MU POST Co-Principal Investigators

PI: Katherine Durben, Executive Director, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

CO-PI: Julie Knox, Process Improvement Analyst, Information Technology Services 
Co-PI: Barb Ploszay, Director, Grants Administration, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

MU POST Advocates

At ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, MU POST introduces a unique and innovative solution to improve the post-award process: the Advocates. These dedicated professionals bridge the gap between ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ’s central office and departments, ensuring smooth communication and collaboration across various units involved in grant management. 

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Advocates' Role

In ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ’s centralized system, navigating transactions can be challenging, especially when personnel from multiple units are involved. Tasks related to grant management  require cross-departmental teamwork, and these efforts are crucial for ensuring a smooth process for Principal Investigators (PIs) and research teams. Advocates play a vital role in navigating these complexities. They provide essential institutional knowledge and support, helping PIs understand and manage grant-funded activities.

Advocate Engagement Process

When a new award comes in, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) Grant Awards team in conjunction with the ORSP Executive Director/PI on the NSF-funded MU POST award, will share the assignment with the selected Advocate along with any additional, helpful information about the award.

Criteria for assignment to an Advocate generally includes: 

  • projects with multiple PIs or a PI and Co-PIs/key personnel from different units on campus 
  • projects that have two or more subawardees 
  • projects with two or more PIs/CoPIs who have never been a PI on a project previously  
  • projects on which the main PI has four or more active awards.

Advocate engagement will begin with a project kick-off, coordinated by the Advocate. The Advocate and the PI (and any other mutually agreed upon parties) will meet on a monthly basis to analyze project expenditures and ensure that other items in the areas of budget management, hiring, purchasing, reporting and subawards is on track. The Advocate will guide the PI through any no cost extensions and the closeout process; engagement will end when closeout is complete.   

 

ANITA
Anita Guizar

Grant Awards Coordinator, Research and Innovation

Anita earned a BS in Cellular & Molecular Biology with a minor in Chemistry from UW-Milwaukee in 2021 and recently completed her MS in Biochemistry at MCW, where her research focused on resistance mechanisms to targeted cancer therapies. She is excited for her new role as a Grant Awards Coordinator, where she will assist faculty in navigating their grant processes. Anita is passionate about music and has been playing guitar since she was 4 years old. Fun fact: she owns six guitars and three violins.

Contact Anita: anita.guizar@marquette.edu

JODIE
Jodie Box

Award Project Coordinator, Research and Innovation

Jodie started at MU in the Biological Sciences Department in Dr. K. Dale Noel's lab and most recently worked as a Research Associate and Lab Manager in Dr. Rosemary Stuart's lab. She is exploring her new role as Award Project Coordinator where she will support faculty in navigating their grants. Jodie's daughter is a Freshman at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ. Jodie enjoys living the #FarmLife and going to her family cabin up north. 

Contact Jodie: jodie.box@marquette.edu