Personnel

Wendie Cohick
Director of Research
848-932-3777
cohick@njaes.rutgers.edu

Wendie Cohick serves as the Director of Research, overseeing the administration of programs and resources associated with NJAES. Her office ensures effective use of USDA–NIFA Federal Capacity funding through Hatch, Multistate, McIntire-Stennis and Animal Health programs and of State resources directed to NJAES. She also oversees intellectual property associated with NJAES scientists, such as plant variety patents and royalties. Various NJAES centers and research farms are also coordinated through her office.

Margaret Brennan-Tonetta
Associate Director, NJAES
Director, Office of Research Analytics
848-932-3776
mbrennan@njaes.rutgers.edu

Margaret Brennan-Tonetta is Associate Vice President for Economic Development for Rutgers University, Associate Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, and Director of the NJAES Office of Research Analytics. Margaret is responsible for numerous centers and programs, and for the development of large-scale programmatic initiatives that fulfill the university’s vision of being a model of innovation, responsiveness and collaboration. She earned a B.A. in Economics, M.S. in Agricultural Economics, and Ph.D. in Planning and Public Policy all from Rutgers University.

Diane French
Senior Program Coordinator
848-932-3567
dfrench@njaes.rutgers.edu

Diane administers the overall organizational management and supervision of the day-to-day operations and performance of the USDA–NIFA Capacity Fund Research Project Portfolio. Contact Diane for assistance with the following:

• Access to and navigation in the USDA-NIFA REEport database
• Hatch, Multistate, McIntire-Stennis and Animal Health project development and initiation
• Annual reporting for USDA–NIFA Capacity and Competitive projects
• Bi-Annual NJAES Effort Reporting
• Impact statement development for your NJAES Capacity Project
• Questions regarding Capacity funding and project compliance

Julianne Altavilla
Administrative Assistant
848-932-3749
altavill@njaes.rutgers.edu

Julie provides administrative support to both the Sr. Associate and Associate Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Office of Research. She assists with financial and human resources activities for the Office of Research, Office of Analytical Research, Research Greenhouse and Marine Outreach.

Michael Christian
Business Specialist
848-932-3773
christian@njaes.rutgers.edu

Michael reviews transactions to ensure expenses are allowable, in compliance with Universities Policies and procedures and that the proper accounts are being charged. Financial transactions include but are not limited to TABERS, travel orders, travel advances, requisitions, journal entries, cash transmittals, and all payroll actions (new hire, termination, upgrade, in-grade, etc.) for Office of Research units.

Joseph Cronin, Ph.D.
Director
Phone: 848-932-3751
Fax: 732-932-8955
Email: joseph.cronin@rutgers.edu
Office: Martin Hall, Rm. 111Dr.

Cronin is the Director of Grants Facilitation for NJAES and SEBS.  His duties include working closely with faculty on proposal development, identifying appropriate funding mechanisms, developing funding reports, and conducting outreach and education about current institutional policies.

Elaine Griffin
Research Grant/Contract Specialist
Phone: 848-932-3657
Fax: 732-932-8955
Email: erossi@rutgers.edu
Office: Martin Hall, Rm. 111

As the Research Contract/Grant Specialist, Elaine Griffin helps provide training and troubleshooting in grant facilitation, proposal development, budgets, external and internal documentation, post-award spending, and impact reporting.  Her experience includes securing grant dollars for academic and non-profit environments with an extensive background in project management.

Lucas Marxen
Assistant Director of Research Technology
848-932-4543
ljmarxen@njaes.rutgers.edu

Lucas Marxen, Assistant Director of Research Technology, provides leadership on geographic information systems (GIS) and the integration of computer technology and interactive website applications for research projects. Lucas has expertise in utilizing GIS technology to enable spatial analysis and modeling for research initiatives in a variety of disciplines. He has also developed in-house capacity for developing custom software, database and website solutions to assist in data collection, analysis, and dissemination on a variety of research and extension initiatives. Lucas earned a Masters in City and Regional Planning and a M.S. in Computer Science from Rutgers University.

Kevin Sullivan
Assistant Director of Statistical Analysis
848-932-4662
sullivan@njaes.rutgers.edu

Kevin Sullivan, Assistant Director of Statistical Analysis, provides leadership on the analytical aspects of projects, performs statistical analysis and econometric modeling, and performs economic impact modeling. Kevin has more than a decade of experience developing statistical analysis plans and performing statistical analysis. Kevin earned a B.S. in Economics from the University of Delaware, and an M.S. in Agricultural Economics and M.S. in Applied Statistics from Rutgers University.

Dan Farnsworth
Web/Application Developer
848-932-4594
danfarns@njaes.rutgers.edu

Dan Farnsworth performs the computer programming necessary to meet the on-line research and outreach needs of various grant-funded projects. Dan is a web developer and software programmer who designs and implements database-driven websites and custom software applications. He specializes in LAMP (Linux/Apache/MySQL/PHP) based website design and integration of interactive mapping interfaces. He earned a B.S. in Computer Science from Rutgers University.

Brian Schilling
Faculty Affiliate, Office of Research Analytics
848-932-9127
schilling@njaes.rutgers.edu

Brian Schilling, Ph.D., Faculty Affiliate of the ORA provides guidance on many ORA research projects. Brian is an Assistant Extension Specialist of Agricultural Policy within Rutgers Cooperative Extension and Assistant Professor of agricultural, food and resource economics at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University. During his 19 years at the School, much of Brian’s research has been focused on New Jersey farm viability, farmland preservation, and agricultural economic development at the urban-rural fringe. In recent years, his research focus has broadened to also include food defense and other policy issues in the food system. Brian is the author of more than 110 papers and briefings on various issues relating to the food and agricultural system and has given more than 100 invited lectures to academic, business, government, and industry groups. He holds a B.S. in Resource Management, an M.S. in Agricultural Economics, and a Ph.D. in Planning and Public Policy, all from Rutgers University.