RSO partners with researchers across the college research enterprise and beyond to build and maintain high-impact and transdisciplinary research and education programs that make positive impacts across society.

We provide strategic and inclusive support to advance high-impact research for the College of Engineering and our strategic partners. We assist researchers in pursuing funding opportunities from a broad range of sponsors; creating competitive proposals; managing awards and agreements; ensuring compliance; cultivating an ecosystem of shared research facilities; and developing plans to broaden impacts by integrating research and education:

  • Assist PIs with developing research plans
  • Follow agency, foundation and program visions
  • Identify potential sponsors and funding opportunities
  • Reach out to potential partners and collaborators
  • Connect with program managers, other stakeholders

  • Develop timelines, templates and checklists
  • Facilitate internal and external reviews
  • Review drafts for strategy and compliance
  • Advise in writing, editing, graphics
  • Assist with financial components (budget, budget justification, cost share requests)
  • Recommend responses to reviewer feedback (for resubmissions)

  • Assist with agreements without funds (Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), bailment, data use, materials transfer)   
  • Liaise to campus offices: Research & Innovation Office/Office of Contracts & Grants (RIO/OCG) Campus Controllers Office (CCO), Research Financial Services (RFS), Venture Partners, legal, compliance, Industry Foundation Relations. 
  • Monitor/provide support during agreement review and negotiation process through final award set up by RFS.
  • Provide oversight and guidance to faculty and staff during award execution.  

  • Advise faculty on cost principles and applicable agreement terms and conditions
  • Advise on Disclosure of External Professional Activities (DEPA) reporting requirements
  • Advise employees with effort charged to sponsored projects and the supporting admin staff on ePERS certification policies (post award)
  • Advise CEAS centers, programs, and departments on the 1/6 rule for consulting activities
  • Support OCG and PIs in submission of technical reports on adherence to due dates and applicable required forms

  • Document knowledge regarding support encompassed under “post award support” 
  • Build and cultivate a project management network for post-award staff  
  • Prep IRT directors for leadership 

  • Provide access and advanced training to researchers and students to state-of-the-art shared instrumentation in material nanofabrication and characterization 
  • Advance fundamental and technical knowledge in the area of nanomaterials characterization, micro- and nano-fabrication technologies
  • Provide a platform to enable multidisciplinary research and training for researchers and students
  • Support faculty and staff on shared capital instrument acquisition, including assisting with related research proposals 
  • Cultivate and grow awareness of shared research facilities for the optimum usage of resources