By Jane Hirtle
Vanderbilt University has engaged Lewis-Burke Associates LLC, a specialty consulting firm based in Washington, D.C., to afford faculty more opportunities for enhancing their research and scholarship. Through this engagement, Lewis-Burke will collaborate directly with faculty, provide advice on funding trends, identify new opportunities, discuss strategies to overcome funding challenges, and connect faculty with federal decision-makers and program contacts.
Faculty interested in engaging with Lewis-Burke are encouraged to contact the Office of Research Development and Support at RDS@vanderbilt.edu, or complete this form.
Thanks to joint support from the College of Arts and Science, Peabody College, the School of Engineering, the School of Medicine Basic Sciences, and the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, researchers from across all Vanderbilt University colleges and schools have unlimited access to Lewis-Burke services with no cap on interactions and no cost to individual faculty.
Lewis-Burke’s 29 associates have a wide range of knowledge and experience with the federal funding landscape and the current challenges and opportunities university researchers face. Lewis-Burke’s top services include analysis and assessment—matching faculty research priorities with emerging or developing federal funding opportunities—and strategic advocacy, in which Lewis-Burke works collaboratively with faculty to develop and implement strategies for obtaining large, multiyear grants.
“Meeting with Lewis-Burke helped me get perspective on how projects I am pursuing fit into the federal funding landscape,” said Bonnie Dow, professor of communication studies and dean of academic initiatives for the College of Arts and Science. “With Lewis-Burke’s help, I have identified program managers to connect with and am planning a trip to D.C.”
A working group composed of Vanderbilt University faculty from a variety of schools, colleges and disciplines meets monthly with the Lewis-Burke team to discuss opportunities and plan engagement events such as webinars and one-on-one consultations between faculty and Lewis-Burke representatives. Upcoming events include a Defense Health webinar on Friday, June 28, from 11 a.m. to noon in Baker Building, Room 800C.
The working group members are:
- Peter Cummings, School of Engineering associate dean for research; John R. Hall Professor of Chemical Engineering; and professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering
- David Dickinson, Peabody College associate dean for research and strategic initiatives and professor of language and literacy education
- Bonnie Dow, College of Arts and Science dean of academic initiatives and professor of communication studies
- Shane Hutson, chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy; professor of physics; and professor of biological sciences
- Tina Iverson, professor of pharmacology and professor of biochemistry
- Duco Jansen, School of Engineering senior associate dean for graduate education and faculty affairs; professor of biomedical engineering; and professor of neurological surgery
- Padma Raghavan, vice provost for research and professor of computer science and computer engineering
- Bethany Rittle-Johnson, professor of psychology and human development and chair of the department
- Kamal Saggi, College of Arts and Science dean of faculty affairs and Frances and John Downing Family Professor of Economics
- Chuck Sanders, School of Medicine Basic Sciences associate dean for research and director of graduate studies; Aileen M. Lange & Annie Mary Lyle Chair in Cardiovascular Research; professor of biochemistry; and professor of medicine
- Sharon Weiss, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Engineering; professor of electrical engineering; and deputy director, Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering
- Danny Winder, professor of molecular physiology and biophysics and professor of psychiatry
- David Wright, College of Arts and Science dean of sciences and Stevenson Professor of Chemistry
- Liz Zechmeister, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Political Science and director, Latin American Public Opinion Project