Department Administrator, HR Partner/Budget Partner, Select Agent Certifying Official
chantene@uchicago.edu
Chantene joined the Office of Research Safety in January of 2016 as the department's Administrator. She manages administrative functions (finance/budget, human resources, and strategic planning); serves as the HR partner and budget partner; is the Certifying Official for the UChicago Federal Select Agent Program; and a liaison to senior administrators, faculty, staff, students, and other partners.
Prior to joining UChicago, Chantene served eight years as an intellectual property paralegal, managing foreign and domestic patent grants and annuities. This experience led her to the Univeristy of Illinois, where she served over four years as a business manager and grant administrator. Her University career started with the Executive Associate Vice President for Business and Financial Services, but later joined the team of the Vice President for Research to launch a new business incubator and proof-of-concept accelerator that hosts wet/dry laboratories and shared office space for local researchers, entrepreneurial startups, life science projects, economic and environmental sustainability, and supports internal tech transfers and ventures in health, technology, and innovation.
Her experience in laboratories began early at Mother McAuley High School (where she studied anatomy, physiology, and biology) and continued through college, where her undergrad studies focused on biology and scientific illustration. Additionally, Chantene earned a paralegal certificate and was accepted to the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society. She now holds a master's degree in Legal Studies from the University of Illinois with a focus on Public Health and Environmental Law in underserved communities; a Master's Certificate in Public Health, Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security. She is pursuing a certificate in Clinical Trial Management as well as a Doctorate in Public Administration.
Chantene's background connects scientific research, sustainability, intellectual property and law, which brings a unique and relevant perspective to the mission of the Office of Research Safety. This perspective is informed by invaluable knowledge about the business functions of academia, legal compliance, and strengthens her relationships with the UChicago scientific community.