Office of Research Services

Responsible for analysis and evaluation of the Office of Research Services processes and systems. Leads initiatives on the development and implementation of IT solutions that meet business needs and optimize business processes of the research enterprise.

Provides clinical and support services to researchers, facility veterinarians and facility managers working with livestock animals and horses; assists researchers with Animal Utilization Protocol (AUP) development; instructs in the Animal User Training program including mentor-facilitated training.

Leads development of systems to evaluate and report on all aspects of the University’s research performance by collecting, synthesizing, curating, and conducting analysis of research performance data from internal and external sources. Provides intelligence on research performance within the University. Oversees analytics process of the research enterprise.

Responsible for administrative review of research proposals, as well as drafting and negotiation of research-related grant agreements and research contracts for agencies and sponsors, including NSERC's Alliance program and Mitacs. Amy also provides leadership support to the NSERC Research Tools and Instruments (RTI) program and negotiates participant agreements, subcontracts, and service agreements.

Coordinates all aspects of the Research Ethics Board (REB) review process for research involving human participants. Conducts proficient, critical reviews of protocols to ensure the highest ethical standards are met, as captured in the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct of Research Involving Humans, 2nd Edition (TCPS2). Provides guidance to researchers, as well as administrative support to the REB-General and REB-Natural, Physical and Engineering Sciences.

Coordinates all aspects of the Research Ethics Board (REB) review process for research involving human participants. Conducts proficient, critical reviews of protocols to ensure the highest ethical standards are met, as captured in the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct of Research Involving Humans, 2nd Edition (TCPS2). Provides guidance to researchers, as well as administrative support to the REB-General and REB-Natural, Physical and Engineering Sciences.

Provides pre-award application support (i.e., administrative review of proposals) and non-financial post-award services (i.e., review of agreements and account set up) to researchers for Beef Cattle Research Council, Grain Farmers of Ontario, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Ontario Centres of Innovation (OCI), Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ontario Ministry of Seniors Affairs; SSHRC programs: Connection, Partnership Engage; US National Science Foundation, and others. Kristin administers OMAFRA opportunities available directly from OMAFRA (excluding Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance funding).

Provides pre-award application support (i.e., administrative review of proposals) and non-financial post-award services (i.e., review of agreements and account set up) to researchers for Mitacs; NSERC programs: Research Tools and Instruments (RTI), Discovery, Connect, PromoScience; Ontario Brain Institute, Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education; Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities; Ontario Ministry of Transportation; Ontario Pork; Ontario Turfgrass; Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute; Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR); Canadian Poultry Research Council, Egg Farmers of Canada, Canadian Turfgrass Research Foundation; Chicken Farmers of Ontario, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Egg Farmers of Ontario.

Oversees the Animal Ethics and Compliance administration, the veterinary program, and provides clinical and support services to researchers working with laboratory rodents, small companion animals, fish, reptiles and amphibians; assists with Animal Utilization Protocol (AUP) development.

Provides pre-award application support (i.e., administrative review of proposals) and non-financial post-award services (i.e., review of agreements and account set up) to researchers for SSHRC programs: Insight Grants, Insight Development Grants and Institutional Grants (SIGs), CIHR, NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) and Tri-Agency sub-awards from other institutions. Other funders include: Cystic Fibrosis, Canadian Cancer Agency, Heart and Stroke Foundation; Ontario Problem Gambling, Equine Guelph, and Centers for Disease Control (CDC), OVC Pet Trust, Polar Knowledge Canada - Northern Scientific Training Program (NSTP), and other arts, humanities, social sciences, health and veterinary-related grant programs.

First point of contact for submission of and initial processing of research grant and award applications, including OR5 Forms, and research contractual agreements.  Patti will inform researchers to whom their submission is assigned within the Office of Research Services for further review and processing. 

Leads projects implementing new initiatives, technologies, policies, and processes. Leads needs assessments, strategic planning, process re-engineering and risk assessments; evaluates solutions to meet business needs. Works with stakeholders across campus to initiate, plan, execute and control all project related activities from initial project planning through project execution, including managing project scope, cost, timelines, and risks.

Oversees planning and coordination of educational offerings such as the Faculty Information Exchange Series, Graduate Research and Program Management course, CITI Program and sponsor workshops as well as completes special projects for the Office of Research Services. Affiliated with the Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre.

Provides administrative support to the Associate Vice-President (Research Services), provides budgeting and human resource administration for the Office, and coordinates the activities of the Research Services Sub-Committee. 

Leads and manages the Animal Ethics & Compliance subunit, overseeing the University’s Animal Care and Use program including the Animal Utilization Protocol (AUP) approval process, Animal Use tracking, Animal Care Committee (ACC) activities and compliance with Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) and Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) requirements.

Responsible for the administrative processing of proposals and funded and non-funded agreements as well as the initiation of research account set up for activation by Research Financial Services.

Administrative leadership for the development and delivery of the University of Guelph’s research ethics review process for research projects involving human participants and compliance with Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct of Research Involving Humans, 2nd Edition (TCPS 2) and related legal requirements involving privacy and personal information. Administrative leadership for the Research Ethics Board (REB) and research ethics training.