Research Support Overview

The Maxwell Research Office is here to support you in applying for research funding and managing awards throughout your career at Syracuse University. This brief guide will help you to get started. 

Associate Dean for Research

Shana Gadarian, PhD

sgadaria@syr.edu | 315.443.3718 | 200 Eggers Hall

Shana Gadarian is  Professor of Political Science and Associate Dean for Research for the Maxwell School. As Associate Dean for Research, Shana leads strategic efforts in support of faculty research across Maxwell. She serves as the primary liaison for faculty, department chairs, and center/institute directors on research matters, including review of proposals that require resource commitments from the School. An active researcher, Shana holds affiliations with the Campbell Public Affairs Institute, the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and Population Health, and the Center for Policy Research. 

Director of Research Administration

Vanessa Gatmaitan, MS

vqgatmai@syr.edu  | 315.443.7281 | 210 Steele Hall

Director of Research Development

 Liz Lance, PhD

ealance@syr.edu | 315.443.4919 | 210 Steele Hall

Research Admin Analyst

Faye Morse

flmorse@syr.edu | 315.443.8353 | 210 Steel Hall

Departmental Research Administrators 

Each Maxwell unit, whether academic department or research center/institute, has one or more staff members ready to help you with research-related administrative processes, answer questions, and connect you to additional resources. If you are unsure who to work with, please email maxwelldeansoffice@syr.edu. 

Research at Syracuse 

The Office of Research is the central hub for research support at Syracuse. The University’s research webpage (link below) provides descriptions and subpages, including for the Office of Research Development (which administers the University internal grant programs), the Office of Research Integrity and Protections (including the IRB), Technology Transfer, the SOURCE (Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement), and the Syracuse University Libraries and open-access SURFACE Repository.  https://www.syracuse.edu/academics/research/ 

Office of Sponsored Programs

The Syracuse University Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) oversees the preparation and submission of research proposals and the management of externally funded research and scholarly projects. OSP Research Administrators are authorized institutional representatives for submitting proposals and executing awards on behalf of the University. Caroline McMullin (cmcmulli@syr.edu) is Maxwell’s OSP Research Administrator. Please contact Caroline as soon as you have identified a potential funding opportunity so she can help you navigate the forms that need to be completed and the OSP process and internal due dates for proposal submission.

The OSP website has the information and forms you will need to get started with submitting proposals at Syracuse University. Start with the Before You Begin page, which includes the following: 

• Principal Investigator (PI) Eligibility - This guidance specifies which faculty and staff titles allow individuals to serve as PI or Co-PI on sponsored projects. It also includes a waiver process. 

• Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI) Policy - Required by the federal government to ensure that research will be free from bias resulting from investigators’ financial conflicts of interest.

• Intellectual Property Agreement (IPA) - Required by the University for faculty and staff working on externally funded projects. 

• Internal Routing and Review (IRR) Form  - This document, required for each proposal for external funding, is the primary data intake form utilized by OSP. It is also how the PI agrees to and secures required unit-level approvals, including that of the department chair, center/institute director (if applicable), and associate dean for research.   

You will also find the OSP Budget Template essential as you prepare your proposal budget: It follows the format of many sponsors' budget forms and has the University's F&A/indirect cost rates and fringe benefit rates embedded. Please reach out to your departmental research administrator or Caroline McMullin in OSP for assistance with this form. 

Additional Resources

Many other useful forms and templates for proposal preparation and submission are located in the Tools and Resources section of the OSP website. Additional, for the Maxwell community, please explore the additional resources here on Answers, including: