Research

Research Staff

Vice President for Research Office

David Reed

David D. Reed

  • Vice President for Research
David Lawrence

David Lawrence

  • Vice President for Global Campus and Continuing Education
Cathy Jenich

Cathy Jenich

  • Assistant to the Vice President for Research

Specialties

  • Vice President for Research Department Operations
  • Michigan Tech Entrepreneurial Support Corporation Secretary
  • Superior Innovations Secretary
  • Research Advisory Council Secretary
  • Faculty Start-up
  • Lakeshore Center Liaison
  • Advanced Technology Development Complex Liaison
Natasha Chopp

Natasha Chopp

  • Director of Research Operations and Faculty Liaison

Specialties

  • Establish, manage, and market a public investment program for research initiatives
  • Manage the University's space management system, ASPIRE
  • Provide assistance to conceptualize plans and tactics for establishing and enhancing relations with sources of long-term support
  • Develop and maintain websites, social media sites, and other marketing tools
  • Oversee the coordination of VPR campus education
Gina LeMay

Gina LeMay

  • Director of Sponsored Operations and Information Systems

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
Richelle Schwaller

Richelle Schwaller

  • Manager of Business Systems, Sponsored Operations Office

Specialties

  • Campus outreach activities, including creating and presenting educational/training materials for VPR staff
  • Analyze data to design, create, and communicate information to internal and external customers
  • Support VPR reporting needs
  • Provide user support
  • Assist the VPR units with special projects
Karl Meingast

Karl Meingast

  • Laboratory Manager
Amanda Irwin

Amanda Irwin

  • Graduate Admissions Manager - Global Campus

Specialties

  • Point of contact for all new online students from inquiry to start of classes, facilitating the transition to the academic advisor
  • Assist online students with financial aid planning, payment arrangements, and scholarship opportunities 
  • Identifying, establishing, and maintaining effective student relationships
  • Develop and maintain partnerships with referral groups and organizations

Associate Vice President for Research Development

Kathy Halvorsen

Kathy Halvorsen

  • Associate Vice President for Research Development
  • University Professor of Natural Resource Policy
  • Joint Appointment in Social Sciences and CFRES

Areas of Expertise

  • Climate change mitigation policy
  • Arctic climate change impacts
  • Energy conservation policy
  • Renewable energy policy
  • Indigeneity and climate policy

Research Development

Peter Larsen

Peter A. Larsen

  • Assistant Vice President for Research Development

Specialties

  • Enhancement of the research environment for external proposal success through networking/collaboration/information sharing events and related campus-wide efforts.
  • Pre-submission assistance for proposals (federal, state, foundation, and others), in particular large and strategic university initiatives
  • Assist investigators with internal research processes (e.g., cost sharing, budget strategy, research administration)
  • Proposal development assistance: writing, editing, and assistance with submission logistics
  • Development of non-technical proposal sections (e.g., broader impacts, education, management, and outreach plans.
  • When not in the office, can usually be found camping in the Keweenaw
Jacob Manchester

Jacob Manchester

  • Director of Research Development and Corporate Research

Specialties

  • Engage with faculty and campus stakeholders to identify new opportunities and assist with proposal development:  writing, editing, and assistance with submission logistics
  • Develop and implement strategies for engaging companies and organizations to support sponsored research
  • Assist investigators with internal research processes (e.g., cost sharing, budget strategy, research administration)
Sarah Atkinson

Sarah Atkinson

  • Research Development Associate

Specialties

  • Pre-submission assistance for proposals (federal, state, foundation, and others)
  • Assist investigators with internal research processes (e.g., cost sharing, budget strategy, research administration)
  • Proposal development assistance: writing, editing, and assistance with submission logistics
  • When not at work, Sarah enjoys riding bikes, camping, being outdoors, and spending time with her family. 

Research Integrity

Brent Burns

Brent Burns

  • Assistant Vice President for Research Facilities and Federal Relations

Specialties

  • Chief federal relations officer for the University.
  • Build and maintain relationships with key legislative branch and executive branch officials, their staff members, and higher education and other policy advocates and associations.
  • Develops and implements research strategies for engaging agencies, companies, and organizations.
David Dixon

David Dixon

  • Director of Biological Laboratory Operations
Christina Lehmann

Christina Lehmann

  • Director of Human Research Protection Programs
Jeffrey Lewin

Jeffrey Lewin

  • Director of Chemical Laboratory Operations
Suzanne Sharland-Hemmila

Suzanne Sharland-Hemmila

  • Assistant Director of Human Research Protection Program
Kaitlyn Studinger

Kaitlyn Studinger

  • Director of Animal Laboratory Operations

Chemical Stores

Joel Smith

Joel Smith

  • Chem Stores Manager
Jesse Garrow

Jesse Garrow

  • Stores Clerk
John LeMay

John LeMay

  • Stores Clerk

Associate Vice President for Administration

Jim Baker

Jim Baker

  • Associate Vice President for Research Administration

Specialties

  • Intellectual property/patents
  • Technology licensing
  • Corporate research
  • Spin-off/start-up business development

Sponsored Programs Accounting

Kelly Kallio

Kelly Kallio

  • Assistant Vice President for Government Sponsored Programs
Tammy LaBissoniere

Tammy LaBissoniere

  • Director, Sponsored Programs Accounting
Michelle Meneguzzo

Michelle Meneguzzo

  • Senior Sponsored Programs Accountant

Specialties

  • Sponsored Project Set-up
  • Post Award Management and Closeout
  • Expenditure Review
  • Financial Reporting
Christine Klein

Christine Klein

  • Sponsored Programs Accountant

Specialties

  • Sponsored Project Set-up
  • Post Award Management and Closeout
  • Expenditure Review
  • Financial Reporting
Tammie Fraki

Tammie Fraki

  • Assistant Sponsored Programs Accountant

Specialties

  • Sponsored Project Set-up
  • Post Award Management and Closeout
  • Expenditure Review
  • Financial Reporting
Ricky Greub

Ricky Greub

  • Assistant Sponsored Programs Accountant

Specialties

  • Sponsored Project Set-up
  • Post Award Management and Closeout
  • Expenditure Review
  • Financial Reporting
Hayley Karinen

Hayley Karinen

  • Sponsored Programs Coordinator
Kelly Kunishige

Kelly Kunishige

  • Assistant Sponsored Programs Accountant

Specialties

  • Sponsored Project Set-up
  • Post Award Management and Closeout
  • Expenditure Review
  • Financial Reporting

Sponsored Programs 

Marilyn Haapapuro

Marilyn Haapapuro

  • Assistant Vice President for Industry Sponsored Programs

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).
Kelly Kallio

Kelly Kallio

  • Assistant Vice President for Government Sponsored Programs
Lauren Beastall

Lauren Beastall

  • Assistant Director Sponsored Programs
Jennifer Bukovich

Jennifer Bukovich

  • Senior Sponsored Programs Analyst

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)
Carol Wiitanen

Carol Wiitanen

  • Senior Sponsored Programs Analyst

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)
Hilary Anderson

Hilary Anderson

  • Sponsored Programs Analyst

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 (e.g. time extension, changes in principal investigator, budget modifications, changes in scope, etc., excluding accounting functions)
Randy Laurn

Randy Laurn

  • Sponsored Programs Analyst

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 (e.g. time extension, changes in principal investigator, budget modifications, changes in scope, etc., excluding accounting functions)
Karen Foltz

Karen Foltz

  • Office Assistant
Kelsey Kocher

Kelsey Kocher

  • Assistant Sponsored Programs Analyst

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 (e.g. time extension, changes in principal investigator, budget modifications, changes in scope, etc., excluding accounting functions) 
Sherri Peters

Sherri Peters

  • Assistant Sponsored Programs Analyst

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 (e.g. time extension, changes in principal investigator, budget modifications, changes in scope, etc., excluding accounting functions)
Kathleen Terando

Kathleen Terando

  • Assistant Sponsored Programs Analyst
Stephanie Verville

Stephanie Verville

  • Assistant Sponsored Programs Analyst

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 (e.g. time extension, changes in principal investigator, budget modifications, changes in scope, etc., excluding accounting functions)   

Innovation and Commercialization

Robin Kolehmainen

Robin Kolehmainen

  • Manager of Agreements and Operations, Innovation & Commercialization

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

Mike Morley

  • Director, Technology Commercialization

Links of Interest

Specialties

  • Invention disclosure and portfolio management
  • Commercial and intellectual property assessment for new technologies
  • Technology marketing, commercialization planning, and licensing
Nate Yenor

Nate Yenor

  • Director of Technology Business Incubation
Carlyn Tiedt-Scott

Carlyn Tiedt-Scott

  • Office Assistant