Lu Lu
Raleigh,NC
Summary
Scientific consultant and research funding strategist with a PhD in Chemistry and expertise in federal proposal development, pre-award coordination, research program strategy, and non-dilutive funding. Led complex submissions to federal agencies and supported industry and academic clients in securing more than $180M in funding. Experienced in identifying strategic funding opportunities, aligning research concepts with agency priorities, coordinating multidisciplinary stakeholders, and translating emerging technologies into competitive research initiatives. Managed and developed a team of consultants while guiding startups through funding strategy, proposal execution, and award implementation. Combines scientific expertise, strategic planning, and team leadership to advance research competitiveness, strengthen funding outcomes, and support research commercialization.
Overview
1
1
Certification
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Scientific Consultant
Eva Garland Consulting (EGC)
2026.01 - Current
- Secured over $180 million in non-dilutive funding from US federal agencies (DoW/DoD, NSF, DOE, EDA, NIST, USDA, SBA, DHS, etc.) for clients from industry and universities.
- Supported Group14 in securing $100 million from DOE to build a facility to manufacture its innovative silicon battery and Laser Thermal in securing 7 awards for a total of $7.5 million to advance its thermal metrology solution.
- Supported university clients, including UT Arlington, UT Austin, Mississippi State, and Dallas College, for targeted funding opportunity identification, competitive proposal writing, proposal preparation timeline management, and maintaining a diverse grant portfolio.
- Contributed to federal research/program engagement for clients and EGC.
- Managed pre-award administration for complex proposal projects, collaborating with internal teams and Principal Investigators to optimize proposal quality.
- Led complex proposal efforts across organizational levels, overseeing planning, scheduling, reviews, and submissions to ensure timely and successful outcomes.
Team Lead
Eva Garland Consulting (EGC)
2023.07 - Current
- Managed a team of scientific consultants with expertise in Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Chemical Engineering, and Biomaterials.
- Executed monitoring and performance reports, set goals with direct reports, and facilitated professional growth within the team.
- Led the Internal Resource Management Committee to organize and maintain essential internal knowledge resources.
- Participated in the Hiring Committee to enhance recruitment and selection processes.
Scientific Consultant II, Grant Writing Specialist
Eva Garland Consulting (EGC)
2020.01 - 2025.01
- Developed individual and complex proposals for government agencies and provided clients with strategic guidance to maximize the chances of success.
- Engaged key stakeholders and represented the company at conferences to foster partnerships with government agency representatives.
- Led university workshops/trainings to share federal research priorities and targeted funding opportunities, conduct gap analysis, and strengthen clients' position for federal funding opportunities.
- Gained strong knowledge of the US Government acquisition process and different funding mechanisms.
Co-Founder, Chief Chemist, Principal Investigator
Louisiana Multi-Functional-Materials Group, LLC
2016.01 - 2022.01
- Developed a smart polymer sealant that can expand upon cooling and contract upon heating. Patent issued.
- Authored and submitted proposals to NSF and DoW/DoD. Received NSF SBIR Phase I and Phase II for $1M and served as Principal Investigator on grants.
- Led research projects and R&D for the startup, supervised junior chemists and technicians, oversaw lab operations, planned the budget, and tracked expenditures to ensure efficient use of resources.
- Coordinated multiple projects, ensuring timely completion and effective resource allocation while managing post-award project responsibilities.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Louisiana State University
2015.01 - 2016.01
- Developed self-healing/recyclable epoxy with excellent mechanical properties and enhanced self-healing capability.
- Discovered one-way multi-shape memory effect and tunable two-way shape memory effect in 50-year-old polymer Surlyn, and expanding potential applications.
Education
Ph.D. - Polymer Science and Analytical Chemistry
Louisiana State University
2015-08
Bachelor of Science - Polymer Science and Engineering
University of Science And Technology of China
2010-07
Skills
- Research Strategy
- Research Development
- Federal Funding Strategy
- Strategic Planning
- Federal Agency Engagement
- Research Program Development
- Proposal Development and Execution
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Strategic Partnerships
- Personnel Management and Team Leadership
- Program Management
- Research Commercialization
Selected Publications
20 peer-reviewed articles and 1 patent
Service
- Reviewer for NSF proposals (2024-present).
- Reviewer for scientific journals (2015-present).
- Science Judge for Louisiana Region VII Science & Engineering Fair, Baton Rouge, LA (2015).
- Organizer for Super Science Saturday, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA (2011-2014).
- Co-organizer of the 11th National Graduate Research Polymer Conference, Baton Rouge, LA (2014), and the Instrumentation Exposition, Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (SWRM), Baton Rouge, LA (2012).
Certification
- 2026 Project Management Foundations Certification, LinkedIn Learning
- 2026 Intellectual Property Training Program, Phase I, Osha Bergman Watanabe & Burton
Accomplishments
- 2024 Outstanding Performance in Service, Eva Garland Consulting
- 2023 Fundamentals of Supervision Certificate, Catapult
- 2022 Annual Excellence Award, Eva Garland Consulting
- 2022 Outstanding Performance in Excellence, Eva Garland Consulting
- 2022 Outstanding Performance in Collaboration, Eva Garland Consulting
- 2020 Outstanding Performance in Service, Eva Garland Consulting
- 2019 Winner of the September PitchBR event ($1,000)
- 2018 NSF SBIR Phase II award ($746,325) as Principal Investigator (PI)
- 2016 NSF I-Corps program as Entrepreneurial Lead & NSF SBIR Phase I ($225,000) as PI
- 2015 DOW Award for Excellence in Macromolecular Studies, LSU
Timeline
Senior Scientific Consultant
Eva Garland Consulting (EGC)
2026.01 - Current
Team Lead
Eva Garland Consulting (EGC)
2023.07 - Current
Scientific Consultant II, Grant Writing Specialist
Eva Garland Consulting (EGC)
2020.01 - 2025.01
Co-Founder, Chief Chemist, Principal Investigator
Louisiana Multi-Functional-Materials Group, LLC
2016.01 - 2022.01
Postdoctoral Researcher
Louisiana State University
2015.01 - 2016.01
Ph.D. - Polymer Science and Analytical Chemistry
Louisiana State University
Bachelor of Science - Polymer Science and Engineering
University of Science And Technology of China