Office of the Vice President for Research

The 2026 U Startup Launchpad brought together researchers, founders, investors, civic leaders, and innovation partners for a practical look at building companies from university research and emerging technologies. Hosted by the University of Utah Technology Licensing Office, the event highlighted Salt Lake City’s growing startup ecosystem, founder journeys, AI-enabled company building, fundraisin…

Most people are drawn to research by a question they want to answer, a problem they want to solve, or an opportunity to create something new. They are motivated by discovery, scholarship, innovation, teaching, patient care, community impact, and the chance to make a difference. The challenge for research universities today is that the environment […]

Building America’s Critical Minerals Pipeline By David Pace Contemplate for a minute what that minicomputer in your pocket, your phone, is made of. How it works. Its complexity. What’s it made of and where it comes from. The origin story of, among other components—mobile phones, drones, electric cars and windmills involves an intricate life cycle. […]

Do you have a grant proposal, manuscript, or paper you’ve been putting off? Or maybe you’re finding it hard to motivate yourself to sit down and write? The Office of Research Education is hosting Writing Hours in the NEXUS Space this summer! Sessions will run Thursday mornings from 10:00am-12:00 pm in the NEXUS space in […]

The Technology Licensing Office’s bi-weekly market research report highlights emerging trends, market signals, and industry developments that may inform research and commercialization strategy across the University of Utah. Each edition curates timely insights from key sectors to help faculty, researchers, and innovation partners identify opportunities, anticipate market needs, and align discover…

Written by: Samantha Everton, Innovation & Research Communications Contributor University of Utah faculty members Jane Hatter, Elizabeth Craft, and Catherine Mayes have all authored books focusing on fine arts research. Each author has worked tirelessly to compile their work and concentrate it into text, and the U celebrates every researcher’s effort to share their studies […]

On May 11, 2026, researchers, educators, practitioners, and campus partners gathered at the Hinckley Institute for the Civic Discourse Working Group Town Hall, hosted in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President for Research. The event brought together participants from across campus to explore how the University of Utah can advance research, teaching, public […]

May 21st, 2026 This week, I had the privilege of speaking at the inaugural Research Administration Intensive retreat, and what a remarkable event it was. Research administrators from across the institution came together to learn about new regulations, changing processes, and emerging best practices in our field. But the most meaningful part was not the […]

The NHGRI ELSI Research Program recently shared a helpful resource encouraging researchers to connect with NIH Program Officers early and often—whether you have a polished specific aims page, an early-stage idea, or simply want to explore potential funding pathways. The guide outlines the role of Program Officers, when to reach out, how to prepare for […]

“I want to give you a million dollars.” The delivery was direct. Almost disarmingly so. No buildup, no formal pitch—just a few words delivered the way J. Michael Dean has approached much of his career: clearly, decisively, and without ceremony. On the other end of the line, Jamie P. Dwyer, MD, understood immediately what the […]

The Office of the Vice President for Research has announced the promotion of Caren Frost to Senior Associate Vice President for Research Integrity & Compliance, recognizing her leadership in strengthening the systems, guidance, and institutional support that help research move forward with rigor, accountability, and public trust. Frost has served as Associate Vice President for […]

The Office of the Vice President for Research has announced the promotion of Jakob Jensen to Senior Associate Vice President for Research, recognizing his leadership in strengthening the University of Utah’s research enterprise and expanding support for faculty across disciplines. Jensen has served as Associate Vice President for Research since 2022, following seven years as […]

Momentum can be hard to see while it’s building. It doesn’t always announce itself. More often, it shows up in small ways, a new collaboration taking shape, a conversation that connects ideas across disciplines, or a project that begins to move with greater clarity and purpose. Across the University of Utah, there is a growing […]

Written by: Marina Gomberg Bestowed by the American Laryngological Association and in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in the field of laryngology and rhinology, the prestigious deRoaldes Award’s newest recipient is University of Utah’s Ingo Titze, PhD. Typically awarded to physician (MD) researchers, Titze, Senior Scientist at the Utah Center for Vocology (UCV), joins a small group of …

Influenza virus appears to gain virulence more quickly as it evolves through female hosts, according to research led by U biologists. Brian Maffly – Research Communication Specialist   During the early stages of a pandemic, viruses tend to evolve in ways that enhance their ability to reproduce and spread, rather than to evade the host’s […]

The University of Utah convened faculty, students, postdoctoral scholars, industry partners, and national leaders in science and engineering for its Quantum Science & Technology Symposium on April 24 in the Crocker Science Center. The daylong event highlighted the university’s growing momentum in quantum research and its commitment to building interdisciplinary collaborations in one of the [&…

Written by: Samantha Everton, Innovation & Research Communications Contributor On Friday, April 17, the University of Utah Technology Licensing Office hosted the second annual Startup Launchpad, featuring panels discussing various topics and resources useful to researchers, startup founders, and others locally involved in commercialization and innovation. The keynote speaker was Salt Lake Cit…

Behavioral Health Workforce Shortages Are Forcing a Redesign of Care Delivery Behavioral health demand continues to outpace provider capacity, pushing health systems to redesign care around scarcity rather than specialty abundance. Recent market data shows rising visit volume, persistent geographic maldistribution, and major projected shortages in psychiatry and counseling, while telehealth and a…

Authored at the U: Faculty Book Spotlight Written by: Samantha Everton, Innovation & Research Communications Contributor University of Utah faculty members Anna Neatrour, Caren Frost, and Jean Shipman have all authored or co-authored books that focus on different aspects of research and innovation. Each author has worked tirelessly to compile their research and concentrate it […]

Amanda Ashley, Director of Communications for Research & Innovation, Office of the Vice President for Research The 2026 Distinguished Research Awards honor three University of Utah faculty whose work spans advanced materials, public health, and human perception. The 2026 Distinguished Research Award (DRA), one of the university’s highest honors for sustained research excellence. exemplifies l…