National Science Foundation grant strengthens research

A new grant from the National Science Foundation, NSF Award No. 2426787, is strengthening research support at Marquette University through the Marquette University Post-Award Optimization for Strategic Transformation (MU POST) initiative, helping faculty dedicate more time to scholarship, student mentorship and community impact.

Dr. Jeanne Hossenlopp, vice president for research and innovation at Marquette, emphasizes the broader significance of the investment.

"External grants from federal, state, foundation and corporate sources provide Marquette with important support for research, instruction and student training, equipment, and other operational needs," she says. "By making it easier to manage grants, we seek to encourage faculty and staff to continue to pursue external funding in support of Marquette's mission."

The MU POST initiative aims to create and implement efficient and scalable post-award processes for sponsored activities. The project is making changes to post-award systems to enhance visibility, efficiency and capacity in key areas such as budget, hiring, purchasing and more to ensure researchers can work smoothly, even during high volume periods.

The project is led by a collaborative team, reflecting expertise across Marquette, including principal investigator Katherine Durben, executive director, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, and co-principal investigators Julie Knox, process improvement analyst in Information Technology Services; Dr. Jeanne Hossenlopp, vice president for research and innovation; Dr. Anita Manogaran, associate professor of biological sciences and member of the Committee on Research; and Barb Ploszay, director of grants administration.

Faculty members say that investment makes a tangible difference in their daily work.

Dr. Elisabeta Karl, associate dean of academic affairs at the School of Dentistry, benefits from the grant, which has strengthened her professionally. She also finds it personally meaningful.

"Being part of a grant is always a professional boost, whether serving as principal investigator, co-PI or collaborator," she says. "Through the grants I have participated in, I have built strong professional networks and meaningful friendships. A grant also creates opportunities for discovery and improvement, which makes our work deeply rewarding and inspires our students to maintain a lifelong learning mindset and intellectual curiosity."

Karl says the post-award process often involves careful oversight of compliance and budgeting.

"The post-award process involves ensuring that we remain compliant with reporting requirements and that the project goals are being met," she says. "One of the biggest challenges is managing the budget - ensuring expenses are allocated appropriately, funds are used as intended and expenditures are processed in a timely manner."

By strengthening support systems, the NSF-funded initiative allows faculty to focus more fully on teaching and research.

"Reducing administrative burden allows us to focus on work that aligns with our passions, such as research and teaching," Karl says. "When we are engaged in meaningful work, our satisfaction increases, and we are ultimately more effective in all our roles."

She says strong post-award support also plays a role in faculty retention and institutional reputation.

"Strong post-award support is essential for faculty retention," Karl says. "Faculty who are engaged in research often find a strong sense of purpose within their institutions."

Dr. Kathryn Malin, associate professor of nursing and a neonatal nurse practitioner whose research examines perinatal mental health in neonatal intensive care units, says grant funding is critical to advancing family-centered research.

"My research focuses on understanding how maternal social determinants of health and NICU stress influence stress biology and epigenetic alterations in preterm infants and their mothers," she says. "As a neonatal nurse practitioner, I have witnessed firsthand the profound emotional and physiological stress experienced by NICU families."

Malin adds that grant support provides the time and resources needed to carry out that work.

"Grant support provides protected time, personnel and essential resources needed to conduct rigorous, family-centered research," she says. "It enables the recruitment of participants, collection of biologic and clinical data and development of future interventions aimed at improving outcomes for preterm infants and their families."

Although her current funding comes from the National Institutes of Health, Malin says improvements to post-award infrastructure benefit researchers across funding agencies.

"Improved administrative support reduces the time spent on compliance and operational tasks, allowing greater focus on participant engagement, data collection, analysis and intervention development to support NICU families," she says.

Malin adds that strong institutional systems ultimately improve outcomes for families.

"Administrative support allows researchers to devote more time to understanding the needs and experiences of NICU families and developing targeted, evidence-based nursing interventions," she says. "This directly accelerates the translation of research findings into practices that improve infant and family outcomes."

Both faculty members say the NSF investment reflects a broader commitment to innovation and impact.

"Grant support and innovation go hand in hand," Karl says. "The process of developing grant proposals helps faculty identify key problems, areas for improvement and pathways forward."

For researchers like Karl and Malin, strengthened grant infrastructure through MU POST means more time for discovery, deeper student engagement and greater service to the communities they serve.