our founders

Dr. Anna Quider is an award-winning leader in federal science, research, and higher education policy, with particular expertise in emerging research institutions. She is Founder and CEO of The Quider Group, where she works with clients to define and advance their federal research priorities. She is also a sought-after speaker on federal policy & advocacy, research strategy, and leadership in science and higher education. Through ERIC, she leads national advocacy to strengthen the role of ERIs in the federal research enterprise. 

Dr. Quider led the effort to create the federal ERI designation established in the CHIPS and Science Act and has played a central role in shaping the policy conversation around research capacity, institutional competitiveness, and broader participation in federally funded research. Her work connects institutional research growth with national priorities, expanding opportunities for more institutions, faculty, and students to contribute to the U.S. research enterprise.

Dr. Quider holds a Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Cambridge, where she studied as a Marshall Scholar and NSF Graduate Research Fellow. She holds a B.S. in Physics and Astronomy and a dual-major B.A. in Religious Studies and the History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Pittsburgh. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Physical Society.

Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in higher education policy, federal funding policy, research enterprise planning, and research development, Dr. Venable delivers a unique combination of solutions-focused consulting services to help clients identify and pursue multiple pathways to sustained success in the Federal funding marketplace. These include strategic planning, government relations, public relations, faculty development, partner engagement, Team Science, program design, and grant proposal development. In addition, Dr. Venable has worked closely with a range of grant writers – including researchers, educators, and non-profits – to gain the skills needed to be successful across the entire grants lifecycle.