A Q&A with OVPR's Sarah Reedy, Assistant Director of Grants for OSP
Meet Sarah Reedy, assistant director of grants for the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP). She describes her role as multifaceted, which, given all the balls she juggles, sounds like an understatement. And her life outside work — “Free time? What’s that?” — sounds, well, equally multifaceted.
What does your role entail as assistant director of grants for OSP?
Well, it depends on the day, of course — my role is multifaceted. I provide oversight of award management and lead our incredible grants team, who handle award setup, amendments, post‑award requests, compliance reviews and progress reports, just to name a few.
I also interpret sponsor and institutional policies and translate them into internal guidance for our team and campus, with the goal of resolving issues before they escalate. I help design, test and refine tools and processes (e.g., UT Research Management Suite, research portals, templates, checklists) that make it easier for units to manage sponsored projects accurately and efficiently.
Finally, I serve as a liaison with sponsors and campus partners, coordinating with sponsor program/grants officers, HR, finance, compliance and college research leadership to align expectations, resolve issues and support successful project execution.
How long have you been in this position and at UT Austin?
I’ve been in my current role for almost three years. I’ve been at UT for over 16 years, all that time in OSP.
What is your favorite thing about your job? Anything that still surprises you?
Truly, my favorite part of the job is the people. I know everyone says that, but it’s true — I’ve met lifelong friends during my time at UT. I also love reading about the incredible research happening here and knowing that we played a part in making that work possible.
The variety of projects and situations still surprises me — there is always something new to learn.
What brought you to Austin originally?
My husband is a filmmaker, and we originally moved to Austin for him to start work on a film — and we just never left. Escaping Midwestern winters certainly didn’t hurt either.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Free time? What’s that?
Most of my time outside of work is spent with my two little ones, bouncing between softball, swim lessons, piano and violin. When I do have time to myself, I love gardening, doing yoga, playing tennis and taking long walks with my dog while listening to an audiobook or podcast.
And finally, most important: If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Curry — any kind. The spicier, the better.