About iMERS Office of Research Research Administration iMERS About iMERS For faculty at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) challenged to find the time, staff, or expertise to pursue NIH funding for their scientific research, iMERS offers a path toward grant writing success. Our free program shortens the learning curve by sharing best practices through virtual training, in-person workshops, and faculty mentoring that guide participants through the complex NIH funding process. Encouraging faculty to actively engage in research enriches the curriculum and motivates minority students to pursue careers in science for a more diversified biomedical workforce. OUR LEADERSHIP Image Donald T. Frazier, PhD Physiology Program Co-Director With an extensive history of leading federally funded research projects and educational outreach programs, Dr. Frazier continues to serve underrepresented groups in STEM fields, such as minority faculty. His scientific expertise is in systems physiology, with an emphasis on chemical and neural control of respiration and the biophysics of isolated nerve membranes. Full Bio In The News Image Brett Spear, PhD Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Program Co-Director Known for his outstanding contributions to graduate student education and biomedical research at the University of Kentucky, Dr. Spear brings his mentoring and grant-writing expertise to iMERS as co-director for the program. As a molecular biologist, his scientific research investigates gene regulation during liver development and disease. Full Bio In The News Image Melissa Nickell, MS Program Coordinator As iMERS Program Coordinator, Melissa is responsible for day-to-day operations and event planning. Previously, she served as a Grant Proposal Specialist in the UK College of Medicine, supporting the submission of extramural funding applications. Her scientific interest is in neurogenomics and mathematical tools to assess tissue-level gene expression patterns. Email LinkedIn OUR PROPOSAL SPECIALISTS Kathy Grzech, MA Proposal Development Office Positions Held: Executive Director Barbara Duncan, PhD Proposal Development Office Positions Held: Associate Director Erik Davidshofer, MA Proposal Development Office Positions Held: Senior Proposal Development Officer Margot McCullers, PhD Proposal Development Office Positions Held: Emeritus Ada Sue Selwitz, MS CCTS Positions Held: Co-Director, Support Core Sean Scott, CRA CPRA CFRA College of Agriculture Research Positions Held: CAFE Grants Officer Senior SRAI Distinguished Faculty NSPAA of HBCUs, Inc. Associate Member SACNAS Professional Member OUR FACULTY MENTORS Sarah D'Orazio, PhD Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics Positions Held: Associate ProfessorVice Chair for Education Steven Estus, PhD PhysiologySanders-Brown Center on Aging Positions Held: Professor, Department of Physiology Amanda Glueck, PhD Neurology Positions Held: Assistant Professor Lu-Yuan Lee, PhD Physiology Positions Held: Fred Zechman Professor Analia Loria, PhD Pharmacology and Nutritional SciencesSaha Cardiovascular Research Center Positions Held: Associate ProfessorGraduate Faculty in Nutritional Sciences Michael Paul Murphy, PhD Molecular and Cellular BiochemistrySanders-Brown Center on Aging Positions Held: Professor, Department of Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry Ok-Kyong Park-Sarge, PhD Physiology Positions Held: Associate Professor Terry Stratton, PhD Behavioral Science Positions Held: Professor Notice: Funding for this conference program was made possible (in part) by R25 GM125680 from the National Institute of General Medicine Sciences. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does mention by trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
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