How to Apply
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.
Job Summary
The Research Development Specialist serves as the Michigan Neuroscience Institute's strategic resource for research growth, proposal development, scientific writing, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Working closely with institute leadership, faculty investigators, and campus partners, this position leads the development of highly competitive research proposals, identifies strategic funding opportunities, facilitates collaborative research initiatives, and strengthens MNI's nationally recognized research portfolio.
As the institute's primary proposal development professional, this position partners with investigators throughout the grant lifecycle?from identifying funding opportunities and shaping scientific concepts to developing compelling proposals and coordinating successful submissions. The Research Development Specialist combines exceptional scientific writing, strategic thinking, project management, and collaborative leadership to increase external funding, foster interdisciplinary science, and advance the institute's mission of accelerating discoveries in neuroscience.
Responsibilities*
Proposal Development & Scientific Writing
Serve as the institute's lead resource for the development of competitive research proposals supporting faculty investigators, multidisciplinary research teams, and institute strategic initiatives. Partner with investigators from the earliest stages of proposal development to transform scientific concepts into compelling, reviewer-focused, and highly competitive grant applications. Lead development of proposal timelines, writing schedules, and submission strategies to ensure high-quality, on-time proposal submissions.
Provide substantive writing, editing, and scientific communication support for all major proposal components, including:
- Specific Aims
- Significance
- Innovation
- Research Strategy and Approach
- Scientific figures, conceptual diagrams, and other proposal visuals
- References, citations, and bibliographies
- Facilities & Resources
- Environment
- Data Management & Sharing Plans
- Resource Sharing Plans
- Biosketches
- Letters of Support
- Institutional commitment letters
- Executive summaries
- Lay summaries
- White papers
- Foundation proposals
- Industry concept papers
Translate complex scientific concepts into clear, persuasive narratives that effectively communicate the significance, innovation, feasibility, and impact of proposed research. Conduct comprehensive editorial review to improve clarity, organization, consistency, responsiveness to sponsor guidelines, and overall competitiveness.
Coordinate contributions from multiple investigators, collaborators, institutional partners, consultants, and administrative offices while maintaining proposal quality and consistency. Develop and maintain proposal templates, institutional boilerplate language, writing guides, proposal checklists, and best practices that improve efficiency and reduce investigator burden. Coordinate internal scientific review, mock study sections, and proposal critiques to strengthen applications before submission. Support proposal development for NIH, NSF, DoD, VA, CDC, foundations, philanthropy, industry sponsors, and other external funding organizations.
Strategic Research Development
Identify and proactively communicate funding opportunities aligned with institute priorities and investigator expertise. Advise institute leadership regarding emerging federal initiatives, neuroscience funding priorities, and strategic research opportunities. Develop institute-wide funding strategies that position MNI for sustained growth and increased national competitiveness. Facilitate development of multidisciplinary research initiatives addressing complex scientific challenges. Support strategic planning for new research programs, centers, institutes, and collaborative initiatives. Assist leadership in developing philanthropic research initiatives and partnerships with external stakeholders.
Faculty Research Support & Collaboration
Provide individualized consultation to faculty investigators regarding funding strategy, proposal competitiveness, reviewer expectations, and long-term research planning. Support junior faculty pursuing career development awards and first-time federal funding. Facilitate collaborations among investigators across departments, schools, institutes, and external organizations. Coordinate planning activities for multidisciplinary proposals including center grants, program project grants, training grants, collaborative agreements, and consortium applications. Represent MNI within university-wide research development initiatives and cultivate partnerships that strengthen the institute's research enterprise. Develop educational programs and workshops focused on grant writing, proposal development, funding strategies, and research team development.
Research Strategy, Assessment & Continuous Improvement
Monitor proposal activity, funding success rates, sponsor priorities, and national funding trends. Develop reports and analyses that support leadership decision-making and strategic planning. Recommend process improvements that increase proposal quality, investigator satisfaction, and operational efficiency. Develop metrics demonstrating the impact of research development services on funding success, scientific collaboration, and institute growth. Maintain institute proposal calendars, funding databases, and proposal development resources.
Required Qualifications*
- Bachelor's degree in a scientific, biomedical, health sciences, communications, or related discipline.
- Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in research development, grant writing, scientific writing, proposal development, or research administration within an academic medical center, research institute, or comparable environment.
- Demonstrated success supporting competitive federal and foundation grant proposals.
- Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills with the ability to synthesize complex scientific information into compelling, persuasive narratives.
- Strong organizational and project management skills with demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex proposals simultaneously.
Desired Qualifications*
- Master's or doctoral degree in a biomedical, health sciences, or related discipline.
- Demonstrated experience developing successful NIH proposals, including R-series, K-series, P-series, T-series, U-series, and other complex funding mechanisms.
- Experience supporting multidisciplinary and multi-investigator research programs.
- Knowledge of the federal biomedical research funding landscape, including NIH, NSF, DoD, foundations, and industry sponsors.
- Experience conducting scientific editing, proposal review, or mock study sections.
- Familiarity with neuroscience or related biomedical research disciplines.
- Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships across diverse scientific and administrative teams.
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Additional Information
Success Measures
Success in this role will be demonstrated through measurable contributions to MNI's mission of advancing collaborative, innovative neuroscience research while strengthening the institute's scientific impact, funding portfolio, and national reputation, including:
- Increased number, quality, and competitiveness of externally funded research proposals submitted by MNI investigators.
- Improved funding success rates for NIH, foundation, industry, and other sponsored research applications.
- Successful development and submission of complex multidisciplinary proposals, including center grants, program project grants, training grants, and collaborative initiatives.
- High-quality scientific writing and editorial support resulting in proposals that are clear, compelling, reviewer-focused, and strategically aligned with sponsor priorities.
- Increased investigator satisfaction with proposal development services, grant-writing support, and research consultation.
- Expanded collaboration among MNI investigators, University of Michigan units, external academic institutions, industry partners, and philanthropic organizations.
- Establishment of standardized proposal development processes, templates, timelines, and writing resources that improve efficiency and proposal quality across the institute.
- Enhanced national visibility and reputation of MNI through increased external funding, strategic research partnerships, and growth of a diverse, sustainable research portfolio.
- Development of data-driven metrics and reporting that enable institute leadership to evaluate proposal activity, funding outcomes, return on investment, and progress toward strategic research goals.
Background Screening
Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings. Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.