IUB will build upon its existing areas of excellence and historic strength while pushing into new areas of emerging possibilities that position us to address complex societal challenges locally, nationally, and globally. We will simultaneously strive to become a globally recognized powerhouse for innovation and entrepreneurship, proactively amplifying the impact of IUB research and training the next generation of innovators. Key to advancing all of this is a campus environment that is vibrant, welcoming, respectful, and safe for all. We will continue to build an inclusive and equitable campus culture that supports individuals in conducting their best research, scholarship, and creative activity.
Updates on Transformative Research and Creativity
Accelerate sponsored research in identified transformational research areas.
Status: Steering committees for two transformational areas—aging and environment—have been created and are meeting monthly. Co-chairs are in place for each group. Both committees are planning kickoff events for April to convene faculty connected to each area in order to expand opportunities for collaboration.
Facilitators: Vice Provost for Research, Graduate School, academic deans
Increase faculty productivity in research and creative areas.
Status: Work continues with the Bloomington Faculty Council to create a new research professor rank. Proposed programs to incentivize faculty research are under review.
Facilitators: Brea Perry, Carrie Docherty, academic deans
Accelerate grant-seeking among research-eligible faculty.
Status: The Center for Evaluation, Policy, and Research (CEPR) and the Center for Survey Research (CSR)—both located on the IUB campus and centrally administered by IU Research—launched proposal consulting pilot programs to provide expert reviews of research design and evaluation plans for faculty extramural grant submissions at no cost to faculty.
IU Research and the steering committees for the aging and environment transformational areas are exploring opportunities for large grants and developing teams to pursue them. Chris Liu, associate vice president for research development, is developing a new internal funding program to seed large grants. The pre-award services team, part of the new proposal development team, is fully staffed and has begun serving many units across campus.
Facilitators: Brea Perry, Carrie Docherty, academic deans
Improve utilization of existing campus research space and expand campus research space where necessary.
Status: With $45 million approved by the Board of Trustees for construction and renovations across eight buildings at IUB, the campus will soon embark on an 18-month effort to optimize research spaces available to campus via at least 34 updated and new labs across central and north campus. Planning teams have identified five strategic research "neighborhoods" for IUB, which congregate researchers with high potential for collaboration and shared resources. Many of the planned renovations will be aligned with ongoing Faculty 100 hiring in priority areas.
Facilitators: Aimee Heeter, Brea Perry, academic deans
IU Innovates: Enhance entrepreneurship and innovation that has human impact.
Status: IU Innovates advanced entrepreneurship in March through event collaborations, support of founders' peer groups and startup incubation, and storytelling. IU Innovates collaborated with the Kelley School of Business on the inaugural Startup Career Fair on 3/1/24, and with the Jacobs School of Music on the AI+Music Pop Up Summit on 3/1/24. As of mid-March, 126 entrepreneurs were served. IU entrepreneurs were spotlighted by President Whitten in a new video and accompanying message.
Facilitators: Julie Heath, IU Research, academic deans
Strengthen research collaborations in the state’s innovation ecosystem.
Status: Significant work is underway to strengthen research collaborations within Indiana, including the recently announced expanded partnership between IU and NSWC Crane to advance national security innovation. IU also recently announced an investment of more than $93 million to hire new life sciences faculty as part of the Faculty 100 initiative. IU Research and University Relations continue to evaluate other potential research collaborations.
Facilitators: Brea Perry
Improve diverse faculty recruitment and strategic placement.
Status: Efforts are being focused on ensuring there is a diverse pool of applicants for the Faculty 100 hiring initiative.
Facilitators: Carrie Docherty, academic deans
Improve faculty development.
Status: The Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs (VPFAA) recently launched a training program to support department chairs with faculty mentoring. VPFAA is reviewing data from faculty surveys to identify additional faculty development opportunities.
Facilitators: Carrie Docherty, academic deans
Enhance faculty recognition and awards opportunities.
Status: Criteria and committee structure for internal faculty awards are currently being evaluated.
Facilitators: Carrie Docherty, academic deans, recent recipients of Carnegie, Guggenheim, and NEH grants.