Assistant Director, Research Development-AI Institute

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary research development advisor for the AI Institute, working with faculty to identify funding targets and develop competitive proposal strategies.
• Advise investigators on proposal framing, team composition, and alignment with sponsor priorities.
• Identify and disseminate funding opportunities from federal, philanthropic, and industry sources.
• Manage the production of white papers, capability statements, and other targeted materials for funder engagement.
• Maintain CRM-based tracking of funding leads, program officer engagement, and proposal pipelines.
• Coordinate with campus partners to cultivate and manage industry research partnerships.
• Monitor the federal funding landscape and emerging policy developments relevant to artificial intelligence.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in a STEM field (e.g., artificial intelligence, computer science, engineering, or a related discipline).
• 4+ years of relevant research development experience.
• Knowledge of federal funding agencies including NSF, DARPA, DoE, DoD, and IARPA.
• Proficiency with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools.
• Strong writing, editing, and proposal development skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with faculty and diverse stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in a relevant field.
• 7+ years of research development experience in a university or federal research setting.
• Experience supporting an interdisciplinary research institute or center.
• Familiarity with philanthropic funders supporting AI research (e.g., Sloan, Schmidt Sciences, Templeton).
• Experience cultivating and managing industry research partnerships.

About the Company

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with a pioneering history dating back to 1870. Located in the heart of New York State, the university offers a diverse range of academic programs across 13 schools and colleges, serving a global community of students and alumni.