Scholarship, Research, and Creative Activity Office
Vancouver Island University
900 Fifth St. Nanaimo, BC Canada
Building 305 (Library) – Room 446 (Main Office)
For general inquiries
Phone: 250.740.6618
Fax: 250.740.6256
Email: SRCA@viu.ca
Office hours: Mon - Fri, 8:30 am - 4 pm
For more information on Scholarship, Research or Creative Activity at Vancouver Island University contact:
Nicole Vaugeois, PhD
Associate Vice-President, Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity
Nicole is responsible for overseeing that Vancouver Island University provides a climate that allows scholarship, research and creative activity (SRCA) to thrive. She leads the development and implementation of the institution's SRCA Foundation Plan working with colleagues across the institution to ensure that those engaged in SRCA have access to the support, resources and services that they need. Nicole serves as the senior administrator that provides oversight for all research compliance functions including animal care, research ethics, biosafety and the financial administration of research funding. This role provides oversight for the Office of Graduate Studies to ensure that our graduate programs and students are supported. Nicole is interested in connecting with researchers to learn about their work and identify ways to enable their success.
Phone: 250.740.6291
Email: Nicole Vaugeois
Office hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30 am - 4 pm
May Norman
Research Services Manager
May is responsible for overseeing the post-award administration of all research grants and contracts administered by the Research Office. She can answer questions about grant finalization and release of funds, expense eligibility and reporting, and assist in problem-solving with outside agencies. Her position is responsible for ensuring institutional compliance with all external research granting agencies. May is also a resource for research employment matters and assists with research policy/procedure development and revision.
Phone: 250.740.6196
Email: May Norman
Office hours: Mon-Fri, 8 am - 4 pm
Roisin Mulligan, PhD - On Leave
Research Development Manager/Grant Facilitator
Roisin leads research capacity-building initiatives at Vancouver Island University including individual researcher development and coaching, community research chair initiatives, and major funding applications through the Canada Research Chairs program, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. In her grant facilitator role, Roisin works with researchers in the Faculties of Science and Technology, Health and Human Services, and Trades and Technology Management. In her manager role, Roisin oversees the pre-award team that works to develop competitive faculty and student internal and external applications for research funding. Roisin holds bachelor's and doctorate degrees in environmental biology and ecology and has 20 years of experience in research administration.
Phone: 250.753.3245 Ext. 2575
Email: Roisin Mulligan
Schedule: On Leave
Bettina Ruhstein
Research Grant and Contract Facilitator
Bettina facilitates all research contracts, from the initial proposal stage to the approval and signing of the final, written agreement on behalf of VIU. She also assists with external and internal research grant applications related to the social sciences, education, management, and humanities, and organizes research-related faculty workshops.
Phone: 250.753.3245 Ext. 2354
Email: Bettina Ruhstein
Office hours (Part-time): Mon-Wed, 8:30 am - 4 pm
Lyn Locke
Administrative Assistant, Committee Support
Lyn is responsible for providing administrative support to the AVP, SRCA. She also supports committees that the AVP is the chair or a member of, and assists with pre-award internal applications.
Phone: 250.740.6324
Email: Lyn Locke
Office hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30 am - 4 pm
Rebecca Ramsey
Financial Administrator – Research
Rebecca is responsible for the administration of externally funded awards.
Phone: 250.753.3245 Ext. 2676
Email: Rebecca Ramsey
Office hours (Part-time): Tues-Thurs, 8:30 am - 3 pm; Fri, 8:30 am - 11:30 am
Kendra Stiwich
Director, Graduate Studies and Student Research
Kendra provides leadership to foster inclusive excellence in undergraduate and graduate research opportunities. She acts as the first point of contact for internal and external clients on graduate program matters and student research. Kendra supports the development and maintenance of high-quality graduate programs and liaises with internal departments to ensure that university-wide standards of quality, policy, equity and access are met. She advocates for institutional capacity development in graduate studies and inclusive excellence in undergraduate research.
Phone: 250.753.3245 Ext. 2704
Email: Kendra Stiwich
Office hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30 am - 4 pm
Vanessa Moraes
Student Research Engagement Coordinator
Vanessa is your go-to person for items related to students. She is responsible for student training, research-related funding and scholarships, and assisting students with sharing their research.
If you are a student connect with Vanessa to learn more about:
- Funding and grants
- How to go to grad school
- Acquiring more research-related skills
- Going to conferences and other events
- CREATE (Celebrating Research Engagement and Talent Exposition)
- Any student research and creative activity question
If you are a faculty member connect with Vanessa to:
- Discuss ways to get research assistant funding
- Book one of her in-class research dissemination workshops
- Get your students (and yourself!) involved in CREATE
Phone: 250.753.3245 Ext. 2075
Email: Vanessa Moraes
Office hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30 am - 4 pm
Chris Turner
Research Ethics Officer
Chris is responsible for managing the processes that ensure institutional compliance with national ethical standards for research involving human participants, manages the work of the VIU Research Ethics Board, and provides expert advice to the VIU research community regarding research ethics. Contact Chris if you have questions regarding the VIU REB and/or ethical review of research involving human participants.
Phone: 250.740.6631
Email: Chris Turner
Office hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30 am - 4 pm
Glenys Wood
Secretary, Research Chairs
Glenys provides secretarial and administrative support to VIU’s Canada Research Chairs, BC regional Innovation Chairs, and related entities and committees.
Email: Glenys Wood
Office hours (Part-time): Tues-Wed, 8:30 am - 4 pm
Leyla Innala
Animal Care Officer
Leyla is responsible for planning, managing, implementing, and advising on the performance of the institutional ethics program as it pertains to research and teaching involving animals, and for ensuring that it is carried out according to the Universities and the Canadian Council for Animal Care policies and guidelines.
Email: Leyla Innala
Office hours (Part-time): Tues and Thurs, 9 am - 2:45 pm; Wed 9 am - 5 pm
Tamara MacNeil
Grant Facilitator
Tamara provides support for internal and external grant applications from idea to submission. She will also keep an eye out for the right funder for your project. Connect with Tamara for support in the areas of humanities, social sciences, education, health, trades, and the arts.
Phone: 250.753.3245 Ext. 2984
Email: Tamara MacNeil
Office hours (Part-time): Tues-Fri, 8:30 am - 4 pm
Natalia Westervelt
Grant Facilitator
Phone: 250.753.3245 Ext. 2984
Email: Natalia Westervelt
Office hours (Part-time): Tues, Wed, Thurs, 8:30 am - 4 pm
Kristin Smart
Research Services Coordinator
Kristin is the key point of contact between researchers and research administrators for financial and human resources guidance and queries about research projects.
Kristin is responsible for the administration of internally funded research awards. She is the primary contact for all ROMEO inquiries and can also assist with research employment matters.
Phone: 250.740.6618
Email: Kristin Smart
Office hours: Mon to Fri, 8:30 am - 4 pm
Jennifer Kebe
Biosafety Officer
Jennifer is responsible for providing institutional oversight for the management of biological materials and maintaining safe laboratory workspaces that are compliant with the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Connect with Jennifer is by email.
Email: Jennifer Kebe
Office hours (Part-time): Mon, 9 am - 1 pm; Thurs, 9 am - 12 pm
Barry Milligan
Animal Care Services Manager
Barry is responsible for overseeing the activities of the Animal Care Services Office and ensures the oversight of animal care compliance and a suite of services for VIU animal users involved in teaching and research. Barry works collaboratively across the institution to align resources in service of the animal care program and engages with external stakeholders and staff members to clarify their needs and to facilitate services, assistance, and training related to animal husbandry.
Email: Barry Milligan
Office hours (Part-time): Tues and Fri, 9:30 am - 3 pm; Wed, 9:30 am - 5:30 pm
Aggie Weighill
Research Development Program Coordinator
Aggie has joined the SRCA team part-time for the 2022-23 academic year.
Email: Aggie Weighill
Office hours (Part-time): Mon, 8:30 am - 4 pm