Strategic Research Growth

Jess has been working in the research field for over 20 years and has been committed to the BMC mission since 2008. Prior to joining SRG in 2021, she oversaw a large portfolio of clinical research in BMC's Department of Family Medicine for 12 years, supporting research projects from proposal development through project closeout and managing multiple study teams. Before that, she worked in Pediatric Psychopharmacology Research at Massachusetts General Hospital, operationalizing and coordinating clinical trials. She has an academic background in clinical psychology and public health, and her experiences in pre- and post-award research management have made her a critical resource for BMC researchers and department administrators. She excels in creating, refining, and implementing processes, and she is determined to make the pursuit of research accessible for the BMC community. She enjoys mentoring colleagues and fostering relationships between teams. She is happiest outdoors, spending time with family and friends, going to concerts, and overlooking the ocean in Maine with a book. 

Kimberly joined the SRG team in 2019 from BMC's/BU's Department of Family Medicine, where she spent nearly 4 years gaining valuable experience in proposal development and clinical research design and implementation. Her hands-on work with research study teams informs her current work in SRG, enabling her to ask thoughtful questions that position projects for long-term success. Leveraging her academic background in biology and family systems, along with her experience working in an IRB office, Kimberly provides expert guidance on NIH grant applications, particularly those involving socio-behavioral clinical trials. She finds meaning in mentoring junior team members and enjoys working with early-stage investigators on career development awards. She feels privileged to have a front-row seat as she watches research ideas develop and is grateful for the opportunity to support investigators at this critical stage. Kimberly has a B.A. in Biology (neuroscience concentration) from Colby College and an M.S. in Family Therapy from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. When not working, she is making her way through a stack of paper library books or exploring Maine, where she lives with her family. 

As a key member of BMC's SRG team for over 10 years, Amy has helped investigators across the institution build their research portfolios and careers. She brings a wealth of experience in large, multifaceted, federal grants and enjoys working with proposal development teams to navigate complex funder and institutional landscapes. She particularly enjoys mentoring early career investigators and has helped over 20 PIs secure NIH K funding. Amy has experience with research grants on substance use and HIV, including those that incorporate community-based organizations and community-engaged research methods. The investigators and teammates working with Amy benefit from her diverse skillset, knowledge base, and mentorship. Her academic background is in Economics and International Relations. Additionally, she earned her Juris Doctor degree and passed the Massachusetts bar in 2012. Amy's impact on BMC has been transformative; her expertise was critical in preparing grants that led to the inception of BMC's NIDA-funded HEAL program ($89 million) as well as a recent PCORI award for advancing treatment of hypertension and equitable care outcomes ($19 million). During her free time, she enjoys walking her dog Poppy, hiking, traveling, crossword and jigsaw puzzling, and working with stained glass.

Khadijah joined SRG in 2024, bringing her research background in Inorganic Chemistry. Her doctoral research focus included medicinal chemistry, particularly the use of metals for treating infectious diseases and designing delivery systems and cancer biology. Most recently, Khadijah consulted with industry on laboratory design. She then sought to return to the non-profit sector, and she's thrilled to use her talents at an academic medical center with a health equity mission. She has multiple publications about medicinal applications of metal-based imidazolium carbenes and brings a comprehensive background in animal research, project management, and grant applications to basic science grant-seekers. In her free time, Khadijah enjoys taking long walks all over the city of Boston and reading.

Hugh has been supporting researchers at BMC since 2013. His accomplishments in the biotech industry and academic experience in molecular biology enable him to mentor early career investigators and have been assets to investigators across BMC seeking federal and industry-sponsored grants. His mission is to support early-career scientists seeking to secure grants by ensuring they have all the tools they need throughout the application process. Hugh enjoys playing his bass, guitar, and keyboards, as well as working in his garden.

As a Senior Research Strategist on the SRG team, Ariel supports investigators in preparing federal and private foundation submissions. As a trained scientist, Ariel uses her research expertise to help investigators determine project feasibility and refine key elements of their proposals. She excels at identifying new funding opportunities, interpreting funder guidelines, and strategizing with investigators to ensure maximal alignment of their applications. Prior to coming to BMC in 2023, Ariel worked as a Science Writer in Yale University's Office of Development, where she helped scientists craft compelling proposal narratives to corporate and foundation donors. Ariel earned her B.S. in Biology from Northeastern University and her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution from Rutgers University. Outside of work, she is an avid birder, amateur gardener, and bagel enthusiast.  

In her work with the SRG team, Erin brings expertise in preparing state funding applications, federal research proposals, and career development awards. Erin first began supporting BMC's mission as a Development Intern in 2019. Since then, she has gained experience in research, advocacy and fundraising through previous roles at Alkemi and the Institute for Advanced Study. Leveraging her M.S. in Nonprofit Management from Northeastern University and her B.A. in Economics from Emmanuel College, she supports a wide range of socio-behavioral investigators at BMC. Erin provides guidance on the multiple aspects of proposal development, from budgeting for efficient project implementation to building relationships with interdisciplinary collaborators. As a mission-motivated individual with a passion for research, she aims, through her work, to advance health equity in the fields of reproductive justice, substance use, psychiatry, and health services. Erin's team members and colleagues across campus appreciate her collaborative spirit and generosity with her knowledge. In her free time, Erin enjoys teaching dance, visiting local farmers' markets, and reading non-fiction.

Sabrina joined BMC in 2022, drawn to its mission of advancing health equity. She believes few things are more important and enjoys supporting inclusive and innovative research at BMC. As a Research Strategist, she works closely with PIs in formulating and guiding federal and foundation research proposals, as well as career development awards. Prior to joining BMC, she earned a Master's in International Development with specializations in Project Management and Global Health. During her studies, she worked for a rapid HIV testing and prevention program in rural Uganda for four months. She previously worked in external affairs at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague. Her experience in providing program and grant support for NGOs and inter-governmental organizations contributes to her keen eye for detail, as well as her project coordination and communications expertise. Sabrina spends her time pursuing her current goal of visiting half of the world's countries and working through the novels of Ursula K. Le Guin.

Joe joined the SRG team in 2021, bringing a wealth of writing experience. His previous work involved composing documents for various audiences, especially content around healthcare and other complex topics. He has taught college writing courses centered on community engagement and current events, and he worked for over three years as a reporter in the journalism industry. Joe has published work in prominent American publications, including the Florida Review. BMC's health equity-centered mission is meaningful to Joe, and he especially enjoys engaging lay funders by making complicated healthcare and health equity concepts accessible to them. The PIs and departmental administrators with whom Joe works appreciate his collaborative style and commitment to seeing even the most unwieldy of projects through to success. Joe has a B.A. in English from the University of Minnesota Duluth, and a Master's in Literature from the University of Southern Mississippi. In his spare time, he enjoys reading fiction.

Cal joined BMC in 2023 as an Associate Research Strategist. Previously, they completed a B.S. in Biochemistry where their research focused on elucidating the characteristics of the C-terminus of calpain-5. After graduation, they worked at Vanderbilt University to develop innovative methods to study pharmaceutically relevant membrane proteins in biophysically relevant states. Cal's work at BMC involves assisting PIs with their federal and foundation grant proposals, ensuring timely and high-quality submissions. Cal is inspired by the BMC mission to provide exceptional care and is grateful to play a role in advancing health equity through assisting investigators with securing funding for their research projects. In their free time, they enjoy trying out new recipes in the kitchen, practicing yoga, and hiking.

Julia joined BMC in 2023. Prior to that, she earned her B.A. in Mathematics with a concentration in statistics. Upon graduation, she entered a biostatistics Ph.D program where she conducted Covid-19 vaccine efficacy research. Julia's core career value is to do meaningful work; her enthusiasm for her work is driven by BMC's mission, and she is passionate about helping scientists obtain funding to conduct their research. In her role, Julia guides investigators through each phase of the application process and especially enjoys synthesizing and communicating the importance of research projects while crafting letters of support. When Julia is not working, she loves to sing, dance, and play with her dog, Henry!

Deena joined the SRG team in 2024 from Nemours Children's Hospital, where she gained valuable pre-award experience in federal, state, and foundation grants. To date, she has submitted PCORI, DOD, DOE, and NIH grants, as well as large COBRE multi-project grants. In her current role, she supports BMC PIs who are seeking funding as subrecipients in collaboration with other prime institutions. Deena appreciates learning about our PIs and the research they are involved with at BMC. She genuinely enjoys collaborating with study teams to support their work and colleagues appreciate her "can do" attitude. Deena is currently finishing her master's degree and studying for the Certified Pre-Award Research Administrator (CPRA) exam. When not working, Deena enjoys thrifting for her Poshmark store, always looking for the next great flip, and enjoys spending a lot of time snorkeling and hanging out on the beach in Florida, where she lives.

Carolina began her journey at BMC in 2020 as a volunteer with the Department of Pediatrics' Children's HealthWatch program, later advancing to Research Assistant and eventually a Project Manager. In her current role, she has developed strong expertise in project implementation, management, operations, and data quality and analysis. She plays a key role in developing standard operating procedures and supporting the SRG team in day-to-day activities. Carolina holds a bachelor's degree in Nutrition and a master's degree in Sciences from Universidade Federal de São Paulo. Before transitioning into research strategy, she worked for several years as a nutritionist in hospitals and clinics, providing care to low-income families as well as teaching and mentoring undergraduate students. These experiences continue to shape her collaborative approach and commitment to BMC's equity-focused mission. Outside of work, Carolina enjoys spending time with her family.