Chris Liu
- Associate Vice President for Research Development
ORD helps IU faculty on all campuses find funding and develop, route, and refine proposals and fellowship applications across all disciplines. The team supports research, creative activity, and humanistic work; offers workshops and trainings; oversees limited submissions and internal grants; maintains relationships with major funders; assists faculty with developing interdisciplinary teams; and actively manages hundreds of projects at any time. Learn about our different teams below and get in touch!
Proposal Development Services (PDS) delivers expert support in research proposal development and planning. The PDS team consists of highly qualified research development professionals with advanced degrees in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. They have decades of experience with proposal strategy, writing, and management across diverse sponsors. Many of our team have held faculty positions and obtained funding for their own research, bringing a wealth of academic and proposal experience to PDS.
All faculty are eligible for PDS services, please fill out the RDS request form as early as possible in the proposal process and a team member will reach out within 3 business days.





Pre-Award Services (PAS) provides budget development support, administrative document review, and proposal routing support in KC for faculty who do not have Pre-Award support internal to their department/unit. PAS is a dedicated team of Pre-Award specialists, many of whom hold certifications as a Certified Research Administrator (CRA). They have a wealth of in-depth experience working at IU and understand grant submission requirements.
To request PAS support please fill out the RDS request form as early as possible, at least 3-4 weeks before the due date, and a team member will reach out within 3 business days.



Corporate and Foundation Relations exists to help coordinate institutional relationships between Indiana University and private funding organizations, including foundations and corporations. We are a system-wide resource for those within the Indiana University community seeking support from nongovernmental organizations for research, teaching, and other programs. Our team consults with and provides assistance to faculty, administrators, and center directors in all divisions and schools across Indiana University as they approach, partner with, and request support from corporations and foundations.
The Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) provides access to resources and expertise, including scientific review, that will accelerate the translation of health sciences research and health care delivery into competitive external grant submissions.
There are 6 teams based on different content expertise:
The Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) supports the research and creative activity of faculty, and brings to campus distinguished scholars, scientists, public figures, and artists to deliver lectures, meet with students, and collaborate with faculty.
1. Who can use Research Development Services (RDS) and what projects are prioritized?
Faculty on all campuses are encouraged to contact RDS. Projects or activities referenced in the IU 2030 Strategic Plan will receive priority.
2. What’s the difference between the Office for Research Administration (ORA) and RDS?
In a nutshell, ORA helps you make sure a proposal is accepted by the agency for review (compliance), and RDS helps you navigate the proposal preparation process by providing budget and grantsmanship support to ensure that your proposal is reviewed as favorably as possible. RDS is an optional, value-added service.
3. Does ORA still provide proposal preparation and routing support?
No, these services are now provided by Pre-Award Services in RDS. All proposals for external funding still must route to ORA for final review and approval prior to submission. RDS can help guide you through this process.
4. Do you work only on proposals submitted to federal funding agencies?
While many RDS-supported proposals are submitted to federal agencies (e.g., NSF, DOE, NIH, NEH, NEA), RDS specialists support faculty applying for funding from a myriad of sponsors including state programs, foundations, and corporations. IU's Corporate Relations and Foundation Relations team is a part of RDS, and can provide additional support to faculty seeking private, nongovernmental funding.
5. I’m working on a resubmission. Are RDS services available to me?
Absolutely. RDS specialists can discuss how to address reviewers’ comments and incorporate suggestions into your revised proposal.
6. Will Proposal Development Services (PDS) assist me with my proposal for an internal funding program at IU?
No. PDS Services are available only for externally funded opportunities.
7. How much do RDS services cost?
Services are available at no cost to IU faculty members.
"This is the first time I've worked with PDS on a grant application. I found it is really helpful to have a clear timeline and to have a sense on how the application looks from a person who is not in the specific research area. My specialist's comments led to some crucial modifications to the proposal. I felt very fortunate to have access to the services provided by PDS. I cannot overstate my appreciation for their time and effort." -Associate Professor
"PDS support was really important to me. As a first-time applicant to the NSF CAREER program, I greatly benefitted from PDS support, including workshops, resources, and information, as well as one-on-one consultation." -Assistant Professor
"In addition to a better final product, my consultant's involvement in the proposal development process reduced the overall stress involved in putting together a quality proposal within a short amount of time during a busy time of the semester. I am grateful that this service is available, and I will definitely recommend it to others and use it again in the future." -Associate Professor