Research Development
Advancing UCF research with personalized support for funding and proposal development.
Tamara Gabrus
Sr. Director, Research Advancement & Strategy
CONTACT
Tamara oversees the Research Development and Research Initiatives offices at UCF, shaping institutional strategy and strengthening interdisciplinary partnerships, proposal development, and faculty-focused programs like the Faculty Cluster Initiative. She assists faculty in crafting competitive proposals, assembling collaborative teams, and accessing services like EARLIER and PASS. Supporting UCF research faculty since 2007.
Joshua Roney
Director, Research Development
CONTACT
Joshua directs operations for the Research Development (RD) team and helps with strategic initiatives, partnerships, internal programs, EARLIER, and proposal review. He is also a resource for research analytics and using RD systems like InfoReady, SciENcv, and IKM Dashboards. Supporting UCF research faculty since 2010.
Madhavi (Maddy) Chokshi
Pillar Lead, Research Strategies
CONTACT
Maddy leads RD funding identification services and faculty support programs—including the Grant Writing Academy and Mentoring programs—while helping onboard new faculty and advance early career initiatives. She also coordinates peer reviews and the sample proposal library. Supporting UCF research faculty since 1993.
April Torre
Pillar Lead, Faculty Engagement & Outreach
CONTACT
April leads RD outreach and event planning, coordinating workshops, conferences, and collaborative initiatives like UCF Collaborates. She also manages the RD SharePoint catalogue of past workshop resources. Supporting UCF research faculty since 2010.
Mark Gauthier
Pillar Lead, Proposal Development
CONTACT
Mark leads RD proposal development services and resources, including graphic design, drafting, and editing expertise to faculty preparing complex, multi-disciplinary grant proposals, with a focus on visual clarity and impactful messaging. He also manages proposal development resources like boilerplates and the Toolkits. Supporting UCF research faculty since 2023.
Megan Kellogg
Research Development Specialist
CONTACT
Megan coordinates REU Site support and assists with internal programs and EARLIER as the RD team’s C&P coordinator. She also helps faculty identify funding opportunities and navigate resources to support research development. Supporting UCF research faculty since 2017.
John Hanley
Competitive Intelligence Specialist
CONTACT
John tracks policy developments affecting research and works on special projects. He is also an associate lecturer in the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs. Supporting UCF research faculty since 2025.
Brenna Wengert
Competitive Intelligence Specialist
CONTACT
Brenna supports data-driven initiatives and decision making to help position UCF and its research teams for success. She develops reports and analyses to guide leadership on strategic research areas, funding opportunities, and outcomes of major investments. She helps identify collaboration opportunities and expand awareness of data initiatives to inform UCF’s research strategy. Supporting UCF research faculty since 2025.
Kaitlin Kirsch
Research Development Assistant
CONTACT
Kaitlin supports RD proposal development through graphic design that enhances visual communication in complex, multi-disciplinary grant proposals. Her work includes infographics and visual identity design that clarify key data and communicate complex ideas with impact. Supporting UCF research faculty since 2024.
Kasey Gracien
Research Development Assistant
CONTACT
Kasey supports the Research Development team with support across the four Pillars. Part of RD team since 2026.
Request support from Res Dev Team
RD Support (all areas)   Graphic Design   Proposal Review   EARLIER (large, complex proposals)