Nicole Frank, PhD, Named New Research Development Director
Dr. Nicole Frank has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as the Research Development Director. Dr. Frank has a bachelor's degree in microbiology from the University of Idaho, a master’s degree in veterinary microbiology from South Dakota State University, a PhD in pharmacology from Idaho State University, and a master’s degree in science and technology policy from Arizona State University. Prior to joining the University of Utah, she served at the Life Sciences Department Chair at the College of Western Idaho. She also has experience as a research scientist at the Boise VA, the Idaho Bureau of Laboratories, and Novartis Animal Health.
Dr. Frank joined the University of Utah in 2017 as the Associate Director for the Immunology, Inflammation, and Infectious Disease (3i) Initiative in the Associate Vice President for Research office. During her tenure in this position, she served as the administrator for the initiative, growing the Initiative from it’s launch through a 5-year strategic plan, which has seen the initiative grow to over 250 faculty members. During her tenure, the 3i Initiative was the central point of organization for the University’s COVID-19 research response. To date, the University has received over $70M in research grants to study various aspects of the pandemic and has published over 1,000 papers. In 2022, Dr. Frank also became the Associate Director for the Digital Health Initiative.
Her main roles in DOIM will be:
• Seeking future funding opportunities from multiple sources
• Facilitating large and complex grant submission, such as Program Project grants, including identification of funding opportunities, team building and drafting certain documents and sections of the grant
• Surveying, recommending, and monitoring grant writing courses and grant reviewing support in conjunction with the offices of research and faculty education
• Creating and maintaining a grant repository for departmental faculty
• Working with PIs, division chiefs and institutional offices to renew and expand the department’s training grant portfolio, including T32 and K-awards
• Supporting the recruitment and integration of new faculty into the DOIM and our institutional research ecosystem
• Serving as the administrative director for MAGIC, including management of the consortium budget, reporting on research metrics, and identifying & supporting applications for large and complex grants. This is the similar role that she will perform in the Pathology Department.