If there were a superpower tailor-made for the world of contracts and grants, Emily Gardner already has it — minus the cape. She’s UNC Radiology’s resident pre-award research administrator and unofficial office energy source, known for juggling the chaos of new grant submissions with a smile, a laugh, and maybe a little dance in her step.
Emily’s journey to UNC Radiology feels like a homecoming in more ways than one. Born in North Carolina and raised as a Tar Heel loyalist, her UNC roots run deep — her grandmother once worked on campus cleaning out mice cages in a research lab. Young Emily would tag along and wander the halls, soaking in the buzz of campus life. Years later, she’s back — only now, she’s the one helping others make research magic happen.
“I started at UNC about seven years ago and moved into Radiology full-time three years ago,” she says. But really, she’s been part of the Carolina family much longer. “My dad and his brothers all worked at the hospital. My uncle went to med school here. It just felt… natural.”
Before jumping into research administration, Emily spent 17 years as a full-time stay-at-home mom — and yes, she’s very clear that this was absolutely a full-time job. Between leading the PTA and running a side business staging homes for realtors, she never exactly slowed down. “There was never a dull moment,” she laughs. “But I’ve always loved helping people meet their goals — and that’s what I still get to do now.”
Her role in pre-award administration is a bit like being the gatekeeper to research success — working with faculty to get new funding in place, making sure proposals follow all the rules, and keeping things (mostly) on track amidst the moving pieces. “It’s funny,” she says, “People think of contracts and grants as dry, but I find it fascinating. No two days are the same. And I love that the answer to so many questions is, ‘it depends.’ I lean into the chaos. That’s where I thrive.”
She adds with a grin, “Post-award people want everything in a tidy box. Pre-award folks? We live in the mess. And I love that.”
“Emily is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Pre-Award management and the intricacies of the ever-changing processes and requirements from the university and the sponsor side,” says Blair Allen, Business Operations Manager. “Emily takes great pride in being relied on by our growing group of research faculty and is always ready to help. Emily has been a key driver behind the major growth of our research portfolio and presence in Radiology over the past several years, and we are so lucky to have her in our department!”
If you ever find yourself emailing Emily at 9 p.m. and wondering if she’s still working — she might be. Pre-award requires behind-the-scenes effort that often goes unnoticed. “There’s a lot of reading guidelines, triple-checking submissions, making sure the T’s are crossed. But the best part is the people. I really enjoy hearing about what’s going on in their lives, not just the work.”
In fact, one of her favorite work memories was a Zoom meeting during the height of COVID. A faculty member joined with a newborn on her shoulder. “She was so apologetic — but it was beautiful. We’re all juggling so much but still showing up for each other. That’s what I love.”
Working with Emily has been an absolute pleasure,” says Kristen Tignor, Finance Manager. “She’s incredibly helpful, consistently friendly, and always willing to lend her expertise. Emily is not only highly knowledgeable and responsive, but also remarkably flexible, adapting quickly to changing circumstances and needs in the research space. She puts forth considerable effort to stay informed on institutional/sponsor policy updates and grant submission requirements, which has been a tremendous asset to our Radiology team. Her contributions are critical to our success, and we’re truly fortunate to have her.”
Quirky, Loyal, Determined — and Maybe a Little Broadway?
Emily describes herself in one word: quirky. Her best friend describes her in three: funny, determined, and loyal. And if she had to title her autobiography? “I Don’t Know.” (We’d read that, by the way.)
Once upon a time, Emily dreamed of Broadway. A self-proclaimed big fish in the small pond of Mebane, NC, she poured her heart into ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, and gymnastics. “I was convinced I’d be Annie,” she laughs. “But then I went to a dance camp with Alvin Ailey dancers and realized… okay, I’m good. But not that good.”
Her Broadway dreams gave way to a biology degree plan — until she hit the math requirements. (“No thank you.”) She found her true academic love in English, and to this day, her college books — dog-eared, highlighted, full of scribbled notes — still sit proudly on her shelves.
Outside the Office: Band Mom Life, Ulta Hauls, and Teleportation Dreams
Emily is a mom of four — with kids ranging from middle school to college — and spends most weekends racing from band competitions to family activities. “They keep us busy. It’s a full-time life.”
In her rare downtime, you’ll find her relaxing with friends, obsessing over books (she’s a self-declared book hoarder), or choosing the perfect Ulta gift for her bestie. “The worst is giving someone a gift they won’t love,” she insists. “I pride myself on getting it right. Ulta or Sephora? I got you.”
She’s also a proud dog and cat person, with one pup and two feline friends at home. “I refuse to choose. I love them all equally!”
And if she could have any superpower? No question: teleportation. “I want to blink and be on campus. Or blink and be at the beach. Traveling just takes up too much time. I want that time back!”
A Little Magic and a Lot of Heart
Emily’s energy is infectious, her work ethic unmatched, and her passion for helping others is what truly sets her apart. Whether she’s wrangling deadlines, troubleshooting grant guidelines, or reminiscing about “Annie” and Mrs. Weasley’s magical cleaning spells, one thing is clear: she brings heart — and humor — to everything she does.
So next time you pass her in the hallway or shoot her an email about a grant, just know: behind that cheerful tone is a dance-loving, detail-crushing, wand-wishing wizard of research who’s probably already three steps ahead — and loving every minute of it.