Vice President for Research Office
Cathy Codere
Assistant to the Vice President for Research
Assists in administration of the following:
Michael Abbott
Director, Great Lakes Research Center Operations
Liaison, Vessel Oversight Committee
Peter A. Larsen
Director, Research Development
Specialties
- Pre-submission assistance for federal and state sponsored proposals
- Proposal development—writing, editing, gathering required items for submission
- Development of broader impacts, education, and outreach plans for proposals
- Development of management and assessment plans for proposals
Jodi Lehman
Assistant Director, Research Development
Specialties
- Student mentoring for development of external fellowship proposals, including NSF, GRFP, DOD Smart, and related programs
- Pre-submission assistance for federal and state sponsored proposals
- Proposal development—writing, editing, gathering required items for submission
- Development of broader impacts, education, and outreach plans for proposals
Priscilla Khoury
Director, Foundation Relations
Specialties
- Proposal and letter of inquiry development (strategy, writing, editing)
- Proposal and inquiry submissions
- Prospect identification, research, clearance, giving profiles
- Foundation relationship management and communications
Gina LeMay
Director, Sponsored Operations
Specialties
- Assist VPR staff with human resource processes
- Develop and oversee internal business and data processes by continually reviewing and improving them
- Communicate proposal and award data to campus community
- Assist the department with special projects
Jacob Manchester
Business Information and Systems Analyst, Sponsored Operations Office
Specialties
- Manage the Vice President for Research (VPR) TechTracS database to ensure data integrity and provide user support
- Analyze data to design, create, and communicate information to internal VPR and external customers
- Create and maintain documentation of the reporting procedures and operational processes for the VPR area
Beverly Schmitz
Office Assistant, Sponsored Operations Office
Specialties
- Supports the VPR area in general day-to-day office operations, including tasks such as ordering & maintaining office supplies, mail distribution, maintenance of internal forms/lists, payroll, credit card reallocations, etc.
- Data enters proposals and award information into the department database
- Assists in data integrity processes, including data quality checks, pending proposal cleanup, and closeout of expired projects
- Compiles and communicates proposal information to Tech Today
Mike Hendricks
Director, Institutional Systems Development & Analysis
Natasha Chopp
Research Development and Marketing Manager
Specialties
- Establish, manage, and market a public investment program for research initiatives
- Develop, expand, and provide oversight for activities designed to assist researchers with their success at obtaining external private funding
- Work with departments, schools, centers/institutes, and research faculty to develop coordinated strategies for increasing external private funding
- Develop and maintain websites, social media sites, and other marketing tools
- Oversee the coordination of VPR campus education
Richard Elenich
Director, Institutional Analysis
Specialties
- Provide data submissions to federal and state governments
- Serve as consultants to administrative officers and University committees regarding operational studies and data
- Maintain the official repository for statistical information about the University
Sanghamitra Senapati
Planning Analyst, Institutional Analysis
Specialties
- Provide data submissions to federal and state governments
- Serve as consultants to administrative officers and University committees regarding operational studies and data
- Maintain the official repository for statistical information about the University
Aaron Somero
Planning Analyst, Institutional Analysis
Specialties
- Provide data submissions to federal and state governments
- Serve as consultants to administrative officers and University committees regarding operational studies and data
- Maintain the official repository for statistical information about the University
Darlene Saari
Office Assistant, Vice President for Research Office
Specialties
- Assist analysts with proposal and award processes
- Coordinate the preparation and hardcopy/electronic submission of proposals and awards
- Track proposal and awards in departmental databases
- Prepare purchase requisitions for sub-awards under federal contracts
- Review and track invoices for sub-awards under federal contracts
Mackenzie Barrett
Office Assistant, Vice President for Research Office
Specialties
- Assist analysts with proposal and award processes
- Coordinate the preparation and hardcopy/electronic submission of proposals and awards
- Track proposal and awards in departmental databases
- Prepare purchase requisitions for sub-awards under federal grants
- Review and track invoices for sub-awards under federal grants
Jamey Anderson
Coordinator of Marine Operations
Specialties
- Oversee research buoys
- Maintain and repair Remote Operated Vehicles
- Maintain R/V Agassiz to USCG standards
- Maintain and operate survey vessels
- Provide electrical and mechanical support of specialized research equipment
Compliance, Integrity, and Safety
Joanne Polzien
Executive Director, Compliance, Integrity, and Safety
David Dixon
Biosafety Officer, Compliance, Integrity, and Safety Office
Cheryl Gherna
Coordinator, Regulatory Review Boards, Compliance, Integrity, and Safety Office
Specialties
- Coordinate and monitor activity that involves human and animal subjects
- Advise and assist researchers with applications and revisions that involve human and animal subjects
- Ensure compliance with federally mandated regulations
Kimberly Puuri
Staff Assistant, Compliance, Integrity, and Safety Office
Specialties
- Provide support for Research Integrity & Compliance staff
Allen Niemi
Director of Occupational Safety and Health Services
Sponsored Programs Accounting
Julie Seppala
Executive Director, Sponsored Programs Office
Tammy LaBissoniere
Associate Director, Sponsored Programs Accounting
Kelly Kallio
Senior Grant Accountant, Sponsored Programs Accounting
Specialties
- Federal/Other Awards (Project & Budget Setup, Assist in Expenditure Processing, Project Close-Out)
Christopher Stancher
Assistant Grant Accountant, Sponsored Programs Accounting
Specialties
- Federal Pass Thru
- Internal Awards (Project & Budget Setup, Assist in Expenditure Processing, Project Close-out)
- Financial Reporting
- Expenditure Review
Tracy LaPlante
Assistant Grant Accountant, Sponsored Programs Accounting
906-487-2244
talaplan@mtu.edu
talaplan@mtu.edu
Specialties
- Industry, Foreign, and Foundation Awards (Project & Budget Setup, Assist in Expenditure Processing, Project Close-out)
- Letter of Credit Billing
Richelle Schwaller
Grant Accountant, Sponsored Programs Accounting
Specialties
- State, State Pass Thru, Federal Pass Thru State of Michigan (Project and budget setup, Assist in Expenditure Processing, Project Close-out)
- Outstanding receivable collection
Chris Klein
Billing Coordinator, Sponsored Programs Accounting
Specialties
- Invoicing/Financial Reporting
- Outstanding receivable collection
- Expenditure Review
Rayna Meier
Office Assistant, Sponsored Programs Accounting
906-487-2244
Lakeshore Center, Third Floor
Lakeshore Center, Third Floor
Specialties
- Support for Invoicing/Financial Reporting
- Support for New Index & Budget Setup
- Coordinates the collection of the Project Payroll Certification documents
- Expenditure review (purchase requisitions, travel vouchers, procurement card expenditures)
Sponsored Programs Office
Julie Seppala
Executive Director, Sponsored Programs Office
Lisa Jukkala
Manager Government Contracts/Training, Sponsored Programs Office
Specialties
- General oversight for all proposal submissions, award negotiations, and post-award administration (excluding accounting functions)
- Develop, review and approve budgets and proposals prior to submission for all Department of Defense and government contracting agencies
- Review, interpret, and negotiate agreement terms and conditions for all government contracts and other government agreements and contracts
- Create, negotiate, and administer sub-awards
- Post-award support (eg. time extensions, changes in principal investigator, budget modifications, changes in scope, etc., excluding accounting functions)
Kim Codere
Manager of Grants and Contracts, Sponsored Programs Office
Specialties
- General oversight for all proposal submissions, award negotiations, and post-award administration (excluding accounting functions)
- Develop, review and approve budgets and proposals prior to submission for government granting agencies
- Review, interpret and negotiate agreement terms and conditions for grant awards and modifications
- Create, negotiate, and administer sub-awards
- Post-award support (eg. time extensions, changes in principal investigator, budget modifications, changes in scope, etc., excluding accounting functions)
To Be Determined
Grants Analyst, Sponsored Programs Office
Lakeshore Center, Third Floor
Specialties
- Develop, review, and approve budgets and proposals prior to submission
- Review, interpret and negotiate agreement terms and conditions for government agreements and contracts
- Create, negotiate, and administer sub-awards
- Post-award support (eg. time extensions, changes in principal investigator, budget modifications, changes in scope, etc., excluding accounting functions)
Carol Wiitanen
Grants Analyst, Sponsored Programs Office
Specialties
- Develop, review, and approve budgets and proposals prior to submission
- Review, interpret, and negotiate agreement terms and conditions for government agreements
- Create, negotiate, and administer sub-awards
- Post award support (eg. time extensions, changes in principal investigator, budget modifications, changes in scope, etc., excluding accounting functions)
Jennifer Bukovich
Assistant Grants Analyst, Sponsored Programs Office
Specialties
- Develop, review, and approve budgets and proposals prior to submission
- Review, interpret, and negotiate agreement terms and conditions for government agreements
- Create, negotiate, and administer sub-awards
- Post-award support (eg. time extensions, changes in principal investigator, budget modifications, changes in scope, etc., excluding accounting functions)
Catherine Curto
Staff Assistant, Sponsored Programs Office
Specialties
- Assist Analysts with proposal and award processes
- Coordinate the preparation and hardcopy/electronic submission of proposals and awards
- Track proposal and awards in department databases
- Prepare purchase requisitions for sub-awards under federal contracts
- Review and track invoices for sub-awards under federal grants
Darlene Saari
Office Assistant, Vice President for Research Office
Specialties
- Assist analysts with proposal and award processes
- Coordinate the preparation and hardcopy/electronic submission of proposals and awards
- Track proposal and awards in departmental databases
- Prepare purchase requisitions for sub-awards under federal contracts
- Review and track invoices for sub-awards under federal contracts
Mackenzie Barrett
Office Assistant, Vice President for Research Office
Specialties
- Assist analysts with proposal and award processes
- Coordinate the preparation and hardcopy/electronic submission of proposals and awards
- Track proposal and awards in departmental databases
- Prepare purchase requisitions for sub-awards under federal grants
- Review and track invoices for sub-awards under federal grants
Innovation and Industry Engagement
Jim Baker
Executive Director, Innovation and Industry Engagement
Specialties
- Intellectual property/patents
- Technology licensing
- Corporate research
- Spin-off/start-up business development
John Diebel
Assistant Director for Technology Commercialization, Innovation, and Industry Engagement
Specialties
- Solicits reviews and receives invention disclosures from faculty, students, and research personnel
- Describes features of disclosed inventions to patent counsel and office personnel for patentability assessments
- Assesses market potential for licensing of inventions or for sponsored research funding based on inventions
- Develops technology commercialization strategies and strategies for intellectual property protection
- Participates in negotiations for non-disclosure agreements, license agreements, material transfer agreements, and other related IP agreements with industry
"A problem well stated is a problem half solved."
—Charles F. Kettering
—Charles F. Kettering
Diane Garrow
Mgr, Academic Agreements, Student Design Contracts, and Unrestricted Sponsored Programs, Innovation and Industry Engagement
Specialties
- Student Design project contracts (non-governmental) review, negotiation, authorization, and pre- and post-award administration
- Domestic and International Academic Agreements review, negotiation, and processing
- Gift proposal review, interpretation, and authorization
- PERC Partnership Agreements review, negotiation, authorization, and processing
Marilyn Haapapuro
Associate Director for Industrial Contracting, Innovation and Industry Engagement
Specialties
- Administration of industrial sponsored research agreements, including negotiation practices, proposal and award processes, and contract language.
- Develop, review and approve budgets and proposals prior to submission to industrial sponsors, including those with federal pass-through funds.
- Review, interpret and negotiate agreement terms and conditions with industrial sponsors.
- Review, interpret and determine applicability of Federal Acquisition Regulations in federal pass-through awards.
- Provide post award support (eg. time extensions, changes in principal investigator, budget modifications, changes in project scope).
Tom Holzberger
Contracts Analyst, Innovation and Industry Engagement
Specialties
- General oversight of industry/corporate contracts including those funded by another source (eg. federal or state agency) through an industry sponsor
- Develop, review and approve budgets and proposals prior to submission to sponsor
- Review, interpret and negotiate contract terms and conditions
- Provide post award support related to contract terms (eg. time extension, change in principal investigator, budget modifications, change in scope)
Robin Kolehmainen
Patent/License Manager, Innovation and Industry Engagement
Specialties
- Reviews, negotiates, and processes Non-Disclosure Agreements, Material Transfer Agreements
- Manages the University Trademark Program entailing the processing of license agreements with vendors to use university logos
- Administering legal matters (patents)
- Processes and manages license agreements with the university
- Information system management
Mike Morley
Manager, Tech Marketing, Innovation, and Industry Engagement
Links of Interest
Specialties
- Invention disclosure and portfolio management
- Commercial and intellectual property assessment for new technologies
- Technology marketing, commercialization planning, and licensing
To Be Determined
Assistant Contracts Analyst, Innovation and Industry Engagement
906-487-2735
ATDC 212
ATDC 212
Specialties
- Assist Contracts Analyst with industrial sponsored research proposals and awards processes
- Manage departmental general fund finances and budgets
- Assist Unrestricted Sponsored Programs and Student Design Contracts Manager with Student Design/Enterprise proposals and awards processes
Brent Burns
Director of Corporate Partnerships
Specialties
- Responsible for leading the connection of the interests of companies with appropriate campus initiatives/constituents
- Industry Focus: Mining & Metals, Energy, Environmental Services
Pete Cattelino
Assistant Director of Corporate Partnerships
Specialties
- Industry Focus: Automotive, Consumer Products
- Special Areas of Support: Center for Pre-College Outreach
Brian Hannon
Assistant Director of Corporate Partnerships
Specialties
- Industry Focus: Automotive, Consumer Products, Chemical
- Special Areas of Support: SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge, Keweenaw Research Center
Adam Johnson
Assistant Director of Corporate Partnerships
Specialties
- Industry Focus: Information Technology and Services, Transportation, Life Sciences, Materials
- Special Areas of Support: Electrical & Computer Engineering, Rail Transportation
Carol Janisse
Office Assistant, Innovation and Industry Engagement
Specialties
- Receptionist
- Administers room reservations for the Ford Conference Center
- Assists Patent License Manager in Non-Disclosure Agreements/Material Transfer Agreements process
- Processes Gift-In-Kind
Elizabeth Hoy
Industry Outreach Manager, Corporate Partnerships
Specialties
- Michigan Corporate Relations Network program maintenance
- Expand development of corporate partners
- Expand engagement of regional talent resources (e.g. consultants, equity funders, startup founding partners, etc.)