Directory of Research Development Professionals
Office of Research
Michael A. Gallo Jr., Ph.D.
Director of Research Development
Office of Research
Michael A. Gallo Jr., Ph.D.
Michael Gallo Jr. serves as the Director of Research Development at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). In his role as Director, he is responsible for assisting faculty and research groups in identifying external funding opportunities, and in developing compelling and competitive grant proposals. Working with the Research Development Officers (RDOs)...
Schools
Holly Hapke, Ph.D.
Director of Research Development
School of Social Sciences
Holly Hapke, Ph.D.
Holly Hapke, Ph.D. is a geographer and interdisciplinary social scientist with research interests in political economy, rural development, gender, fisheries and food production systems, migration, ecological conflict, and South Asia. Specific research projects have examined the impact of technological transformation and globalization on artisanal fishing communities...
Helen Lee, Ph.D.
Director of Research Development
School of Physical Sciences
Helen Lee, Ph.D.
Dr. Helen Lee is the Director of Research Development in the School of Physical Sciences, where she develops strategies to expand research programs, and works with faculty to prepare competitive proposals. Prior to joining UCI, she worked at UCR where she provided proposal assistance to the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, and the College of Engineering...
Lauren Nguyen
Assistant Director, Contracts & Grants
Program in Public Health
Lauren Nguyen
As the Assistant Director of Contracts & Grants, Lauren is the administrative contact in the Program in Public Health’s Office of Research. She works closely with the Dean and Associate Dean of Research to create processes and an infrastructure for their Office of Research as they prepare to become the School of Population and Public Health in 2023...
Justin Sarkis, M.S.
Research Development Lead
Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
Justin Sarkis, M.S.
Justin Sarkis supports researchers in the Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences in securing funding for their projects through proposal development, team building, and strategic initiatives. He has specialized in proposal development since 2017 and holds an M.S. in Psychology from the University of Michigan. Additionally, he has earned a proposal management certificate...
Amanda Jeanne Swain, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Humanities Center
School of Humanities
Amanda Jeanne Swain, Ph.D.
Amanda Jeanne Swain received a PhD in History, as well as a Master’s degree in International Studies, from the University of Washington. She works closely with faculty and graduate students in the School of Humanities to develop proposals for funding ranging from individual fellowships to major collaborative projects. She has written and helped develop successful...
Kartik Yadav, MS
Director of Research Development & Administration
Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing
Kartik Yadav, MS
As Director of Research Development and Administration at Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, Mr. Yadav coordinates and provides individualized support for research projects and proposals. Specific responsibilities include research program strategy development, coordination of large projects involving faculty and administrative staff across campus...
Mary Frances Ypma-Wong, Ph.D.
Manager, Research Development
School of Medicine
Mary Frances Ypma-Wong, Ph.D.
Dr. Ypma-Wong manages the Research Development Unit (RDU) in the School of Medicine. The RDU provides funding opportunity support, helping faculty to develop a strategic approach and find funding opportunities. The unit also provides grant proposal support, including grant editing services and resources to increase the efficiency of proposal...
Darine Zaatari, Ph.D.
Director of Research Development
Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences
Darine Zaatari, Ph.D.
Dr. Zaatari is the Director of Research Development in the School of Information and Computer Sciences, where she supports faculty developing competitive proposals for funding programs, with focus on major collaborative proposals. Prior to joining UCI, she worked at NORC, at the University of Chicago, as Field Operations Intelligence and...
Corporate & Foundation Relations
Marge Brannon, MBA
Executive Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations
University Advancement
Marge Brannon, MBA
Marge Brannon is Executive Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, where she is responsible for developing strategies to build the University’s relationships with corporations, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. Her focus is on Arts, Business, Humanities, Law, Social Ecology and Social Sciences, as well as related centers and units. The Corporate and Foundation Relations team...
Roxanne Ford
Executive Director of Foundation & Corporate Relations
University Advancement
Roxanne Ford
Roxanne Ford is Executive Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, where she is responsible for developing strategies to build the University’s relationships with corporations, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. Her focus is on the schools of Biological Sciences, Engineering, Information & Computer Sciences, and Physical Sciences, as well as related centers and units...
Marianne Smith, Ph.D.
Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations
University Advancement
Marianne Smith, Ph.D.
Dr. Marianne Smith is the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations in University Advancement, where she is responsible for developing strategies to build the University’s relationships with corporations, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. Her focus is on the Schools of Medicine and Nursing, as well as related centers and units. The Corporate and Foundation Relations team...