Proposal Development Support (PDS)

Contact Proposal Development Specialists First
PIs should contact Proposal Development Specialists (PDS) first when beginning proposal preparation. The PDS can assist with contacting the Sponsored Programs Office Staff and College Business Staff to create a smooth process through grant submission.

Our team of Proposal Development Specialists (PDS) empower faculty to submit strong funding proposals. The College of Arts & Sciences PDS team is the primary liaison to the Sponsored Programs Office (SPO) and the first stop before faculty go to SPO who work with PI’s to facilitate grant submissions. Here's what we can do for you:

Proposal Development Support Request Form

Preparing Proposals

  • Funding Opportunity/Solicitation Reviews  (translating requirements, organizing preparation and submission process)
  • Kuali Support
    • Proposal Setup
    • Submission
    • Routing Follow-up
  • Creation of required internal forms and documents
    • Facilities and Administration (F&A) documentation
    • Cost-share commitments
    • Consultant Confirmatory Letters
  • Budget consultation
    • Accurate estimates for Travel, Software, Indirect Costs (F&A), Salaries, Benefits, & more
    • Kuali Proposal Budget Input
  • Review proposals for USU policy compliance
  • Proposal Review
    • Verifying requirements met
    • General proofreading
    • Detailed feedback for clarity (requires narrative drafted at least 3 weeks before team receives it)

Submitting Proposals

  • Coordinate with Sponsored Programs Office for Proposal Submission
  • Signature routing
  • Information Tracking (DUNS #, resources, contacts)
  • Form creation and compliance
  • Submission portal navigation (NSF, NEH, NIH, etc.) and uploads
  • Funding source specific documents

Post-Award Process

  • The Sponsored Programs Office and Sponsored Programs Accounting handle all post-award notifications, processing, and index creation in consultation with your departmental Business Services representative. We can help move this process along though we do not offer post-award management services at this time.
  • Assistance with no-cost extensions.

Proposal Development Specialists

elizabeth christensen headshot
Elizabeth Christensen
elizabeth.christensen@usu.edu

Areas of specialty:
  • Budget preparation and Kuali navigation (USU’s internal grant management system)
  • Biology
  • Chemistry & Biochemistry
Email Elizabeth

liz davis headshot
Liz Davis
liz.davis@usu.edu

Areas of specialty:
  • Budget preparation and Kuali navigation (USU’s internal grant management system)
  • Mathematics & Statistics
  • Physics
Email Liz

nicole steinicke headshot
Nicole Steinike
nicole.steinicke@usu.edu

Areas of specialty:
  • Budget preparation and Kuali navigation (USU’s internal grant management system)
  • Exploring and finding funding opportunities, project timelines, and narrative feedback
  • Art + Design
  • Theatre Arts
  • Music
  • World Languages & Cultures
Make an Appointment

barbara warnes headshot
Barbara Warnes
barbara.warnes@usu.edu

Areas of specialty:
  • Budget preparation and Kuali navigation (USU’s internal grant management system)
  • Communication & Media
  • English
  • History, Cultures & Ideas
  • School of Social Sciences
  • Social Work
Make an Appointment