Research Staff

Vice President for Research Office

  • Vice President for Research
Cathy Jenich

Cathy Jenich

  • Assistant to the Vice President for Research

Specialties

  • Vice President for Research Department Operations
  • Michigan Tech Entrepreneurial Support Corporation Secretary
  • Superior Innovations Secretary
  • Research Advisory Council Secretary
  • Faculty Start-up
  • Lakeshore Center Liaison
  • Advanced Technology Development Complex Liaison
Natasha Chopp

Natasha Chopp

  • Director of Research Operations and Faculty Liaison

Specialties

  • Manage the University's limited submission program
  • Manage the University's foreign visitor approval process
  • Establish, manage, and market a public investment program for research initiatives, Superior Ideas
  • Manage the University's space management system, ASPIRE
  • Manage the Bhakta Rath, C2E2, and Michigan Tech Research award programs
  • Develop and maintain websites, social media sites, and other marketing tools
Gina LeMay

Gina LeMay

  • Director of Sponsored Operations and Information Systems

Specialties

  • Assist VPR staff with human resource processes
  • Develop and oversee internal business and data processes by continually reviewing and improving them
  • Communicate proposal and award data to campus community
  • Assist the department with special projects
Richelle Schwaller

Richelle Schwaller

  • Manager of Business Systems, Sponsored Operations Office

Specialties

  • Campus outreach activities, including creating and presenting educational/training materials for VPR staff
  • Analyze data to design, create, and communicate information to internal and external customers
  • Support VPR reporting needs
  • Provide user support
  • Assist the VPR units with special projects
Karl Meingast

Karl Meingast

  • Director, H-STEM Building Operations
  • Vice President for Global Campus and Continuing Education
Jay Meldrum

Jay Meldrum

  • Executive Director of the Michigan Tech Traverse City Research Center

Specialties

Point of contact and official liaison to the Grand Traverse area to help expand the developing regional relationship

Associate Vice President for Research Development

  • Associate Vice President for Research Development
  • University Professor of Natural Resource Policy
  • Joint Appointment in Social Sciences and CFRES

Areas of Expertise

  • Climate change mitigation policy
  • Arctic climate change impacts
  • Energy conservation policy
  • Renewable energy policy
  • Indigeneity and climate policy
Jari Sague

Jari Sague

  • Director of Research Support

Specialties

  • Supports the Research Integrity and Research Development departments with various tasks, including event planning, RCR compliance, and financial reporting
  • When not in the office, Jari enjoys sports like golf, basketball, curling, and disc golf

Research Development

Peter Larsen

Peter A. Larsen

  • Assistant Vice President for Research Development

Specialties

  • Enhancement of the research environment for external proposal success through networking/collaboration/information sharing events and related campus-wide efforts
  • Pre-submission assistance for proposals (federal, state, foundation, and others), in particular large and strategic university initiatives
  • Assist investigators with internal research processes (e.g., cost sharing, budget strategy, research administration)
  • Proposal development assistance: writing, editing, and assistance with submission logistics
  • Development of non-technical proposal sections (e.g., broader impacts, education, management, and outreach plans
  • When not in the office, can usually be found camping in the Keweenaw
Jacob Manchester

Jacob Manchester

  • Director of Research Development and Corporate Research

Specialties

  • Engage with faculty and campus stakeholders to identify new opportunities and assist with proposal development:  writing, editing, and assistance with submission logistics
  • Develop and implement strategies for engaging companies and organizations to support sponsored research
  • Assist investigators with internal research processes (e.g., cost sharing, budget strategy, research administration)
Sarah Atkinson

Sarah Atkinson

  • Research Development Associate

Specialties

  • Pre-submission assistance for proposals (federal, state, foundation, and others)
  • Assist investigators with internal research processes (e.g., cost sharing, budget strategy, research administration)
  • Proposal development assistance: writing, editing, and assistance with submission logistics
  • When not at work, Sarah enjoys riding bikes, camping, being outdoors, and spending time with her family
Jessica Brassard

Jessica Brassard

  • Director of Research Development and Communication

Research Integrity

Brent Burns

Brent Burns

  • Assistant Vice President for Research Integrity

Specialties

  • Manages human and animal subject research compliance areas including IRB and IACUC committees
  • Oversees and provides expert advice and leadership in areas related to research integrity and regulatory compliance issues for the University
  • Develops and conducts training for researchers in compliance areas
  • Leads research facilities and campus equipment search tool - Equipment Finder
  • Supports Laboratory Operations team efforts
Mike Reay

Mike Reay

  • Director of Research Integrity

Specialties

  • Manages Human Research Protection Program
  • IRB Administration
  • Reviews IRB protocol reviews
  • Policy and procedure development
  • Advises Assistant Vice President for Research Integrity on human subjects research federal regulations, policies and procedures
  • Laboratory Safety Inspector
Kaitlyn Studinger

Kaitlyn Studinger

  • Director of Research Integrity

Specialties

  • Manages all Laboratory Animal Care and Use Facilities and Programs
  • Directs the Animal Care Facility (ACF) Shared Facility
  • Advises Assistant Vice President of Research Integrity on animal care and use program policies and procedures
  • Research animal care specialist
  • Laboratory Safety Inspector

Associate Vice President for Research Administration

Jim Baker

Jim Baker

  • Associate Vice President for Research Administration

Specialties

  • Intellectual property/patents
  • Technology licensing
  • Corporate research
  • Spin-off/start-up business development
Marilyn Haapapuro

Marilyn Haapapuro

  • Assistant Vice President, Sponsored Programs

Specialties

  • Review of policies and procedures including published guidelines for PIs and associated web content

Sponsored Programs Accounting

Kelly Kallio

Kelly Kallio

  • Assistant Vice President, Sponsored Programs

Specialties

  • Administration of sponsored research agreements, including negotiation practices, proposal and award processes, contract language, and post-award financial activities
Christine Klein

Christine Klein

  • Accountant

Specialties

  • Sponsored Project Set-up
  • Post Award Management and Closeout
  • Expenditure Review
  • Financial Reporting
Nicole Cretney

Nicole Cretney

  • Associate Accountant

Specialties

  • Sponsored project invoicing
  • Receivable collection
Tammie Fraki

Tammie Fraki

  • Associate Accountant

Specialties

  • Sponsored Project Set-up
  • Post Award Management and Closeout
  • Expenditure Review
  • Financial Reporting
Hayley Karinen

Hayley Karinen

  • Associate Accountant

Specialties

  • Sponsored Project Set-up
  • Post Award Management and Closeout
  • Expenditure Review
  • Financial Reporting
Kelly Kunishige

Kelly Kunishige

  • Associate Accountant

Specialties

  • Sponsored Project Set-up
  • Post Award Management and Closeout
  • Expenditure Review
  • Financial Reporting
Eric Seppala

Eric Seppala

  • Administrative Aide
Joseph Watson

Joseph Watson

  • Associate Accountant

Specialties

  • Sponsored Project Set-up
  • Post Award Management and Closeout
  • Expenditure Review
  • Financial Reporting

Sponsored Programs 

Kelly Kallio

Kelly Kallio

  • Assistant Vice President, Sponsored Programs

Specialties

  • Administration of sponsored research agreements, including negotiation practices, proposal and award processes, contract language, and post-award financial activities
Jennifer Bukovich

Jennifer Bukovich

  • Assistant Director, Grants & Contracts

Specialties

  • Administration of sponsored research agreements, including negotiation practices, award processes, and contract language
  • Review, interpret, and negotiate agreement terms and conditions for sponsored agreements
  • Post-award support (eg. time extensions, changes in principal investigator, budget modifications, changes in scope, etc., excluding accounting functions)
Hilary Anderson

Hilary Anderson

  • Senior Subaward Analyst

Specialties

  • Create, negotiate, and administer sub-awards
Randy Laurn

Randy Laurn

  • Grants & Contracts Analyst

Specialties

  • Review, interpret, and negotiate agreement terms and conditions for sponsored agreements
  • Post-award support (e.g. time extension, changes in principal investigator, budget modifications, changes in scope, etc., excluding accounting functions)
Karen Foltz

Karen Foltz

  • Senior Administrative Aide
Erica Goff

Erica Goff

  • Director, Sponsored Programs

Specialties

  • Administration of sponsored programs proposal processes
  • Develop, review, and approve budgets and proposals prior to submission
Kelsey Kocher

Kelsey Kocher

  • Pre-Award Analyst

Specialties

  • Develop, review, and approve budgets and proposals prior to submission
  • Assist Student Design program leaders with proposal development
Stephanie LeMay

Stephanie LeMay

  • Grants & Contracts Analyst

Specialties

  • Review, interpret, and negotiate agreement terms and conditions for sponsored agreements
  • Post-award support (e.g. time extension, changes in principal investigator, budget modifications, changes in scope, etc., excluding accounting functions)
Sherri Peters

Sherri Peters

  • Pre-Award Analyst

Specialties

  • Develop, review, and approve budgets and proposals prior to submission
Kathleen Terando

Kathleen Terando

  • Pre-Award Analyst

Specialties

  • Develop, review, and approve budgets and proposals prior to submission

Innovation and Commercialization

Robin Kolehmainen

Robin Kolehmainen

  • Manager of Agreements and Operations, Innovation & Commercialization

Specialties

  • Reviews, negotiates, and processes Non-Disclosure Agreements, Material Transfer Agreements
  • Manages the University Trademark Program entailing the processing of license agreements with vendors to use university logos
  • Administering legal matters (patents)
  • Processes and manages license agreements with the university
  • Information system management
Mike Morley

Mike Morley

  • Director, Technology Commercialization

Links of Interest

Specialties

  • Invention disclosure and portfolio management
  • Commercial and intellectual property assessment for new technologies
  • Technology marketing, commercialization planning, and licensing
Nate Yenor

Nate Yenor

  • Director of Technology Business Incubation
Julie Baker

Julie Baker

  • MTRAC Program Manager
Lisa Casper

Lisa Casper

  • Associate Director Startup Capital Programs
  • Husky Innovate Liaison

Specialties

  • Lean Startup
  • Design Thinking
  • Business model pitch prep
  • Connecting startups with local I&E resources