Funding Professionals

Office of Research – Research Development

Michael Gallo

Director of Research Development
Office of Research

Michael Gallo
magallo@uci.edu

Michael Gallo 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 devel...

READ MORE

Research Development in the Schools

Holly Hapke

Director of Research Development
School of Social Sciences

Holly Hapke
hhapke@uci.edu

Holly Hapke 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 ha...

READ MORE
Helen Lee

Director of Research Development
School of Physical Sciences

Hellen Chen
chenhc@uci.edu

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 ...

READ MORE
Lauren Nguyen

Assistant Director, Contracts & Grants
Program in Public Health

Lauren Nguyen
lnsoto@hs.uci.edu

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...

READ MORE
Justin Sarkis

Research Development Coordinator
School of Biological Sciences

Justin Sarkis
sarkisj@uci.edu

Justin Sarkis helps faculty members in the School of Biological Sciences acquire funding for their research through grant proposal development. He has worked in proposal development since 2017 in academia at U.C. Riverside and in industry at Clean Ener...

READ MORE
Amanda Jeanne Swain

Executive Director, Humanities Center
School of Humanities

Amanda Jeanne Swain
ajswain@uci.edu

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 fun...

READ MORE
Kartik Yadav

Director of Research Development & Administration
Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing

Kartik Yadav
k.yadav@uci.edu

Mr. Yadav is the Director of Research Development & Administration in the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, where he coordinates and provides individualized support for research projects and proposals. Specific responsibilities include researc...

READ MORE
Mary Frances Ypma-Wong

Manager, Research Development
Office of Research, School of Medicine

Mary Frances Ypma-Wong
m.ypmawong@uci.edu

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 gra...

READ MORE
Darine Zaatari

Director of Research Development
School of Information and Computer Sciences

Darine Zaatari
dzaatari@uci.edu

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 U...

READ MORE

Corporate & Foundation Relations

Marge Brannon

Executive Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations
University Advancement

Marge Brannon
mbrannon@uci.edu

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, B...

READ MORE
Roxanne Ford

Executive Director of Foundation & Corporate Relations
University Advancement

Roxanne Ford
fordmr@uci.edu

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 o...

READ MORE
Marianne Smith

Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations
University Advancement

Marianne Smith
mrsmith1@uci.edu

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 organization...

READ MORE

Applied Innovation

Ronnie Hanecak

Senior Director, Invention Transfer Group
UCI Beall Applied Innovation

Ronnie Hanecak
rhanecak@uci.edu

Dr. Hanecak is the Senior Director of the Invention Transfer Group in UCI Applied Innovation. Dr. Hanecak is responsible for leading the Invention Transfer Group (ITG) and is the coordinator of the POP Grants Program...

READ MORE
Scroll to Top