Scheduled Hours

37.5

Position Summary

The RDA will actively contribute to the realization of strategic goals related to research, scholarship, and engagement by supporting proposal development activities that substantively contribute to the strength and success of faculty submissions for external and foundation funding related to space-science mission projects or other large space-science-related projects, as well as post-award project management.

The RDA will work in conjunction with faculty of the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences (MCSS), the department of Physics, and the department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences (EEPS) to identify opportunities to propose to mission programs such as are available through NASA’s Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES), through the National Science Foundation (NSF), or through other agencies or foundations. The RDA will provide support in the form of proposal management for proposals led by WashU faculty for mission-related opportunities or other large space-science-related projects, and post-award project management for development of projects awarded to WashU faculty. The RDA will conduct these tasks under the supervision of the Senior Research Development Associate and the Vice Dean of Research in A&S.

The RDA shall be expected to perform the following functions: (1) Research and prepare faculty for upcoming or anticipated opportunities for mission-related proposals, including facilitating brainstorming and idea sessions relevant to the discipline; (2) provide support in the form of proposal management for specific calls for proposals, including reviewing proposal requirements and reviewing and refining grant applications for competitive advantage, and supporting the development of large-scale, collaborative proposals, and (3) provide project management support for successful mission-related or large project awards.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Consulting and supporting faculty in the development of multi-investigator and complex funding proposals, as well as individual investigator proposals as bandwidth allows, through effective interactions with all involved parties and by providing proposal management, proposal reviewing/editing, and other requested proposal development support. This includes:

• Share discipline-specific funding opportunities with relevant faculty; provide competitive intelligence for upcoming funding opportunities.
• Review agency program goals and guidelines to ensure proposals align with the agency and proposed projects’ objectives and capabilities.
• Create a checklist, a timeline, and a roadmap for large-scale proposal development efforts.
• Work with proposal teams in the proposal development process, including faculty and their collaborators, the GAIN pre-award and post-award staff, the Research Development Office in OVCR, and OSRS representatives to ensure successful integration of all application components and full compliance with the program and sponsor requirements.
• Manage and meet deadlines for multiple proposals simultaneously while ensuring excellent service to each.
• Coordinate external reviews of large-scale proposals identified as high priority by the College of Arts & Sciences in conjunction with the MCSS and departments of Physics and EEPS.
• Review proposals, create tables, and provide content support for non-technical sections.
• Provide subject matter expertise for proposal development when applicable.

Support proposal team post-award in project management role. This includes:

• Creating and maintaining a project development schedule.
• Assisting the PI in managing the project budget.
• Coordinating with GAIN post-award managers.
• Assisting in organization of team meetings.
• Ensuring compliance with agency requirements.
• Planning and implementing team meetings and project reviews.
• Manage equipment/instrument procurement, submit reimbursement paperwork, asset tracking information.
• Competitively price and order consumables.
• Assist with gathering materials for progress and closeout reports.
• These and other responsibilities, according to the specific needs of the project, will be determined at the time of award.
• Identify, establish, and support pre-proposal activities and strategic planning with the RD team in A&S (including participants of the MCSS, Physics, and EEPS). This includes organizing and facilitating events for brainstorming, idea development, and team building, connecting faculty to resources, working with faculty to address challenges to advancing extramural research activities, and working with faculty to draft whit