Sarah Naumes
Director of Strategic Research Development
Sarah leads and coordinates strategic research development for Columbia Engineering, focusing on advancing Engineering priorities and supporting large-scale, multidisciplinary projects. She drives center-scale research initiatives, assists principal investigators (PIs) with strategic planning for complex grant proposals, and develops processes to support PIs and trainees on individual grants and fellowships.
She reports to George Deodatis, SEAS Vice Dean for Research, engages with various units of the school, and provides coordinated support focused on large center-scale proposals. Additionally, she collaborates with university-wide partners to establish best practices for center-scale research development.
Before joining Columbia, Sarah was the Senior Director of Interdisciplinary Research and Strategic Initiatives at the University of California, Merced. In this role, she excelled in working with PIs to strategically secure extramural funding and manage large-scale collaborations, leading to the acquisition of approximately $110 million for the institution and its partners. Her efforts were instrumental in securing prestigious grants from federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Economic Development Administration (EDA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
Sarah also served as the Managing Director of Secure Water Future, a $10 million initiative funded by the USDA, where she directed translational team research, education, and extension programs to address water security challenges. Her expertise spans research development, community outreach, and team leadership, ensuring the success of collaborative projects from inception to completion.