Stewards of Research Funding, Guiding Principal Investigators Toward Success
When a principal investigator receives notice of an NIH grant award, the funding goes directly to the applicant’s organization to be administered during the post-award phase. At the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, a team of 10 manages an estimated $60M yearly, paying close attention to the terms of each award, to be successful stewards of federal funds, a responsibility shared with principal investigators.
Led by LouAnne Loschin, this team includes: Ziyang Ren, Yelena Kineva, Grayson Rose, Rohafza Sajid, Austin Harrison, Tonja Tolliver, Rokeya Begum, Tania Jimenez Cruz and Li He.
What does “post-award” mean?
Tonja Tolliver: Post-award begins after a notice of award (NOA) has been received. This is the official document notifying the grantee and others that an award has been made. We work with PIs, project teams, and others in the department and on campus to ensure funds are spent and reported per UNC policies and procedures and as outlined in the NOA.
Why is this important?
LouAnne Loschin: This is a crucial stage that can have major implications on compliance, costs and performance. This stage ensures obligation management, managing compliance, monitoring contract performance, and identifying any further opportunities.
Why did you join this IGHID team?
Austin Harrison: I’ve long been interested in the wider world around me and it’s probably not a coincidence that I’m working for IGHID, living in Montana, having studied in Tanzania as part of my bachelor’s degree before leaving the UK to get married in Florida to a girl from New York. IGHID just seemed to be a good fit with its global reach, allowing me to use my background in finance and apply learnings from my degree in International Development.
Tania Cruz: I have always wanted to help people but unfortunately never liked science, so this feels like an indirect way to fulfill an intrinsic value that matters to me.
Tonja Tolliver: The work aligned with personal goals and matched my skills and experience. I had also received great feedback about the department; a few faculty mentors had shared that IGHID would be a great place to work.
What do you most enjoy about your work?
LouAnne Loschin: I enjoy our team which is as diverse as the populations the Institute serves in global health, and in that amazing diversity we all come together to guide our researchers toward success.
Li He: I really enjoy working with my colleagues. They are all very nice and we did very well team work together. I learned a lot during this whole year I joined the IGHID.
Tonja Tolliver: I enjoy providing the same meaningful support that I have received throughout my career. I enjoy providing suggestions for solutions, assisting PIs and others to move past obstacles. I find it most rewarding when I see that I have helped someone move on to complete a task or achieve a goal.
What is a typical day like?
Austin Harrison: No two days are the same. The confluence of federal, state and institutional rules/policies always seem to be changing, and I enjoy the challenge of adapting to those changes when the same task might demand a completely different approach from one week to the next. It seems to be as much about problem solving as it is about financial management of grants and facilitating the expediency of the PIs projects purchasing needs.
Tonja Tolliver: A typical day is dynamic and full. We meet with PIs and project teams, we reconcile, review and monitor budgets, we enter and update effort, we answer questions, we process payments, and we process cash advance requests and settlements.
LouAnne Loschin: The team works very hard, and that’s what we tell people in interviews. We work at a fast pace and we expect you to do your job. And if you make a mistake, that’s okay, we can fix it. But take ownership of your portfolio and be proud of what you do.
How would you describe IGHID to someone who may be considering employment?
Ziyang Ren: Our department promotes a healthy work-life balance, offering flexible working arrangements and a supportive work environment. We pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and inclusive work culture. Our team is composed of diverse individuals from various backgrounds. We work together towards common goals, enriching the workplace with different perspectives and ideas.
LouAnne Loschin: This is a place where you can learn and grow, and we often hire people straight out of college. We also hire temps who become permanent employees, and we teach them from the ground up. If you want to join the Institute, this is a great place to learn everything that you can ever want to learn about the post-award phase. And everyone who has left IGHID, has moved up when they’ve gone to other departments. They’re very marketable because everyone knows the volume we have. Each portfolio has 40-60 grants. And if employees can successfully manage this volume, they’re surely going to be able to do well elsewhere.
Tell us something about you that many people may not know?
Austin Harrison: I’ve visited 28 countries on 6 continents and would like to see a few more when my 2 boys are old enough to appreciate the experience.
Li He: My hobby is doing the crafts. I like flower arrangement and making candles when I have free time.
Rokeya Begum: I came to this country at the age of 10 with my parents, full of hopes and dreams. I am the mother of two wonderful children, Ayyash and Isra. Traveling is a great passion of mine.
Do you have a favorite quote or life motto?
Rokeya Begum: All our dreams can come true; if we have the courage to pursue them – Walt Disney
Tonja Tolliver: When I think about it, I remind myself of the following quite often…while I may not have all available information at any given time, I can do my best with the information that I have.
What was the last book you read?
Austin Harrison: Return of the God Hypothesis by Stephen Meyer. I don’t even know how to summarize this so I’ll let Brian Keating do it instead: “A meticulously researched, lavishly illustrated, and thoroughly argued case against the new atheism. Even if your mind is made up—especially if it is—Meyer’s refreshing take on humanity’s most unbridgeable divide—between secular and divine accounts of origins of the Universe—is a joy to read. You may not come away convinced, but you’ll be richer for the journey. “
Li He: When Things Don’t Go Your Way by Haemin Sunim
Rokeya Begum: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Tania Cruz: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
Tonja Tolliver: I Came As a Shadow: An Autobiography by John Thompson
The Institute for Global Health & Infectious Diseases (IGHID) attracts people who are driven to make big change. From principal investigators and grant managers to regulatory specialists and study coordinators, everyone has an important role to play in what we do around the world. We are pleased to highlight the work of the people who proudly serve IGHID.