Faculty and staff at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) have access to many resources to support their research endeavors. Among those resources is Craig Cassidy, Associate Director, Research Advancement. Craig is responsible for coordinating the research development activities across the UTMB campus. The Office of Research Advancement was started in 2016 to bring additional support to UTMB faculty seeking competitive extramural research.
Craig has been involved in research development for nearly 20 years and has been hands-on in designing and implementing research development programs across Texas and Mississippi. Craig’s work in the field was first recognized by the Honorable Major R. Owens (United States House of Representatives, NY 11th district) in 2006 for “Exemplary Leadership and Dedication.” The recognition came from his research development work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, improving undergraduate, graduate, and faculty representation in partnership with a network of Hispanic Serving Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He first joined UTMB to help develop the Sealy Center for Structural Biology program in research development with Dr. B. Montgomery Pettitt. Craig is now being recognized again at the national level.
The National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP) affinity group for Academic Medicine / Affiliate Medical Centers (AMC) has elected Craig to serve as Vice-Chair for the next two years. The mission of the NORDP is to advance the global capacity for and impact of research by strengthening the practice and profession of research development. Founded in 2011, NORDP is an international leader in defining and growing research development, both as a profession and a critical element of the research mission at institutions across the U.S. and beyond. In addition, it is the only organization exclusively devoted to research development professionals and their needs.
The Academic Medicine/Affiliate Medical Center Affinity Group (AMC NORDP) engages research development professionals and researchers from diverse institutions with a medical component. This group provides professional development opportunities unique for RD staff working with biomedical researchers, clinician-researchers, and clinician-educators in an academic medicine or affiliated medical center setting and facilitates collaboration among these RD professionals and researchers.
Congratulations to Craig for all his hard work and his appointment to the AMC leadership team.