Grants breathe life into each branch of education diligent enough to acquire them. But diligence alone isn't always enough to secure these highly competitive bundles of money, which is why NT has taken aim at the vast frontier of grant monies. NT has set the bar high for attracting research dollars. "The goal is to hit the 50 million mark in the next five years," said Don Henley, associate vice president for technology transfer.

The Office of Research Services, a large section of the Office of Research and Technology Transfer, will play a key role in the success of reaching that $50 million goal. It is dedicated to keeping its thumb on the pulse of sponsors and the researchers here at NT. Research Services focuses on making the success of eager professors easier throughout the grant process.

"They are extremely helpful, providing assistance for finding sponsors and aiding in the process," said Pamela Padilla, assistant professor of biological sciences and recent recipient of an $890,000 grant. "When you are hired here you know you're expected to be producing and working on grants."

When Dr. Lloyd Chesnut, vice president for research and technology transfer, came to NT in 2003, a new era of efficiency was ushered in. That era has created a stronger and larger task force dedicated to helping researchers find, secure and implement new grants.

The updated office is better for the NT's researchers needs. The office handles many different aspects of the grant process, from finding potential sponsors to helping in the patent process for intellectual property. This allows NT to be more competitive in securing grants.

The grant process begins when a professor finds a sponsor that could benefit from his ideas. At this point, the professor submits an outline of research to be done, explains what resources will be used and who will be involved, and details a budget. Then, the professor must be approved by an administrative review, at which point he can send the outline to the sponsor where it may or may not be accepted.

"Of all the grants proposed, only roughly 27 percent ever get accepted ... It takes more than a couple of times to a get a grant approved," Busby said. "This process is a journey." Acquiring grants isn't like acquiring a driver's license; the process takes years of calculated planning and collaboration from several different interested groups who often conflict.

With the redirected Office of Research and Technology Transfer and growing science departments, NT has put itself in the grant race, looking to be competitive.

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