"Lori Messer" Archive

WFU research funding reaches new high

Wake Forest had an exceptional year for research funding across the board with externally sponsored awards totaling $16,486,711 for fiscal year 2015-16.

“This total represents the best in Wake Forest history,” said Lori Messer, director of the University’s Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. “The previous record was $14,336,586 in 2014.”

Researchers from across the Reynolda Campus submitted 118 proposals, overall. Significant awards were received by research teams across different disciplines, including biology, health and exercise science, psychology and physics. This total does not include research funding for the School of Medicine.

“Funding competitiveness is at an all time high and to see Wake Forest faculty continue to excel and build research programs of nationally recognized excellence is rewarding,” said Bruce King, associate provost for research.

A more comprehensive look into the University’s research funding will be available in the fall when the Office of Research publishes its annual report.

CRADLE program invests in faculty and grantsmanship

The Creative Research Activities Development and Enrichment (CRADLE) initiative is engaging with its fifth cohort of faculty this September and continues to experience interest and success.

The Office of the Provost and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) coordinate the program. CRADLE aims to develop competitive external proposals that support multiyear research projects and creative activities. Fellows receive assistance from both internal and external consultants to improve their grantsmanship and to articulate a five-year career plan that incorporates proven strategies for developing and funding superior research and creative activities.

“We began CRADLE because we wanted to help faculty develop competitive grant proposals,” said Lori Messer, director of ORSP.

On Sept. 18, the new cohort will attend the first of four seminars, “Winning Grants,” that will cover federal grants. In December, another seminar focused on foundation and corporate grants will be held. Other CRADLE sessions will focus on quality and team building. Participants also work one-on-one with a grants consultant to develop 90-day contracts that outline their grant plans.

The seminars are open to non-CRADLE participants.

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WFU research awards increase by $1 million

microscope.300x175Despite a government shut down and more competition for limited funds, Wake Forest researchers increased awards by one million dollars over last year, according to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (OSRP).

OSRP has published its annual report for FY14. Externally sponsored awards increased by one million to $10,839,255. This total does not include fellowship support for scholarship in the social sciences and humanities.

“This total represents the second best in WFU history,” said Lori Messer, OSRP director. “FY14 was an exciting year for research and scholarly activity at the university.”

The number of departments, centers and colleges receiving externally sponsored awards increased 18 percent over last year and more than half of those that received funding received more than last year. Researchers submitted 139 proposals overall.

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Categories: Faculty News

Leadership Development Program focuses on a global WFU

ironwork.300x175Congratulations to the 2013-14 Leadership Development Program (LDP) participants: Miriam Ashley-Ross, Nate French, Allison McWilliams, Tim Auman, Anne Hardcastle, Paige Meltzer, Alessandra Beasley Von Burg, Robert Hellyer, Matt Merrick, Andrea Bohn, Beth Hoagland, Lori Messer, Christy Buchanan, Brad Jones, José Villalba, Thomas Dowling, Angela Mazaris, Ron Von Berg

Program participants included 18 faculty and staff from various departments across campus that serve in leadership roles.

The nine-month program kicked off last August with a two-day intensive session structured around a 360° assessment for each member. The developmental topics offered throughout the year included: Leading Authentically, Communicating Authentically, Powerful Conversations, Reinventing Diversity, Thriving in Times of Change, Leading with Your Strengths, and Leading Authentically: Putting it all Together.

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External support for WFU research remains strong

The following letter is adapted from director of Research and Sponsored Programs Lori Messer’s introduction to the October issue of Research News:

Reynolda Campus research had an excellent year. For fiscal year 2013, total external support for projects exceeded $9.8 million, the second-highest amount in campus history, and that was not including five fellowships for scholarship in the arts, humanities and social sciences. The total is even more remarkable when you consider that $8.4 million, about 86 percent, comes from federal sources limited by sequestration budget cuts.

FY13 saw 22 departments and centers receive sponsored research funding, and nearly all increased its total over FY12. Health and exercise science received the most, with physics running a close second.

Faculty and staff in 32 departments and centers submitted 152 external proposals, requesting more than $38 million. Chemistry submitted the most proposals and requested the most funding.

We would like to recognize two of our former CRADLE program participants, Oana Jurchescu and Timo Thonhauser, both in physics, who received prestigious CAREER awards from the National Science Foundation. WFU has received five such awards, with Patricia Dos Santos and Rebecca Alexander in chemistry and Dave Anderson in biology already gaining that distinction.

CRADLE (Creative Research Activities Development and Enrichment) is a two-year program that helps Wake Foresters develop competitive external funding proposals.

The NSF CAREER Award is a $400,000 award given to the nation’s top junior faculty members and is meant to support their research, encourage excellent teaching, mentorship and community outreach.

Another graduate of the CRADLE program, assistant professor of chemistry Lindsay Comstock-Ferguson, received her first independent federal funding. The following faculty and staff also received their first individual external grants at WFU:

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