Meet the Team
Introduction
The Office of Research Services within the Dean's Office provides Research Development and Research Administration support to units within the School of Public Health. Our team has a strong commitment to sustaining organizational capacity to support the school’s faculty, students, and staff who are producing actionable knowledge in support of not only a healthier, but also a more just and equitable society.
The school’s diverse portfolio of research attracts extensive funding from the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and numerous other governmental and philanthropic sources. The research made possible with this support, reflected in more than 200 peer-reviewed publications annually, is widely recognized for its exemplary and innovative contributions to both long-standing and emerging issues of vital importance to the public's health and well-being, ranging from maternal and child health to the opioid epidemic to health policy and climate change.
The school’s research is grounded in strong partnerships with community organizations and governmental health agencies that reflect an investment in making strides toward better health throughout Chicago, around the nation and in myriad locations around the globe. Closer to home, the school features state-of-the-art research training programs and numerous other opportunities for students and trainees at all levels to acquire critical skills and experience that position them as future leaders in public health research and practice. Whether you are a fellow researcher, community activist, health professional, prospective student or concerned citizen, we encourage you to tap into the school’s research expertise and infrastructure as a resource. As you do, please be in touch and share your ideas for how we can best support your endeavors.
Office of Research Services Staff
Robin Sylvester is the Director of Research Services. She oversees day-to-day operations for the Office of Research Services. The office provides a range of services to support faculty, researchers, students and staff, including research development, pre-award proposal development, research workshops, and training for research administrators. Robin is a Certified Research Administrator (CRA) and earned her master’s degree in Urban Planning and Policy from the UIC College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs. Contact her at rbuell2@uic.edu.
Olivia Desormeaux is the Assistant Director in the Office of Research Services. She leads office pre-award staff and administers the SPH intramural seed funding program. Olivia has been with the office since 2018 and is a Certified Research Administrator (CRA). The North Carolina transplant earned her Masters of Social Work and Masters of Public Health in the dual degree program at the UIC School of Public Health and Jane Addams College of Social Work. Contact her at odesor3@uic.edu.
Mae Ysabelle Burgos is a Grants and Contracts Associate with the Office of Research Services. She supports pre-award proposal development and oversees student research opportunities such as dissertation and poster grants. Yssa has earned her Bachelor of Arts in Public Health from the UIC School of Public Health. She is a Certified Research Administrator (CRA). Contact her at mburgo7@uic.edu.
Demetrius Plaxico is a Grants and Contracts Associate with the Office of Research Services, where he supports pre-award proposal development. He earned his Master of Public Health in Health Policy from the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane University. Contact him at dplaxico@uic.edu.
Julius Rivera is a Grants and Contracts Associate with the Office of Research Services. He supports pre-award proposal development and the “Article of the Year” competition. He served as a Senior Research Specialist at the Institute for Health Research and Policy for several years where he managed multiple projects. Julius earned his MBA from UIC’s Liautaud Graduate School of Business. Contact him at Jriver40@uic.edu.