Education and Events (EE)

Research professional with a Master’s degree in Regulatory and Clinical Research Management and currently pursuing a Doctorate in the same field, with experience in clinical research administration, IRB/HRPP operations, regulatory compliance, and research governance within healthcare and academic settings in the UAE. Skilled in project coordination, policy development, ethics review processes, and stakeholder engagement, with a strong interest in advancing research quality, collaboration, and innovation. Passionate about contributing to the promotion of best practices while learning from and collaborating with global professionals in research project management.

I hold a PhD in Biomedical Sciences and have worked as a researcher in the field of cardiovascular research for the past 20 years. I am currently a Senior Scientist at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) in Madrid, Spain.

Over the last eight years, first at IRCCS Neuromed in Italy and now at CNIC, I have become increasingly involved in project management activities, particularly in large population omics projects. These experiences have given me the opportunity to oversee many aspects of project execution, including grant management, identification and coordination of scientific partners, and collaboration with multiple departments within the institution, such as commercial, legal, fiscal, and laboratory teams.

My interest in project management has grown steadily to the point that I actively sought specific training opportunities in this area. However, I realized that there are very few programs available and not exactly specifically tailored to research project management. Although my experience may not yet be as extensive as that of other candidates for these positions, I am genuinely motivated to learn, grow, and contribute to this field. I hope not only to advance professionally myself, but also to help other researchers who find themselves navigating similar challenges.

I (Dr. Bilal Anwar, Professor at the Department of PM&SCM at Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan) is now on leave & working as an International Scientific Research teacher at a leading university in China. I hold a PhD from a top-ranked Chinese management school and am also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). My expertise spans project management, marketing, and digital transformation, with research interests in digital capability development, AI integration, and data-driven decision-making in mega projects and Public Private Partnership Projects(PPPs). My focus on bridging theory and practice to improve project governance, stakeholder coordination, and performance in complex project environments through emerging digital technologies and innovative management approaches.

I am a Grant Program Manager with nearly 20 years of experience in grant administration. My background includes work in both central office and department settings, with hands-on experience in pre-award and post-award processes. I find myself turning each situation into a lesson when I'm helping others, trying to help them realize that when working with grants nothing is black and white.

I am a Project Manager at Tilburg University (the Netherlands) and the LEAR of the university.

Work experience:
• Over 23 years of experience in EU funding project management in broad range of EU funding schemes (Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020 and previous FP`s from FP5; Interreg NWE, Erasmus+, Life+, JU ECSEL, former JTIs, etc.) in different environments from large industry, universities to SMEs, experienced coordinator in flag ship project
• Small scale and complex projects: consortium management, technical, financial reporting, financial planning, monitoring, development of tools, audit, EC audit, project admin, status assessment, communication, risk management, deliverable management, chairing consortium meetings, etc.
• Leading compliance advisor of in-house Subsidy Offices

Former jobs:
- 2003-2009: Project Officer at University of Debrecen, Hungary
- 2009-2021: Senior Compliance Advisor at PNO Consultants, The Netherlands
- 2022-: Self-employed project manager, LSPM Consulting, Belgium (full time till March 2024)
- 2024 March –: Project Manager and LEAR, Tilburg University, The Netherlands

Education:
MA in EU Studies, MSc in Geography, MA in Translation, Prince2 Certificate
Motivation
Throughout the years I got the opportunity to gain extensive experience in executing projects in different environments, with different players, I have learnt to speak the languages of different stakeholders, and I could be part of the constantly changing challenges of the grant management practice between 2003-2026.
The project management experience is very fine layered; there is always something to learn along the way and exchanging experience with like-minded professionals is very valuable to create good solutions for the challenges of the future.
For the last two years I enjoyed being an active member in the previous PAPM PD Group, and I would like to continue the collaboration.

I am a research project manager at the Duke Office of Research Initiatives at Duke univerisity, where I provide project management support and educational programming to help researchers navigate the complexities of conducting research at Duke, as well as support the implementation of the Office for Research and Innovation's strategic priorities.

Dr. Javeria Qadar is a Clinical Research Educator and physician with over 13 years of experience across medical affairs, clinical research, compliance, and healthcare education in global and Canadian settings. She currently develops competency-based learning programs for clinical research professionals in Canada, with expertise in adult learning, instructional design, and regulatory training aligned with ICH-GCP and Health Canada requirements. She is passionate about strengthening the clinical research workforce through education, mentorship, and collaborative capacity-building initiatives.

Jessica Schiller is a Research Project Manager at the University of Notre Dame, where she partners with principal investigators to navigate large and complex research projects and portfolios. She has nearly a decade of experience in post-award grants management and research project management. Jessica holds a Doctor of Education with a specialization in Higher Education Educational Practice & Leadership from the University of North Dakota, where her dissertation examined administrative burden in federal research grant management.

Her commitment to adult learning runs throughout her career. She has taught Introduction to Psychology at the college level for over ten years, holds graduate-level training in curriculum development and andragogy, and has presented at both NCURA and SRAI. Earlier in her career, while employed in Financial Aid, she designed and delivered financial literacy programming for undergraduate students at Saint Mary's College, and then again for undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Notre Dame. When Jessica worked in crisis mental health and substance abuse services as a limited license psychologist, she partnered with Grand Valley State University to develop a clinical site rotation for physician assistant (PA) interns. This required consistent, comprehensive learning opportunities that met licensure and degree requirements for the PA students.

These cumulative experiences shaped her belief that well-designed learning opportunities can ameliorate knowledge gaps and move work and the field forward. Jessica sees INRPM's Education and Events committee as an opportunity to bring that same philosophy to a growing international community of research project managers.

I am an International Research Manager at INiBICA, the Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation of Cádiz, where I support clinicians and researchers in developing research ideas, building international partnerships, and preparing competitive proposals for European and international funding programmes. My work covers both pre-award and strategic project development, with a strong focus on biomedical and health research, Horizon Europe, international collaboration, and the professionalisation of research management.

I have a background in infectious diseases and virology, and I am particularly interested in strengthening research project management as a recognised profession, improving support structures for researchers, and promoting collaboration between RPM professionals across institutions and countries. Through INRPM, I would like to contribute to building practical resources, sharing good practices, and supporting a stronger international community for research project managers.

I am a Research Project Manager. I work with the financial and technical management of European and international projects. Currently, I work at the Research Service of Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF). My job is to manage budgets, write financial reports, and prepare audits for Horizon Europe, H2020, and ERC grants. I have a varied background in Linguistics, Finance, and Project Management. In the past, I coordinated international education projects (like Erasmus+) and organized professional training at the Institute for Financial Studies (IEF). To stay updated, I recently took courses on European funding and how to use AI in project management. During my career, I have trained many teachers and professionals. Now, I want to use my experience with EU rules and digital tools to help the committee. I am very motivated to help design good training programs that support research project managers develop their skills and knowledge in a professional path.

Michelle Anderson brings over 28 years of leadership in program management, business operations, and strategic transformation to her role at Southern Utah University. As a Sponsored Program Manager, she supports faculty-led research initiatives, guiding proposal development, compliance, and funding strategy.

With a background in global operations and product leadership, Michelle is passionate about data-informed decision-making, process improvement, and fostering collaborative, high-performing teams. She is a recent graduate of the Master's of Science in Business Analytics at SUU and holds a bachelor's degree in General Studies.

Nicole Akers serves as the Assistant Director of Research and Innovation at the Virginia Tech College of Engineering, where she leads implementation of the college's strategic plan to increase transdisciplinary research awards and grow partnerships with industry. With seven years of experience in academic governance and research operations, she brings a deep understanding of the project management challenges unique to complex, convergent research projects.

As the Director of the Program Management Office (PMO) at the University of Colorado Boulder, I lead and inform strategic execution of research programs across campus. With more than 18 years of experience spanning government, industry, non-profit, and higher education in program development and management, project management, and business operations, I am passionate about connecting with the research project management community and partnering for joint development and fellowship. I focus on driving efficiencies, fostering collaboration, and ensuring compliance across complex, multidisciplinary teams ensuring the focus is on our ability to meet outcomes and impacts. I lead a team that supports research project strategy and execution while helping shape broader institutional approaches to research program management, partnering closely with university leadership, faculty, and administrators to advance project and campus goals. I also contribute actively to the broader research project management and research administration community through presentations, professional development, and community-building efforts (NCURA/SRAI/NYC RAD Series/UIDP to name a few), including as co-founder of the International Network of Research Project Managers. I am a co-PI and PM for an NSF GRANTED planning grant focused on research project management survey and data analysis to discover potential interventions in the RPM field. I also served on the EARMA PAPM core team and several groups including survey/studies, complexity tool, and global RPM certification before the PAPM was reorganized - work that I would like to continue. I am currently leading an effort, with other RPM colleagues, within SRAI to launch the first RPM certificate and within NCURA to create a new dedicated RPM theme group. I hold an EMBA and am certified as a PMP, CRA, and Prosci Change Practitioner, and am committed to strengthening communication, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement to help our RPM community research teams achieve high-performing, compliant outcomes.

I am currently working as a Project Manager at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences of the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, where I focus on the implementation and post-award management of collaborative Horizon Europe projects. I hold a PhD in physical chemistry as a former Marie Curie fellow. https://www.uva.nl/en/profile/c/h/n.chatsisvili/n.chatsisvili.html#Profile
Prior to this, I worked at Wageningen University in educational programme coordination, managing training activities and coordinating educational consortia across European universities. My background combines experience in both research support and education/training.

I am a research and innovation professional with a multidisciplinary background spanning Applied Physics, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, and Nanotechnology. I hold a PhD in Applied Physics and have experience across research, scientific instrumentation management, technical coordination, academic support, and research-oriented problem solving. Over the years, I have worked closely with research environments that require collaboration across disciplines, project coordination, analytical thinking, and operational support for scientific activities.

My motivation for joining INRPM comes from a strong interest in strengthening research ecosystems and contributing to the evolving field of Research Project Management. I am particularly interested in fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and capacity building within the global research community while supporting practices that enhance the effectiveness, accessibility, and impact of research projects.

I have a team of 10 post award research project managers working with me in a shared service set up in Dublin City University where I currently work. Currently a member of EARMA and iNORMS under the University's membership