Optimize life science, agricultural and natural resources, research capabilities of 40,000+ acres, 250+ research faculty, 4 research centers across the state and an annual budget of $80 million in grants and contracts
Interact with other administrative leaders on campus and across the country, as well as stakeholders, including commodity organizations, to help shape IANR's life and social science research agenda
Leverage the unique abilities within ARD for transdisciplinary, integrated research across basic, translational and applied sciences towards the demands of a quickly growing global population
Core Value Goals for the ARD Culture:
Transparency
Accountability
Collaboration
Excellence
Value of Feedback
Respect
Inclusiveness
Tala Awada, Ph.D.
Associate Dean and Associate Director
Supports teams building, transdisciplinary research and high-profile teams;
Approves IANR internal/external applications for funding and outside activities reporting in NUgrant and NuRamp;
Administers the ARD Undergraduate Student Research competition grant program, the Graduate Students Fellowship program, the Larrick/Whitmore Graduate Student Travel Grants;
Administers the Faculty Hatch Capacity projects, the ARD Miscellaneous Strategic Funding, the ARD Bridge Funding, and IANR Faculty Travel Awards;
Serves as the administrative point of contact for Research in Activity Insight;
Serves on the UNL Federal Relations Team;
Serves on the UNL DEI Council;
Co-leads the LTAR – USDA Network in NE; and
Assists the Dean and Director, in conjunction with other ARD staff, in coordinating and facilitating IANR’s broad research mission and global engagement.
Héctor L. Santiago Anadón, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean and Assistant Director
Provides oversight for land resources and support for research infrastructure at IANR research, and integrated research and extension facilities, in coordination with departments and center directors
As part of this coordinated oversight, he leads the UNL Biotechnology Quality Management System (BQMS) program to maintain compliance with federal regulations for conducting research with regulated, genetically engineered crops, and he interfaces with the Greenhouse and Plant Phenotyping Committees
IANR liaison to Nebraska commodity boards, and coordinates Academic Program Reviews within IANR
Assists the Dean and Director, in conjunction with other ARD staff, in coordinating and facilitating IANR's broad research mission
Jared Evert
Finance and Operations Manager
Management Support for the ARD Deans
Oversight of ARD Finances, Internal Budgeting & Awards, Office Operations and Staff
Financial Analysis and Reporting
Strategically Manage Budgets for IANR and ARD Service Centers
Programmatic reporting for External Research Funding
Jennifer McMahon
Data Management Specialist
Strategically Manage Programmatic Data and Internal/External Reporting
Biotechnology Quality Management System (BQMS) Support
Assist with Management of ARD Finances
Sandra Christofferson, M.S.
Project Management Specialist
Administrative project manager for the Agricultural Research Division (ARD)
Serve in a central advisory capacity for ARD Deans and faculty to coordinate and manage multiple research projects on business and grant administration matters
Assist ARD members and Principal Investigators to develop detailed project plans and coordinate activities to ensure successful completion of project goals
Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Network (LTAR) & Beef Innovation, a Hub for Beef Excellence, currently
Supervise budget and re-budget management activities which use ARD funds
Oversee compliance with federal regulations, working with PIs to assist in bringing a transaction or activity into compliance
Eliana Gaitan-Solis, Ph.D.
Project Management Specialist
Administrative project manager for the Agricultural Research Division (ARD)
Serve in a central advisory capacity for ARD Deans and faculty to coordinate and manage multiple research projects on business and grant administration matters
Assist ARD members and Principal Investigators to develop detailed project plans and coordinate activities to ensure successful completion of project goals
REEU:Crop-To-Food Innovation Program, currently
Oversee compliance with federal regulations, working with PIs to assist in bringing a transaction or activity into compliance
Brianne Wolf, M.S.
Global Projects & Programs
Serve as a contact person for IANR’s global engagement information and inquiries
Track IANR global activity and international collaborations; develop and maintain global activity data base
Connect and mobilize internal and external assets for greater global impact, including faculty, staff, students and current or prospective partners
Communicate IANR’s global activities and impacts through various media and campus/community platforms
Engage key globally-interested IANR & NU stakeholders with IANR Global Huddle to strengthen existing and foster new partnerships
Serve as IANR liaison to the university-wide Global Nebraska Strategy Committee
Liana Calegare, Ph.D.
Global Programs Manager
Identifies opportunities for international collaboration through research, extension, and capacity building efforts; provides support for the formation of transdisciplinary teams to prepare project proposals.
Leads efforts to develop, implement, and coordinate federal funded capacity building programs, such as USDA-FAS Scientific Exchanges, Borlaug Fellowship, and Cochran Programs.
Leverage partnerships with Global Centers of Excellence in Agriculture and National and Global Networks.
Assists and coordinates visits of international delegations, with focus on connecting IANR faculty to visiting scientists in their area of interest.
Administers the International Impact Awards: FAPESP SPRINT, seed grants to implement and/or strengthen international collaborations, and travel awards.
Lauren Kruger
Administrative Coordinator
Administrative Support for the ARD Deans and Staff
Event Planning, Scheduling and Special Projects
General Office Support and Primary Point-of-Contact
Department COVID-19 Updates:
