Marquette University receives NSF grant to support research funding management

Oct. 1, 2024

MILWAUKEE - Marquette University has received an award of nearly $1.2 million from the National Science Foundation to support faculty management of research and development funding. This award will allow the university to develop strategies, processes and models that could be utilized by small to mid-size institutions to grow capacity, access and visibility within the post-award process.

"Our strategy with this grant is to develop and evaluate an interwoven approach to enhancing post-award practices and process," said Katherine Durben, executive director of research and sponsored programs and principal investigator on this award. "This funding will allow us to implement an advocate position designed to work with PIs to bridge the gap between a central office and departments. We will also develop processes to allow for scalability, efficiency and transparency in post-award activities."

"This grant will work to address the challenges of delivering efficient post-award support, an area of need we began to systematically explore as part of an NSF ADVANCE award we received in 2019," said Dr. Jeanne Hossenlopp, vice president for research and innovation. "Our ADVANCE program was structured to identify and eliminate organizational barriers that impede full participation and the advancement of diverse faculty and create institutional change that will benefit all faculty. We feel that our continued collaboration between staff and faculty to co-create solutions to shared concerns will not only benefit and support Marquette faculty, but also be scalable for other universities."

In fiscal year 2024, a school-record $58.9 million in grant award dollars were obligated to Marquette. That represented an increase of 15% over last year and a 74.5% increase over the fiscal year 2019. According to the most recent NSF data, representing fiscal year 2022, Marquette had a school-record of over $40.6 million in research and development expenditures, eclipsing $40 million for the first time and more than doubling the figure from 10 years earlier.

The award team includes Durben and Hossenlopp as co-principal investigators. Other co-PIs are Barbara Ploszay, director of grants administration in ORSP; Julia Knox, process improvement analyst in Information Technology Services; and Dr. Anita Manogaran, associate professor of biological sciences and a member of Marquette's Committee on Research.

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs is Marquette's central point of coordination for sponsored projects and the legally authorized representative for grants, contracts and assurances. ORSP represents the sum of Marquette's experience with extramural sponsors and partners over time, through the entire project lifecycle.

The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that supports science and engineering in all 50 states and U.S. territories. NSF was established in 1950 by Congress to promote the progress of science, advance national health, prosperity and welfare, and secure national defense. It fulfills this mission chiefly by making grants, with its investments accounting for about 25% of federal support to America's colleges and universities for basic research: research driven by curiosity and discovery. NSF also support solutions-oriented research with the potential to produce advancements for the American people.

About Marquette University

Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university located near the heart of downtown Milwaukee that offers a comprehensive range of majors in 11 nationally and internationally recognized colleges and schools. Through the formation of hearts and minds, Marquette prepares our 11,100 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional students to lead, excel and serve as agents of positive change. And, we deliver results. Ranked in the top 20% of national universities, Marquette is recognized for its undergraduate teaching, innovation and career preparation as the sixth-best university in the country for job placement. Our focus on student success and immersive, personalized learning experiences encourages students to think critically and engage with the world around them. When students graduate with a Marquette degree, they are truly prepared and called to Be The Difference.

About Kevin Conway

Kevin is the associate director for university communication in the Office of University Relations. Contact Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or [email protected].