03/18/2026 08:46:33 AMAERIAwardResearchStaffarticle The College of Science is proud to celebrate Kelly Basinger (AERI) for receiving the 2026 Staff Excellence in Research Award. This award acknowledges staff members who have made exceptional contributions to the university's research enterprise, including research support, administration, or technical support.   "Being recognized is both thrilling and humbling. I’m honored that my work has made an impact!” said Kelly, who was also part of the UNT Proposal Team that received the 2026 Teamwork Award. “I think my proudest achievement this past year has been the ongoing creativity that I have used to approach challenges. Funding has morphed a lot in recent months, and I am proud to have helped our faculty and their teams figure out new ways forward.”   As the Senior Proposal Manager for the Advanced Environmental Research Institute, Kelly helps faculty and interdisciplinary groups turn complex research ideas into competitive, fundable proposals. Her day-to-day involves working closely with researchers to refine their concepts, develop cohesive narratives, and ensure alignment with the funding priorities.   “I coordinate across departments, manage timelines, edit key sections, and oversee the full proposal development process from concept through submission,” she said. “No two days look exactly alike. Some are focused on strategic planning and team building, while others are spent deep in the narrative structure. At its core, my role is helping people communicate the impact of their work and bringing together the right expertise to pursue meaningful research opportunities.”   UNT's Institutional Effectiveness Awards and UNT Staff Appreciation Awards recognize faculty and staff who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to advance UNT’s mission and enhance student outcomes. We are proud of all our College of Science awardees:  Academic Excellence Award: UNT Chemistry (for their Ph.D. program) Core Faculty Supporter of the Year: Ipsita Lahiri and Claudia Gonzalez-Villarreal (Biological Sciences) UNT Spirit Award: Becky Petrusky (Biological Sciences) Student Well-Being Champion: Elizabeth “Betsi” Goodman (Chemistry) Staff Excellence in Research: Kelly Basinger (Advanced Environmental Research Institute)  Teamwork Award: Proposal Management team, including Kelly Basinger, Samara Cahill (BioDiscovery Institute), and Shantell McDonald (COS) Postdoctoral and Research Staff Excellence in Student Research Mentorship Award: Luis Cortes-Herrera (Physics)