MU POST Co-Principal Investigators

PI: Katherine Durben, Executive Director, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

CO-PI: Julie Knox, Process Improvement Analyst, Information Technology Services 
Co-PI: Barb Ploszay, Director, Grants Administration, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

MU POST Advocates

At Marquette University, MU POST introduces a unique and innovative solution to improve the post-award process: the Advocates. These dedicated professionals bridge the gap between Marquette’s central office and departments, ensuring smooth communication and collaboration across various units involved in grant management. 

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Advocates' Role

In Marquette’s centralized system, navigating transactions can be challenging, especially when personnel from multiple units are involved. Tasks related to grant management  require cross-departmental teamwork, and these efforts are crucial for ensuring a smooth process for Principal Investigators (PIs) and research teams. Advocates play a vital role in navigating these complexities. They provide essential institutional knowledge and support, helping PIs understand and manage grant-funded activities.

Advocate Engagement Process

When a new award comes in, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) Grant Awards team in conjunction with the ORSP Executive Director/PI on the NSF-funded MU POST award, will share the assignment with the selected Advocate along with any additional, helpful information about the award.

Criteria for assignment to an Advocate generally includes: 

  • projects with multiple PIs or a PI and Co-PIs/key personnel from different units on campus 
  • projects that have two or more subawardees 
  • projects with two or more PIs/CoPIs who have never been a PI on a project previously  
  • projects on which the main PI has four or more active awards.

Advocate engagement will begin with a project kick-off, coordinated by the Advocate. The Advocate and the PI (and any other mutually agreed upon parties) will meet on a monthly basis to analyze project expenditures and ensure that other items in the areas of budget management, hiring, purchasing, reporting and subawards is on track. The Advocate will guide the PI through any no cost extensions and the closeout process; engagement will end when closeout is complete.   

 

JODIE
Jodie Box

Award Project Coordinator, Research and Innovation

Jodie started at MU in the Biological Sciences Department in Dr. K. Dale Noel's lab and most recently worked as a Research Associate and Lab Manager in Dr. Rosemary Stuart's lab. She is exploring her new role as Award Project Coordinator where she will support faculty in navigating their grants. Jodie's daughter is a Freshman at Marquette. Jodie enjoys living the #FarmLife and going to her family cabin up north. 

Contact Jodie: jodie.box@marquette.edu

LILLY
Lilly Mason

MU POST Advocate, Research and Sponsored Programs

Lilly joined MU as a post-award coordinator in 2025. She brings previous experience supporting NIH and other grant-funded research at the Medical College of WI where she focused on project management, budgeting, and compliance. Passionate about helping research teams stay organized and meet their goals, Lilly enjoys contributing to projects that advance discovery and make meaningful impact in the community.

Contact Lilly: lilly.mason@marquette.edu