Research Compliance Team

Allison Ratterman

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Allison Ratterman serves as Director for Research Integrity and Conflict of Interest. In this role she provides guidance and support to the research community to aid in their compliance with complex regulatory requirements. 

An original member of the Office of Integrity since 2001, Ratterman has had the opportunity to support the UofL research community in deepening its understanding of research compliance requirements. Throughout that time, she has continually worked to integrate contextual, value-added compliance practices into the culture of research and scholarship at UofL.

Compliance is inherently complex and nuanced, and when paired with the intricacies of research, it creates unique opportunities for compliance professionals to drive efficiencies and deliver lasting value to the research community. As a trained problem solver, Ratterman finds the opportunity to take on these challenges each day both exciting and deeply fulfilling.

Michael Brill

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Michael Brill serves as Associate Director, Research Security Compliance. In this role he leads the university’s Research Security Program, overseeing policy development, foreign collaboration reviews, international visitor and travel oversight, and risk mitigation plans. He also directs research‑security training, manages the Visiting Scholars Program and oversees compliance elements of federal proposals.

Brill is passionate about increasing awareness of research security risks while cultivating an open-door environment where faculty and staff feel supported in navigating federal requirements and guidelines. By making complex policies understandable and accessible, he aims to empower the research community to pursue innovation confidently while maintaining compliance and protecting institutional and national interests.

Amy Kovacs

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Amy Kovacs is a Supervisor of Research Compliance, overseeing the functions of the Conflict of Interest and Commitment Office ensuring researchers at UofL are compliant with university, state, and federal conflict of interest requirements.

Prior to coming to UofL in 2024, Amy was an epidemiologist at a health department and has over a decade of research experience spanning hematologic cancer research as well as environmental epidemiology.

Kovacs is most passionate about creating and disseminating materials that get the right information to the right people at the right time in an easily understandable format.

Sonia Barrad

Sonia Barrad is a Research Compliance Specialist, responsible for reviewing and managing conflicts of interest and commitment in research. This work supports the responsible conduct of research at UofL, and helps researchers navigate the compliance requirements of carrying out their studies.

Barrad is passionate about the supporting role she plays in research conducted at UofL and enjoys being able to provide guidance and help to researchers as they develop their work. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Grinnell College and Master of Science from Texas A&M University.

Caroline Mills

Caroline Mills is a Research Security Specialist where she helps determine if key personnel and entities conducing research collaboratively with UofL are in compliance with research security training mandates.

Mills is most passionate about staying updated on the changes in regulations related to training, sanctions and cybersecurity requirements. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from West Virginia University and a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Marshall University.