About Us
The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) manages all functions related to sponsored programs at Montana State University or any activity, research or otherwise, that is funded by an external source such as a federal, state, or private organization.
The staff of OSP, comprised of professional Research Administrators, takes a comprehensive managerial approach and engages in the award life cycle from proposal submission to the close-out of a grant or award.
In fiscal year 2023, OSP opened 524 new grants and provided oversight for MSU's $230 million in research expenditures.
The OSP staff assumes all financial, reporting, compliance, auditing and related tasks in a proactive spirit that alleviates the administrative workload for researchers so that they may focus on what matters most, their research agenda. The organization of OSP breaks down as shown below.
Office of Sponsored Programs Leadership
Sandy Sward
Associate Vice President for Research Administration
Email: ssward@montana.edu
(406)994-5318
Peggy Kastella
Assistant Director of Office of Sponsored Programs
Email: peggy.kastella@montana.edu
(406)994-5731
Fiscal Management and Post-Award Services
Research Administrators are available to help in the management of awards, specifically, PIs can expect to receive assistance with the following:
- Submitting proposal
- Setting up a grant account
- Clarifying fiscal and managerial responsibilities of PI's
- Managing expenditures including invoicing and reporting
- Questions about your grant funded project
- Transferring a grant to/from other institutions
- Successfully closing out a grant
Research Administrators perform a wide range of grant administration responsibilities. Each Research Administrator typically has an assigned portfolio of departmental clients as well as a specific area of agency expertise. Research Administrators primarily provide post-award services but also assist PIs on proposals.
Wanda McCarthy
Research Administrator and Business Manager
Email: wanda.mccarthy@montana.edu
(406)994-4611
Vacant
Research Administrator
Office of Sponsored Programs, Information Technology Staff
Office of Sponsored Programs, Subawards
Megan Birch
Subaward Accounting Associate IV
Jennifer Nesbitt
Subaward Manager & Research Administrator for Western SARE
Email: jnesbitt@montana.edu or subawards@montana.edu
(406)994-6149
Katie Olson
Subaward Business Operations Analyst
Email: kolson@montana.edu or subawards@montana.edu
(406)994-1982
Accounting and Support Staff
