The Office of Research and Graduate Studies has added two new administrative positions to provide expanded services for faculty research efforts. Robby Sanders and Ellen Wolfe joined the office earlier this year.

Robby Sanders

Sanders, director of Research and Graduate Studies, will assist with securing research, instructional, training and public service grants; the coordination of proposal development workshops; funding and contract negotiations with funding agencies; and the development of policies consistent with federal laws for university research activities. He will also help with graduate school student recruitment and orientation and provide support in other areas as needed.

Sanders has extensive experience working with small business grants and has served as principal investigator or co-PI on several such grants, primarily working in the area of aerosolized drug delivery. He has considerable experience in basic and applied research, research compliance issues, laboratory safety and grant proposal/product development.

Former director of research for GenRx+, a bio-tech company, Sanders holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering (from TTU) and a master's degree and doctorate in biomedical engineering.

Ellen Wolfe

Wolfe serves as a full-time grant proposal development specialist. Her duties include assisting faculty in developing, writing, and submitting proposals; collecting data, support letters, and completing forms; organizing curriculum vitae, assurances and the supporting documentations; and organizing the writing process.

During the past year, Wolfe provided part-time grant development services and assisted in the submission of more than 20 proposals. Her grant writing experience includes working as the Jackson County school system grant writer and securing art grants through the Tennessee Arts Commission.

Wolfe holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in education.