Research Development & Proposal Services
Overview
The Research Development and Proposal Services team provides tailored services to help MSU researchers successfully compete for external funding for their research and creative pursuits. These services include grant editing, consultations, identifying funding opportunities, and project management for large-scale grant proposals. These services are available at no cost to MSU researchers.
Get Started
To schedule a consultation with a member of our team, or to request editing or project management services, please complete the Service Request Form. For any questions, please email ORI.editors@msu.edu.
Current Offerings
- Proposal development and editing
- Proposal project management
- Peer-review coordination
- Proposal strategy consultation
- Exploring funding
- Webinars and workshops
- Writing groups
- 2023 NSF CAREER proposal writing group
- Grantsmanship and Mentoring Program for Winning Your First NIH R01 Grant
Timing
We recommend contacting our office early in the grant development process to take advantage of the full range of services offered, including project management assistance for large-scale proposals, and substantive feedback on a proposal’s logic, layout, and organization to ensure it aligns with the funder’s guidelines. Our ability to edit proposals and facilitate more substantial changes will be limited as the submission deadline approaches, so please be sure to contact us early in the process.
Our Team
Lauren Aerni-Flessner

- Joined MSU in August 2014
- Ph.D. in Molecular Cell Biology from Washington University in St. Louis, studying glucose transporter biology
- Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan
- Previously worked as a Grant and Project Management Specialist in the MSU College of Engineering
- Provides grant editing, first draft reviews, and more
Angie Kankula

- Joined MSU in January 2012
- Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University
- Specializing in NIH, DOD, and foundation grants
- Provides project management and budgeting for complex grants
Sara Steenrod

- Joined MSU in November 2018
- Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Columbia University
- Completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Rockefeller University, studying the neural mechanisms underlying visual attention.
- Previously worked as a Scientific Editor for the Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis
- Sara Steenrod's LinkedIn profile
Special note: Visit the Global IDEAS section of the International Studies and Programs website for opportunities related to international scholarship and be sure to register for their email notices.