Tamara Roosevelt, senior grants and contracts coordinator at the iSchool, has received the Outstanding Service Award from Sponsored Programs and Research Compliance (SPaRC), a working group at the University of Illinois devoted to the management and administration of sponsored programs. She was presented with the award at the SPaRC Retreat on September 4.
Roosevelt joined the Research Services team at the iSchool in January 2018. In her position, she assists researchers with their proposals, ensures that grants are spent appropriately, and helps answer questions regarding post-award activities.
"Tamara has become my key partner in planning for, and building out, a Research Services office that actually delivers highest-standard services to our stakeholders, while at the same time ensuring that all compliance rules and administrative policies are met," said Professor and Associate Dean for Research J. Stephen Downie, who nominated Roosevelt for the award.
In his letter of support, Assistant Professor Matthew Turk wrote, "Despite the large number of grants that Tamara and the Research Services team guide through the proposal stage, and more to the point the constant pressure I can only imagine she is under, she is always cheerful, engaging, and thoughtful. It is inspiring to work with her, not only because of the way in which she engages with other individuals, but the clear pride and skill with which she engages with her work."
According to Bertram Ludäscher, professor and director of the iSchool's Center for Informatics Research in Science and Scholarship, dealing with the complex financial and administrative issues of large, collaborative sponsored research projects can be daunting for principal investigators.
"With her exceptional expertise, experience, and ability to work closely with faculty and personnel in all roles, Tamara has helped us quickly and smoothly navigate these waters, from managing politically sensitive sub-award modifications, to keeping up with shifting grant personnel allocations, to collaborating in the resolution of complex cross-unit cost allowability issues," Ludäscher said.
Roosevelt is part of the Research Development Community (RDC) on campus and serves on the Professional Development Networking subcommittee. She has shared her research administration expertise with others as a speaker at the National Council of Research Administrators annual meeting and as an instructor in the SPaRC'Ed program.