Joseph was vital in helping me to oversee our school’s research enterprise, which has a lot of moving parts and involved a variety of stakeholders.

Joseph’s ability to manage all of these different relationships, find mutually agreeable solutions, and keep things on an even keel, was truly impressive.

I wrote a proposal seeking to convince Duke University leadership to invest in a new health-related program I co-created. The feedback was that the proposal too dense and "NIH-like." Joseph reworked it into an attractive, easy-to-read document that contained all the important information. I could not have done this without Joseph.

In early 2025, Joseph helped me identify new sources of non-Federal funding to support my research. I am applying to those sources now and am hopeful that they will pan out.

Joseph made applying for grants an easier task by matching our research aspirations with federal or foundation funding opportunities, managing proposal content development across research teams, providing astute and iterative feedback, and making our proposals as competitive as possible.

Joseph was a tremendous asset supporting the Center's researchers and faculty in applying for federal and foundation funding. In particular, his dedication and skill shone when working with our early career researchers, mentoring them as they learned to match their research interests to funding opportunities, read and understand proposal guidelines, and develop competitive proposals. 

Joseph McNicholas is an excellent colleague and a true expert in the areas of university administration and research development. I’ve always admired Joseph’s ability to mix humor and kindness into his professional approach. With his deep knowledge of the grant world, love of learning, and ability to work with people from all backgrounds, he is a tremendous asset to any organization.  

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Joseph on multiple projects, including proposal development, prospect strategy, grantwriting, and post-award troubleshooting. Joseph is smart, diligent, knowledgeable, action-focused, and fun—you could not ask for a better colleague.

Joseph is exceptional at identifying funding opportunities, even for the most niche topics,  and shaping proposals to align with each source’s priorities. Even when I felt discouraged by tough funding cycles, he never wavered in his belief in the work or its importance. His steady optimism and strategic approach taught me what it means to pursue funding with both persistence and purpose.

Joseph’s expert assistance in preparing my Visiting Scholar materials ensured I secured the appointment without delay. Once on campus, his warm, friendly guidance—introducing me to key contacts, sharing insights on valuable networking events, and helping me navigate my new environment—allowed me to hit the ground running. Joseph’s open‑minded, enthusiastic, friendly, and warm‑hearted nature and talent for gathering and matching critical information truly maximized the efficiency and joy of my Visiting Scholar experience.

Joseph provided invaluable support during my application for visiting scholar status at Duke and continued to assist me throughout my time on campus. His thoughtful guidance and timely feedback streamlined the application process and made my academic experience at Duke smoother and more rewarding.