with the Award Management Team. He has more than 16 years of combined award management experience, at U-M and as a private sponsor.

Presentation Title

All Things No Cost Extensions

Raymond Cluckey

Assistant Director, Corporate and Foundation Research Support, Innovation Partnerships

About

As an associate director of Strategic Contracting, Raymond Cluckey takes a faculty-centric approach to identify, develop and execute sponsored research partnerships with industry and foundation partners. This includes counseling faculty on existing research partnerships, executing accompanying agreements, and identifying and cultivating new research relationships. Raymond primarily supports projects in the Physical Sciences. Previously, Raymond worked as a project representative in the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects, where he worked with project teams and companies in order to negotiate sponsored research agreements, master research agreements and non-disclosure agreements.

Presentation Title

Unlocking Innovation: How U-M Innovation Partnerships Supports Faculty and Research Administrators

Tina Creguer

Associate Director, Training Grant Support, Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, U-M Medical School

About

Tina Creguer serves as the associate director of Training Grant Support and develops resources and support for U-M teams seeking or funded by NIH institutional training grants. Prior to this role, she served as senior project manager for Pediatric Nephrology Research and for U-M Precision Health and, before that, as managing director of the University of Michigan Injury Center. In each role, she had responsibility for developing competitive grants programs and/or helping to manage funded federal grants (e.g., NIH, CDC, FDA).

Presentation Title

Training Grant Support: Meeting the Need for Timely, Effective Support for Submitting and Maintaining NIH Institutional Training Grants

Mary Donnelly

Senior Research Compliance Specialist, Health Sciences and Behavioral Sciences Institutional Review Board (IRB-HSBS)

About

Biography to come

Presentation Title

U-M as Single IRB – Best Practice, Compliance and Quality

Joanne DeVore

Research Administrator Senior, U-M-Flint Office of Research

About

Joanne DeVore is a research administrator in the UM-Flint Office of Research. Presenting with her colleagues Jennifer Klimowicz and Sarah Baker, together the group specializes in pre-award proposal submission, and post-award grant management and support. With a backgrounds spanning higher education and the non-profit sector, they provide expertise in grant budgeting, financial reporting, compliance and expense monitoring. The team is known for connecting researchers with campus resources, guiding faculty and staff through complex post-award processes, and fostering collaboration across campus units. Their work includes supporting the “Strategic Use-Inspired Research Growth and Engagement” project and delivering innovative training through the GUIDE initiative.

Presentation Title

Supporting Grant Operations at Small Colleges: The GUIDE Series Experience

Emily Fleming

Regulatory Specialist, Office of Regulatory Affairs, U-M Medical School

About

Biography to come

Presentation Title

Don’t Do It Yourself! Getting Guidance on NIH & Clinical Trials Reporting Policies

Joseph Fraley

Policy and Planning Analyst, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

About

Joseph Fraley joined the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects as the policy and planning analyst in July 2024. Joseph is highly interested in the circular interactions between policy and research. They hold a master’s in international affairs from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a BA from U-M Ann Arbor.

Presentation Title

U-M Research Administration Degree Program

Brianna Galli

Research Administrator Intermediate, Medical School Grant Services & Analysis

About

Brianna Galli is a certified research administrator in the Medical School with eight years of direct experience in the field. She is a member of the National Council of University Research Administrators member and a board game nerd.

Presentation Title

Virtues of the RACC-CRA Certification

Cindy Grau

Research Administrator Lead, Oncology Clinical Trials Support Unit

About

Cindy Grau began her career at Michigan Medicine in 2006 after earning a bachelor of science in business management from Central Michigan University. Since joining OCTSU in 2017, she has specialized in pre-award operations for industry-sponsored clinical trials. In her current maintenance team role, she leads budget renegotiations and billing grid revisions in response to protocol amendments and evolving study requirements, ensuring financial integrity and alignment throughout the lifecycle of each trial. As part of the Rogel Cancer Center Developing Leaders Program, she helped establish a structured quality assurance framework that strengthened accountability and elevated the overall quality of budget development across the team.

Presentation Title

Negotiating Payment Terms in Clinical Trial Budget Development: The Role of Quality Assurance

Lana Gevorkyan

Director, Coordinated Services, Practices and Strategic Partnerships, U-M Human Research Protection Program

About

As director of coordinated services, practices and strategic partnerships, Lana Gevorkyan is responsible for the development of harmonized Institutional Review Board (IRB) practices and single IRB efforts between U-M IRBs. In addition, she provides regulatory support associated with the research collaboration across U-M Health Statewide Network of Care Sites. Lana holds a B.S. and an MBA from Davenport University and has over 20 years of experience in clinical research, regulatory compliance, strategic initiatives and operational workflows.

Presentation Title

U-M as Single IRB – Best Practice, Compliance and Quality

Jessica Harper

Manager, Research Administration Communications, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

About

Jessica Harper is the manager, research administration communications with ORSP. She leads communications for ORSP, supports communications efforts in Sponsored Programs and other central offices, and assists with other strategic communications efforts under the Office of the Vice President for Research. Jess has more than 20 years of experience driving communications across health, research, academic and public-sector organizations. Most recently, she served as the deputy director of communications for the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health, where she oversaw efforts to disseminate information on aging and aging research to various audiences.

Presentation Title

From Clicks to Clarity: Redesigning the ORSP Website Experience

Molly Hirst

Data Curation Specialist for Health Sciences,  U-M Library

About

Molly Hirst is works with health sciences researchers to publish their works in the Deep Blue repositories. She holds a Ph.D. (ecology and evolutionary biology) from U-M.

Presentation Title

Preserving Scholarly Works in U-M’s Institutional Repositories: Deep Blue Documents and Deep Blue Data

Lizzie Howard

Lead Sponsored Projects Officer, Pre-Award, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

About

Biography to come

Presentation Titles

Backstage to Frontline: Collaborative Communication in the PAF Odyssey
Curtain Call: Navigating the PAF Pre-Award Odyssey (Panel Discussion)

Jennifer Klimowicz

Research Administrator Intermediate, U-M-Flint Office of Research

About

Jennifer Klimowicz is a research administrator in the UM-Flint Office of Research. Presenting with her colleagues Joanne DeVore and Sarah Baker, together the group specializes in pre-award proposal submission, and post-award grant management and support. With a backgrounds spanning higher education and the non-profit sector, they provide expertise in grant budgeting, financial reporting, compliance and expense monitoring. The team is known for connecting researchers with campus resources, guiding faculty and staff through complex post-award processes, and fostering collaboration across campus units. Their work includes supporting the “Strategic Use-Inspired Research Growth and Engagement” project and delivering innovative training through the GUIDE initiative.

Presentation Title

Supporting Grant Operations at Small Colleges: The GUIDE Series Experience

Ashwathi Iyer

Associate Director, Software, Content Licensing and Research Partnerships, Innovation Partnerships

About

Biography to come

Presentation Title

Unlocking Innovation: How U-M Innovation Partnerships Supports Faculty and Research Administrators

Inah Ko

Evaluation Specialist, U-M Medical School

About

Biography to come

Presentation Title

Training Grant Support: Meeting the Need for Timely, Effective Support for Submitting and Maintaining NIH Institutional Training Grants

Melissa Li

Research Administration Manager, Orthopaedic Surgery, U-M Medical School

About

Melissa Li is a Research Administration Manager in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Michigan Medical School, where she oversees the department’s basic research operations. She also serves as Chair of the Research Administration Advisory Council Training Subcommittee and Co-Lead of the Research Administration Managers Forum at UM. A strong advocate of servant leadership, Melissa is deeply committed to mentoring and professional development. In addition to her daily work in research administration, she plays a key role in the Research Administration Mentoring Program (RAMP Up). Recognizing the evolving needs of the research administration workforce, she spearheaded the creation of the Emerging Research Administrators track, supporting the growth and success of the next generation of research administrators.

Presentation Title

Leading Through Communication: Building Trust and Connection in Research Administration

Joe Piffaretti

Senior Executive Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations

About

Joe Piffaretti is the executive senior director, Corporate and Foundation Relations. In this role, he creates, leads and executes cross-divisional strategies to promote regional and nationwide corporate and foundation support of U-M.

Presentation Title

Unlocking Non-Federal Philanthropy: CFR Resources for Research Administrators, Faculty and Staff.

Melissa Milligan

Manager of Research Administration II, LSA Finance

About

Biography to come

Presentation Title

RAAC Metrics Subcommittee

Jess Peirson

Deputy Research Integrity Officer, Director – Research Integrity Office

About

As the associate director for research integrity, Jess Peirson is responsible for day-to-day management of the University’s research misconduct process, as well as for strategic planning and policy development related to research integrity. He works in close coordination with U-M’s research integrity officer. Jeff is a botanist and evolutionary biologist by training. He received an M.S. in Environmental and Plant Biology from Ohio University and a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Michigan.

Presentation Title

Getting to Know the Research Data Stewardship Initiative

Nicole Robson

sIRB Team Lead and QA/QI Specialist

About

Biography to come

Presentation Title

U-M as Single IRB – Best Practice, Compliance and Quality

Isaac Roussel

Educational Systems Manager for the Office of Training Grant Support, Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, U-M Medical School

About

Isaac Roussel is responsible for the Educational Management System (EdM), which is powered by Salesforce. He brings to this role a solid understanding of the needs and challenges of training grants as he previously supported them as a member of Health Information Technology and Services (HITS). He has a B.S. and M.S. in chemistry and over 25 years of experience in information technology, where he led the definition of software solution designs based on business requirements. He also teaches chemistry part-time at Washtenaw Community College.

Presentation Title

EdM: Streamlining the Challenges for Graduate Education Data and Reporting

Eva Ruff

Research Administrator Intermediate, Department of Radiology, Michigan Medicine

About

Eva Ruff has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration holding EIT and CRA certifications. She supported Prof. Stephen Forrest for 14 years as Admin/Research Administrator. During that time part of her responsibilities were to manage his patent portfolio. With other 400 patents issued and 30 – 40 applications worldwide in process, she has worked with Innovation Partnerships, industry and government sponsors and the US Patent and Trademark Office to ensure that information flowed as required by law and needed for success.

Presentation Title

Disclosure: When, where, why and how

Sara Samuel

Senior Associate Librarian, U-M Library

About

As an informationist, Sara Samuel’s goal is to connect students, staff, faculty, researchers and clinicians with the information they need to be successful. She is a liaison to the Hematology and Oncology Department and the Radiation Oncology Department, as well as the Rogel Cancer Center and Taubman Institute. She is also part of the team of informationists that works with the School of Nursing. Her work includes helping people navigate data management plan requirements and data sharing, develop an online researcher presence and understand research impact indicators. Prior to her current position, Sara was a research analyst for a think tank that researched the future of manufacturing in the United States and was also an engineering librarian.

Presentation Title

Don’t Do It Yourself! Getting Guidance on NIH & Clinical Trials Reporting Policies

Kate Sasamoto

Associate Director, U-M Human Research Protection Program

About

As associate director of the Human Research Protection Program, Kate Sasamoto is responsible for advising on matters related to human research including strategic planning and enterprise-wide program and policy development to support the ethical and professional conduct of human research across all three campuses. She received her J.D. from Michigan State University and a B.A. from the University of Michigan.

Presentation Title

U-M as Single IRB – Best Practice, Compliance and Quality

Jessica Schwartz

Professor Emerita of Molecular and Integrative Physiology

About

Biography to come

Presentation Title

Advanced Research Computing

Anne Thomson

LSA Director of Research and Compliance, LSA Dean: Dean’s Office

About

Biography to come

Presentation Title

RAAC Metrics Subcommittee

Joanna Thielen

Team Lead and Data Curation Specialist for Science and Engineering, U-M Library

About

Joanna Thielen works with researchers to make their scholarly and creative works available in the University of Michigan’s institutional repository and data repository, Deep Blue Documents and Deep Blue Data, respectively. She holds two Master’s degrees (chemistry and information) from U-M.

Presentation Title

Preserving Scholarly Works in U-M’s Institutional Repositories: Deep Blue Documents and Deep Blue Data

Joshua West

Research Compliance Specialist Senior, Controlled Substances in Research Monitoring Program, Office of the Vice President for Research

About

Joshua West has more than 17 years of experience as a researcher and over two years of experience in research compliance at the University of Michigan. He received his bachelor’s degree in Anthropology-Zoology from the University of Michigan. His research expertise lies with human genetic research, cardiovascular and pancreatic disease, and most recently in opioid drug discovery which offered a great insight in regulations regarding controlled substances. With having knowledge of scientific studies, laboratory management, employee relations and best research practices, he assists faculty and staff across all research areas at U-M with their controlled substance compliance at the institutional, state and federal levels.

Presentation Title

Creating, Evaluating, and Improving a Compliance Program in Research

Becky Youmans DeMoss

Research Process Senior Manager, Pediatric & Communicable Diseases, U-M Medical School

About

Biography to come

Presentation Title

RAAC Communications Subcommittee