OVPR Research Development
UT Research Management Suite
Bridging Barriers

Research Development Contact

• Jennifer Gardner, Ph.D., Deputy Vice President for Research
• Lena Suk, Ph.D., Associate Director of Investigator Skill-Building
• Kayla Dryden, Executive Director, Research Development
• Bob McGarrett, Program Director - Limited Submission and OVPR-Administered Grants
• Bridging Barriers: BridgingBarriers@austin.utexas.edu

Services Provided

The OVPR Research Development team strategically oversees campus-level initiatives that promote collaborative research, including the UT Pop-Up Institutes and our campus-wide research grand challenges initiative, Bridging Barriers. We also provide competitive intelligence and tactical proposal development support to cross-college teams of researchers pursuing center grants and other major external funding. We facilitate collaborative relationships among faculty through a research mentor-pairing program, and we organize investigator skill-building events that enable motivated early career researchers to seek advice from successful PIs.

Associate Dean for Research

David A. Harrison, Ph.D.
Email: drdaveharrison@mail.utexas.edu

Associate Dean for Research Website
Research Website
Faculty/Researcher Lists

Research Contact

Babatunde Adesina — Senior Research Program Coordinator
Email: babatunde.adesina@mccombs.utexas.edu

Associate Dean for Research

Maya Henry, Ph.D.
Email: maya.henry@austin.utexas.edu

Associate Dean for Research Website
Research Website
Faculty/Researcher Lists
Research Office Website

Research Contact

Vanessa O. Lopez — Director of Research Administration
Email: volopez@austin.utexas.edu
Leadership and primary contact for all research matters in the Moody College of Communication.

Julie Campos — Director of Pre-Award Research Administration
Email: julie.campos@austin.utexas.edu
Pre-award contact for proposal development & submissions, and awards set-up.

Brianna Jackson — Senior Grants and Finance Coordinator
Email: brianna.jackson@austin.utexas.edu
Post-award contact for award administration, including account transactions.

The Research Office provides comprehensive research administrative support for the entire sponsored project lifecycle and serves as the primary liaison with the Office of Sponsored Projects.

Associate Dean for Research

Paul von Hippel, Ph.D.
Email: paulvonhippel@utexas.edu

Associate Dean for Research Website
Research Website
Faculty/Researcher Lists

Research Website
Faculty/Researcher Lists

Research Contact

Sara Sieberath — Assistant Director for Research Administration and Finance
Email: sara@ig.utexas.edu
Sponsored project proposals, award negotiation and administration, and reporting

Benjamin Hester — Administrative Services Officer
Email: ben@ig.utexas.edu
Accounting support

Michelle Harper — Research Administration Manager
Email: michelle.harper@ig.utexas.edu
Sponsored project proposals, award negotiation and administration, and reporting

Research Website
Faculty/Researcher Lists

Research Contact

Gale Ashley — Senior Financial Analyst
Email: gale.ashley@beg.utexas.edu

Marie Victor — Financial Analyst
Email: marie.victor@beg.utexas.edu

Accounting support

Associate Dean for Research

Michael Young, Ph.D.
Email: michael.young@beg.utexas.edu

Associate Dean for Research Website
Research Website
Faculty/Researcher Lists

Research Contact

Didey Montoya — Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist
Email: didey@austin.utexas.edu

Tera Sherrard — Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist
Email: tera@utexas.edu

Pre- and post-award grant administration

Foundation Relations Website

Visit the Grant Application Guide on the Foundation Relations website and complete the Partnership Interest form to request assistance.

Foundation Relations staff assist faculty and researchers in identifying potential foundation funding sources for their research, programs, and projects, as well as developing strategies to approach funders. Other services include:

• Writing
• Editing
• Institutional supporting materials
• Submission
• Cover letter

Find contact information here.

Discovery to Impact Units and Contact Information, when you need help with:

• Intellectual Property Development
• Business Development
• Licensing and Collaborative Research
• Creating a community for collaborative research and entrepreneurship: Texas Innovation Center
• Commercializing innovations: Austin Technology Incubator
• Program Development

Tools:

The Navigator
Disclosing an invention
For Inventors/Entrepreneurs

Vice Dean of Research

William Matsui, M.D.
Email: william.matsui@austin.utexas.edu

Vice Dean of Research Website 
Research Website
Faculty/Researcher Lists

Research Contacts

Thomas Street, J.D., Ph.D. — Director of Research Quality, Regulatory Affairs, and Data Privacy
Email: thomas.street@austin.utexas.edu

Jessica Miller — Assistant Director of Research Operations
Email: jessica.miller@austin.utexas.edu

Mickey Roberts — Assistant Director of Sponsored Projects
Email: mickey.roberts@austin.utexas.edu

Arshad Javed – Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist
Email: ajaved@austin.utexas.edu
Pre-Award support for Surgery, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine and Nutritional Sciences Departments

Monica Aguilar – Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist
Email: monica.aguilar@austin.utexas.edu
Pre-Award support for Neurology, Psychiatry, Women’s Health, Neurosurgery, and Ophthalmology Departments

Mitzi Sicking – Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist
Email: mitzi.sicking@austin.utexas.edu
Pre-Award support for Oncology, Population Health, Health Social Work, Diagnostic Medicine, Medical Education, and Center for Health & Environment: Education & Research (CHEER),

Kayla Brumley – Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist
Email: kayla.brumley@austin.utexas.edu
Post-Award support including invoicing, NCE’s, budget forecasting.

The Sponsored Projects Administration team works with faculty members and staff to support the full lifecycle of a sponsored project.