Bio

The School of Nursing Office or Research, Scholarship and Innovation (ORSI) partners with faculty, students and departments across the university, health system offices and community collaborators to ensure sound administrative and financial management of sponsored funds. Its partnerships and collaborations on projects have stretched across the nation and overseas. Its researchers collaborate with other health disciplines to look at patients, families and communities as a whole to generate the knowledge that changes the landscape of nursing and health care. ORSI helps to support that goal by providing oversight for the financial and administrative management of the research conducted. Its office develops and maintains school-level standard operating procedures and expectations and provides training to facilitate compliance with federal, state, university and sponsor policies. 

Kyrus has more than 15 years of experience in the realm of research administration, working with federal agencies, nonprofit organizations and other foundations to bring in more than $40M in funding over the last seven years, (a record year of $11M in newly awarded projects in 2023). As director of ORSI, her dedication is aimed toward building solid grant applications, initiating and maintaining processes, training personnel, resolving conflict, developing policies to support compliance, and assisting in increasing yearly target goals. In this ever-changing environment, her role as director is to maintain efficiency by revising pre- and post-award processes, developing and managing internal grant programs, modifying the organizational structure, supervising personnel, and assisting in implementing a research funding model that supports the school's mission.

Kyrus maintains involvement in multiple university level groups and initiatives assisting with the dynamic world of research and the infrastructure that supports it, including evaluation of current electronic platforms which the university uses to capture research data. She has a constant desire to continue learning, growing and networking and this is facilitated by her strong ability to develop productive relationships with colleagues and staff at all levels. Overall, she is committed to fostering a positive workplace culture and building strong teams to meet the unit’s overall mission.

Certifications and Awards

• Member, Society of Research Administrators International, 2015 - present
• Member, National Organization of Research Development Professionals, 2018-22
• Certificate of Recognition, VCU School of Nursing, August 2021
• Certificate, Excellence in Graduate Education, VCU School of Medicine, 2018
• Dorris Douglas Budd Award: VCU Certificate of Appreciation/Recognition, 2014
• Certificate, Sponsored Project Administration Program, VCU, 2009

Professional Experience

• Director of Research, Scholarship and Innovation, VCU School of Nursing, Jan. 2024 - present
• Research Administrator, VCU School of Nursing, 2015-23
• Special Projects Coordinator, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, VCU School of Medicine, 2008-24
• Graduate Assistant/Advisor, School of Business, Old Dominion University, 2006-08
• Paralegal/Branch Office Director, Hunter Law Firm, 2004-06