Cotten named assistant vice provost

Sponsored Research, Research Compliance offices merge

Melinda Cotten, who has served as director of the Office of Sponsored Research since June 2012, has been appointed assistant vice provost for sponsored projects and research compliance. She will oversee the Office of Sponsored Projects and Research Compliance, which was formed from the merge of the Office of Sponsored Research and the Office of Research Compliance.

Melinda Cotten

“This merger will help us to more effectively harmonize and consolidate research administration and compliance efforts across the campus,” said Vice Provost for Research Yousif Shamoo in an email to the Rice community last week.

In her new role, Cotten will oversee pre-award and nonfiscal post-award administration of grants and contracts; the use of human subjects and laboratory animals in research; and the university’s policy and processes on conflict of interest in research. The Office of Sponsored Projects and Research Compliance will strives to provide high-quality services to the faculty to support research while protecting the university’s interests and assuring that Rice is in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.

“During Melinda’s 3½ years at Rice, she has shown to be a dynamic leader, and I value her contributions to many university committees and initiatives,” Shamoo said. “This appointment allows Rice to formalize Melinda’s contributions and expertise of over 20 years of experience in both research administration and compliance.”

In her original role at Rice, Cotten managed the office that serves as a resource for helping faculty, staff and students develop and submit research and training proposals to external sponsors. She came to Rice from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she had been executive director of the Office of Sponsored Programs.

In addition to being a member of several professional groups, Cotten serves on the editorial boards of SRA Journal of Research Administration and the Report on Research Compliance.