The CLAS Grant Support Office continues to expand coverage and grow the team to provide the best possible support for CLAS researchers. We recently welcomed three new members to the team and celebrated a well-earned promotion.

Melissa Eckrich, our new post-award lead, came to CLAS in early September 2024. She previously worked at IIHR—Hydroscience & Engineering, where she managed and supported post-award grant activities for 18 years. Besides leading the GSO post-award team, Melissa will work with Travis Dillavou to provide support for researchers in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences.

Gizem Uyumaz joined the GSO post-award team as a research support specialist in March 2024. She was previously a Visiting Scholar at the Center for Evaluation and Assessment in the College of Education, and before that an Assistant Professor in Turkey. Gizem is providing post-award support for several departments, including Earth and Environmental Sciences and Geographical and Sustainability Sciences (the future School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability), and is in the processing of transitioning to cover the Department of Health and Human Physiology.

Logan Volkert joined GSO as a research support coordinator in September 2024. He previously served as a Writing Center consultant at Western Illinois University, where he obtained an English MA (emphasis on Rhetoric and Writing Studies). Logan supports GSO pre- and post-award activities and helps manage the website. In his spare time, he studies video game design and writes creative fiction.

Last, but certainly not least, congratulations to Bethany Cornwell, promoted to research support specialist in August 2024. When she’s not providing post-award support to the Department of Computer Science, she’s crucial to the rest of the pre-award team, jumping in to manage full applications, or doing whatever is necessary to keep things moving smoothly.