The ORSP team: top row, from left, David Veazey, Todd Moore-Doman and Angie Morelock; bottom row, from left, Ashley Ledford, Terri Bearbower, Meredith Perry and Lindsey Nabors.
Behind the scenes of faculty research at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga sits the backbone of the operation: the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.
Faculty rely on grants and sponsorships to fund almost every project. Sometimes, rules and regulations within the applications and awards are hard to see or understand. That is where the staff of the ORSP come in.
During the search for funding, faculty can reach out to Director of Pre-Award Services Ashley Ledford and her team for help finding and applying for funding opportunities nationwide. They also do most of the submissions to sponsors.
Ledford’s team consists of Grant Specialist Todd Moore-Doman and Pre-Awards Coordinator Lindsey Nabors.
Pre-Awards Services can also help clarify who can complete research at UTC. A principal investigator, also known as a PI, is a full-time faculty or staff member. Adjuncts are welcome to complete research, but they cannot do it alone.
“Building those relationships with faculty is probably the starting point for it. Letting them know we’re here and what we do…that they’re not out there on their own,” Ledford said.
Once a grant or sponsorship is awarded, it’s up to Director of Award Services Angie Morelock and Award and Contract Specialist David Veazey to consult with faculty on the terms of their award.
Award Services can help clarify wording, negotiate terms and help faculty advocate for themselves.
They also stay open for assistance throughout the lives of awards. Should a faculty or staff member need more time or leave the project, Awards Services can help them modify the terms of their awards to accommodate changes or adaptations.
There are a plethora of different types of agreements or contracts that researchers may have to sign to accept or keep an award. It’s the job of ORSP to understand each type and relay that knowledge to the researchers they assist.
The ORSP’s work allows faculty to complete a wide array of research projects. These projects include space for students to get hands-on experience.
“Sometimes I don’t think people realize the impact it has on student learning and that the dollars coming into the university very frequently give UTC and UTC students that hands-on research that enriches their education,” Morelock said. “What a difference that can make from just learning about something to learning about it in a hands-on way.”
Without the aid of Pre-Awards, many research projects wouldn’t get the necessary funding, which is what makes these projects possible for students and other faculty to work on.
“The student impact is something we push as much as we can for when we’re budgeting for these projects. Most of the faculty love to involve the undergraduates because we are—that’s predominantly our student base,” Ledford said.
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UTC Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
