Melissa Deal, MBA, Senior Administrative Coordinator

Melissa Deal serves as the Senior Administrative Coordinator for the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Processing Institute (AMMPI). She started with AMMPI in July 2023. Melissa is responsible for a number of duties, including ordering research and office supplies, billing for research equipment use, hiring of staff and students, as well as budgetary responsibilities and administrative tasks. Prior to this position, she was at TWU as a Grant Accountant for short time. Before that she was at UNTHSC as a PreAward Analyst for a little under a year, and she started at UNT in 2019 as the Senior Administrative Specialist for the Director of Facilities Maintenance. She also obtained her MBA in Strategic Management from UNT. Melissa has been in the UNT family for a long time as her mother is a retired UNT staff member, has many colleagues, friends, and other family members that work at UNT. UNT is her 'home' and she cannot see working anywhere else! GO MEAN GREEN!!

Phone: 940.369.8438 | Email: melissa.deal@unt.edu | Office Location: Discovery Park Annex

Richard Brannock, Scientific Instrument Technician

Richard Brannock serves as a Scientific Instrument Technician for the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Processing Institute (AMMPI). In this role he manages and maintains AMMPI equipment, while also training new users. Richard has an extensive background with technical leadership and training. Before coming to UNT he has worked all over Texas and Oklahoma for companies such as; Texas Instruments, Raytheon, and ARI/Amethyst Research Inc. He was also an independent contractor/process engineer at JP analytical. Richard is excited to be at UNT to be able to guide and train the students of  AMMPI and Materials Science. 

Phone: 940.565.2499 | Email: richard.brannock@unt.edu | Office Location: Discovery Park Annex

Leyla Kimball, Proposal Manager

Leyla Kimball is the Proposal Manager for the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Processes Institute (AMMPI). She has been at UNT College of Engineering Research Office for over 7 years prior to joining AMMPI. She has experience both in pre-award and post-award research administration. In her early years, she helped UNT Engineering faculty submit proposals by reviewing proposal guidelines, developing their budgets, serving as the college liaison to OGCA, and finding funding opportunities, etc. In the latter years, Leyla oversaw the post-award research office in the College of Engineering, and she and her team helped the faculty manage their post-award research projects by making sure spending was done according to university, sponsor, and federal guidelines. She and her team provided the faculty with the support needed to accomplish their research goals and deliverables. She brings years of post-award expertise into proposal development, which will be an invaluable information for faculty, and for smooth and successful project management once funds are received. Leyla enjoys working with the faculty and providing the support needed to meet AMMPI and the University research goals.

Phone: 940.369.8934 | Email: leyla.kimball@unt.edu | Office Location: Discovery Park E132C