Carol Brodie joined the office of sponsored programs as the first proposal development manager for the university. She will help move 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ closer to becoming a Tier One university by developing proposals and locating funding opportunities. Working as a link between research and economic development will help advance 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ as a nationally competitive research university. She will offer proposal editing assistance to large-scale, multidisciplinary projects, as well as individual faculty and researchers. Prior to joining 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ, she served as director of research administration at the University of the Pacific.
Why 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ?
I saw an opportunity here at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ to make a difference. With the Carnegie 'very high research activity' goal that has been set, helping faculty increase their research dollars will be critical -- and exciting. 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ is growing its research excellence, and I am honored to be the first proposal development manager for the university. I have only been here since mid-April, yet I already feel a part of the greater effort.
What's the biggest misconception about your field?
Most university faculty and administrators understand what sponsored programs is all about and the role of pre-award administrators. I spent 14 years in that arena. But during that time I also started to transform my role toward proposal development (also known as research development). That's where the confusion comes in -- what is proposal development.
How does it differ from pre-award? Primarily, my role is to assist with development of the larger, multidisciplinary and/or institutional proposals -- thus fostering academic and funding collaborations. This in turn will increase institutional visibility, advance 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's long-range goals, and secure resources to support innovative research, training, and educational programs across the campus. And even though my focus will be on these larger proposals, each researcher here at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ is important to me, and I want to do what I can to help each and every one of them.
What's the biggest challenge in your field?
With the federal budget being so tight, it is becoming more and more challenging for our faculty to win research dollars. Finding alternative sources of funding can certainly help, as can making sure that the proposals we do submit meet all of the RFP (request for proposal) requirements, are written clearly and succinctly, and, most importantly, describe how 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ can help solve our world's current challenges.
What inspired you to get into your field?
One of the joys in working in proposal development is to work with faculty from so many different fields. In one day I can talk to a physicist, a musician, a biologist, and an early childhood education scholar. Where else can you have that experience?
Proposal development allows me to get beyond the technical aspects of proposal submission, and to assist in the creative process of developing, writing, and editing proposals. I also look forward to holding training workshops for our faculty, and assisting with focused funding opportunity searches for individual or group projects.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Parma, Ohio -- just southwest of Cleveland. After that, I lived in the Columbus area until I moved to California in 2000. I really love the western states, and do not miss the snow!
What has been the proudest moment of your life and why?
Receiving my doctorate in education in 2006. It had been my personal goal for a long time to receive a terminal degree.
Who is your hero?
My father is my hero. He was a self-made man who was extremely smart, and he worked hard. He was employed by NASA at the Lewis Research Center in Cleveland for over 30 years, working on the Gemini, Mercury, and then the Apollo missions. He gave me my love of science.
Pastime or hobbies?
I love the outdoors and to hike -- so my husband and I are looking forward to exploring the natural wonders of the region. In the hot weather, though, I was spending my time reading, doing some creative writing, and catching up on movies.
