Natalia Westervelt
Vancouver
Summary
Grant and development specialist with PhD-level expertise in life sciences, recognized for driving successful health research funding initiatives. Proven track record in CIHR grant development, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and providing exceptional faculty support within research-intensive university settings. Skilled in crafting compelling grant proposals and maintaining meticulous application records to ensure alignment with funding objectives. Committed to collaborative success, showcasing adaptability to evolving project requirements while excelling in research, proposal writing, and donor relations.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Grant Writer
University of British Columbia
01.2023 - Current
- Developed comprehensive grant writing and research support initiatives for faculty, coordinating multi-stakeholder communications and achieving 100% success rate on NSERC applications.
- Authored and edited funding proposals for CIHR and other major agencies, including clinical trial funding applications
- Provided grant development consultation and editorial support to faculty across health and engineering research areas
- Coordinated complex grant application processes using RISE grant management system and budget development tools
- Integrated equity, diversity, and inclusion considerations into research proposals, encouraging faculty expansion of EDI components
- Developed standardized templates and documentation processes for multi-investigator funding applications
- Facilitated communications between faculty, research administrators, and external funding agencies
Grants and Contracts Facilitator
Vancouver Island University
01.2022 - 01.2023
- Led research development programs supporting faculty through collaborative grant acquisition and funding opportunity identification.
- Shaped writing and editorial processes for successful Tri-Council grant applications (NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC) across diverse health and life science research areas
- Developed and delivered training workshops and educational materials for funding application processes
- Coordinated interdepartmental research showcases and collaborative grant development initiatives
- Created standardized guidance materials and templates for research proposal development
- Provided consultation services to faculty on funding opportunity matching and application strategy
Research Project Manager & Laboratory Supervisor
Florida State University
01.2015 - 01.2022
- Led life science research program in cellular and molecular biology with focus on genomics and disease mechanisms.
- Supervised and mentored undergraduate and graduate researchers throughout multi-year research projects
- Coordinated project timelines and resource management across multiple research teams and external collaborations
- Developed research protocols and training materials for complex laboratory procedures and equipment operation
- Presented research findings to scientific audiences and coordinated collaborative research partnerships
- Managed research documentation systems and data organization protocols
Grant Writer, Lab Manager and Research Educator
Florida State University
01.2016 - 01.2019
- Supervised research training programs while developing funding proposals for life science research applications.
- Developed and submitted grant proposals to major funding agencies (NIH) for health-related research projects
- Supervised undergraduate research training programs with focus on laboratory safety and research methodology
- Created instructional materials and assessment protocols for research education and laboratory procedures
- Coordinated transition of research programs to digital platforms, ensuring accessibility and educational effectiveness
Research Assistant and Grant Writer
Johannes Gutenberg University
01.2015 - 01.2015
- Provided research support for health science educational programs while completing pharmaceutical technologist certification.
- Completed 3-year pharmaceutical technologist training including pharmacology, anatomy, and regulatory compliance
- Developed technical curriculum materials for pharmacogenetics and clinical biochemistry courses
- Secured funding for mobile health application development supporting international partnership programs
- Conducted user research and requirements analysis for health science educational technology applications
Pharmaceutical Technologist
Pfalzgrafen Apotheke
03.2006 - 09.2009
- Ensured regulatory compliance with pharmaceutical authorities and maintained accurate documentation according to health regulatory requirements
- Managed patient medication records and coordinated with healthcare providers and insurance systems
- Provided health product consultation and education to diverse patient populations
- Maintained quality control protocols and inventory management systems for pharmaceutical products
Education
Ph.D. - Cellular and Molecular Biology
Florida State University
01.2022
Master of Business Administration - undefined
Florida State University
01.2022
M.Sc. - Anthropology (Disease Genetics Specialization)
Pharmaceutical Technologist Certification - undefined
01.2015
Master of Science - Anthropology
Johannes Gutenberg University
Mainz, Germany08-2015
Training Diploma - Pharmaceutical Sciences
Pfalztechnikum
Ludwigshafen, Germany03-2006
Skills
- Grant writing proficiency
- Research and analysis expertise
- Grant management systems experience
- Multi-investigator project management
- Workshop facilitation
- Software Applications: Microsoft Office Suite, PowerPoint, Excel, Zoom, video conferencing platforms
- Regulatory Knowledge: OCAP (Indigenous data sovereignty), research ethics, equity and inclusion implementation
Languages
English
German
Affiliations
- President, International Student Support Organization | Florida State University (2020-2022)
- Developed organizational documentation and support programs for diverse international student populations
- Coordinated cross-cultural communication and program development initiatives
- Treasurer, Cellular and Molecular Graduate Student Association | Florida State University (2020-2022)
- Managed financial documentation and budget tracking for graduate student organization
Timeline
Grant Writer
University of British Columbia
01.2023 - Current
Grants and Contracts Facilitator
Vancouver Island University
01.2022 - 01.2023
Grant Writer, Lab Manager and Research Educator
Florida State University
01.2016 - 01.2019
Research Project Manager & Laboratory Supervisor
Florida State University
01.2015 - 01.2022
Research Assistant and Grant Writer
Johannes Gutenberg University
01.2015 - 01.2015
Pharmaceutical Technologist
Pfalzgrafen Apotheke
03.2006 - 09.2009
Master of Business Administration - undefined
Florida State University
M.Sc. - Anthropology (Disease Genetics Specialization)
Pharmaceutical Technologist Certification - undefined
Ph.D. - Cellular and Molecular Biology
Florida State University
Master of Science - Anthropology
Johannes Gutenberg University
Training Diploma - Pharmaceutical Sciences
Pfalztechnikum
Qualifications Summary
- Grant development and research administration experience with 100% recent funding success rate supporting university faculty
- Health science background combining molecular biology PhD, disease genetics specialization, and pharmaceutical technologist training
- CIHR grant development experience including Project Grant editing and clinical trial funding applications
- Cross-functional collaboration with faculty, administrators, and funding agencies across diverse research environments
- Supervisory and mentoring experience with undergraduate researchers and research team coordination
- Equity, diversity, and inclusion implementation in research contexts, including Indigenous data sovereignty (OCAP) knowledge
- Research funding systems expertise including RISE grant management and budget coordination
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