Our people

Office of Research & Sponsored Programs Staff

Melissa Nielsen profile photo
Melissa Nielsen  Profile of Melissa Nielsen

Director, Research Administrative
243 Graff Main Hall
mnielsen@uwlax.edu
608.785.8007

Specialty areas:

Authorized organizational representative (AOR) for extramural awards, research compliance, budgets for extramural grants & sponsored research contracts, post award modifications, federal electronic grant system access

Abigail Peschges profile photo
Abigail Peschges  Profile of Abigail Peschges  Office hours

Grant Specialist
243F Graff Main Hall
apeschges@uwlax.edu
608.785.8039

Specialty areas:

1. Grant development, review, and feedback 

  • Consultation 
  • Writing and editorial support 
  • Reviewing grants for alignment with sponsor guidelines 
  • Internal documentation requirements 

2. Extramural grant submission

3. Finding grant funding for programs & projects

4. UW System and WiSys grants

5. Federal electronic grant system access

6. Grant News

7. Guest lectures and faculty/staff presentations on grant development

Chandra Hawkins profile photo
Chandra Hawkins  Profile of Chandra Hawkins

Undergrad Res/Internal Grants
243 Graff Main Hall
chawkins@uwlax.edu
608.785.8040

Specialty areas:

  • Undergraduate Research & Creativity (URC)
    • URCC grants
    • Research & Creativity Symposium
    • Symposia: NCUR, Research in the Rotunda, System Symposium, 7 Rivers
  • Internal grants
  • Research participant incentives questions
Sydni Durrstein profile photo
Sydni Durrstein  Profile of Sydni Durrstein

Grants/Compliance Coordinator
243 Graff Main Hall
sdurrstein@uwlax.edu
608.785.8007

Specialty areas:

  • Research Compliance
  • Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI) 
  • Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) 
  • Subrecipient Risk Assessment & Monitoring 
  • Federal Lobbying Reporting 
  • Scientific Misconduct in Research (ORI reporting) 
  • CITI Program
  • Grant review and approval process  
  • Internal grant submissions
  • ORSP & URC meeting requests