Jada Harris

Contract & Grant Specialist

Plant and Soil Sciences

Years in Position: 5

Years of Service to MSU: 12

Jada Harris sees contracts and grants as more than paperwork. To her they are pathways to groundbreaking research. As Contract and Grant Specialist with the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Mississippi State University, Harris knows that securing funding for faculty research requires more than technical expertise; it needs genuine partnership.

"I support faculty, staff, and administrators in securing and managing external funding for contracts and grants dealing with research and other sponsored projects," Harris explained. "I handle both pre-award and post-awards to ensure compliance and proper financial management."

From proposal development through project completion, Harris guides her colleagues through the complexities of external funding. But for Harris, the most rewarding part of her work is not found in compliance checklists, but in the collaborative spirit of the department.

"One of my favorite aspects of my job is being part of a supportive team," she said. "Each of our roles comes with its own challenges, but we work together, share knowledge and support one another to find effective solutions."

Through daily interactions with faculty members, she's gained a deeper appreciation for how meaningful teamwork and clear communication are to achieving shared goals.

"I really enjoy learning about their research, supporting their initiatives, and building professional relationships that make our work more impactful," Harris said.

Before transitioning into her role as Contract and Grant Specialist, Harris worked with Sponsored Programs Accounting at MSU.

"During that time, I gained valuable experience with sponsored projects and developed a strong interest in understanding them from the departmental perspective. I saw an opportunity to apply my accounting background to support the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences – starting from the proposal stage through the project completion."

Outside the office, Harris enjoys baking and spending time with her husband and three children, Kaylee, Emma Jo and Jack. They are big fans of MSU football and love cheering on the Bulldogs.