DRAFT
Office of Research Vision, Mission, Values, and Strategic Objectives
December 2018
Vision
We support Washington State University’s vision of being one of the nation’s leading land-grant universities, preeminent in research and discovery, teaching, and engagement.
Mission
The Office of Research supports the WSU land-grant mission by partnering with the University community and other stakeholders to advance, extend, and apply knowledge across the full range of scholarly disciplines pursued at WSU. WSU creative activity, research, and scholarship, develop and advance new ideas that benefit the state, region, nation and world. The Office of Research fosters a culture of inclusion, openness, innovation, and entrepreneurship that leads to creative discovery and its application, including bringing innovation to the marketplace. We lead the WSU research community in conducting research in a safe manner that is also ethical and cultivates individual and institutional integrity, and is in compliance to state, federal and international applicable regulations and laws. The Office of Research serves the University community by supporting the research infrastructure needed for discovery to flourish and for researchers to collaborate effectively across campuses and disciplines. We work collaboratively and form partnerships with federal and non-federal agencies on research to advance society.
Values
Collaboration and Partnership: We work to advance the research enterprise through collaboration and partnership with all 11 colleges and University leadership among WSU’s six campuses. This collaboration and partnership is central to our operations. Together, we all strive to grow our research enterprise in a thoughtful and meaningful way.
Research, Scholarship, and Creativity: We are committed to the pursuit of inquiry and discovery in all WSU disciplines; and to the creation and dissemination of knowledge for the public good.
Service, Stewardship, and Accountability: We are committed to providing the range of services and infrastructure required to support WSU’s researchers in today’s fast-changing environment. We will be ethical and responsible stewards of the University resources that provide this support.
Safety and Compliance: We are committed to building and supporting a safety mindset and culture across the entire University system. We lead the WSU community in the shared responsibility of conducting research that is ethical and in compliance to state, federal and international applicable regulations and laws.
Quality, Excellence, and Thought Leadership: We are committed to providing quality and excellence in all of our efforts to advance WSU’s reputation as a thought leader and a top-tier research institution.
Integrity, Trust, and Respect: We are committed to ensuring trust and respect for all persons in an environment that cultivates individual and institutional integrity in all that we do.
Freedom of Expression: We are committed to the free exchange of ideas in a constructive and civil environment, including the canons of academic freedom in research, teaching, and outreach.
Diversity and Global Citizenship: We embrace a worldview that recognizes and values the importance of domestic and global diversity, global interdependence, and sustainability.
Land-Grant Ideals: We are committed to achieving the land-grant ideals of access, engagement, leadership, and service to bring the practical benefits of education and research to the state, nation, and global community. We will support the pursuit of research with broad societal impact.
Office of Research Strategic Objectives
These objectives below are done in collaboration with WSU’s 11 colleges, units, and administrative leadership.
1) Support a vibrant and dynamic environment for research, scholarship, creativity and economic development at WSU.
2) Develop, maintain, and improve research infrastructure.
- Personnel (grant preparation and submission, commercialization, etc.)
- Equipment and other capital
- Research instrumentation core facilities, such as:
- Biomolecular X-Ray Crystallography Center
- Center for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy
- Franceschi Microscopy and Imaging Center
- Molecular Biology and Genomics Core
- Stable Isotope Core Facility
- Tissue Imaging and Proteomics Laboratory
- Kamiak – High Performance Computing
3) Execute research related activities safely and securely, including oversight of research involving animals, radiation, human subjects, and select agents.
4) Work with faculty, staff, and external partners to develop and execute a compelling research agenda.
- Transdisciplinary research (the “Grand Challenges” and Strategic Research Investment projects)
- Drive to 25
- Support Centers and Institutes such as, but not limited to:
- Social and Economic Sciences Research Center
- Center for Environmental Research, Education, and Outreach(CEREO)
- Center for Institutional Research Computing
- Center for Interdisciplinary Statistical Education and Research (CISER)
- Center for Materials Research
- Health Equity Research Center
- Center for Reproductive Biology
- Laboratory for Atmospheric Research
- Water Research Center
5) Enhance the visibility and reputation of WSU research.
- Partner with University Marketing and Communications and WSU’s 11 colleges to showcase research that has real impact
- Communicate regarding large grants, new technology, industry partnerships and other major Office of Research activities
- Communicate to the University community regarding Office of Research support of faculty and staff involved in creative activities, research, and scholarship
6) Transfer research and innovation to the marketplace and improve the economic well-being of the citizens of Washington state and the nation.
7) Use current and emerging strengths to address societal problems.
- Support faculty and staff of the WSU research enterprise at three levels:
- “Individual investigator” level: This refers to faculty and staff with expertise in a particular field; this is the core “bedrock” on which our research enterprise is built.
- “Research strength” level: Groups of faculty and staff focused on a particular area of research where collaborations of significant size are necessary.
- “Broad, multidisciplinary research” level: This involves research conducted by larger teams of individuals and research groups, typically with significant visible societal impact and involving multiple research strengths. This is the level associated with the WSU Grand Challenges.
Office of Research Reporting Offices
Office of Clean Technology
Advancing research that addresses the threats of energy supply, climate change, pollution, and resource depletion.
Office of Commercialization
Supporting faculty and student efforts to translate research discoveries into innovations for the marketplace.
Office of Research Support and Operations
Supporting the WSU research enterprise by ensuring proper submission of proposals, reviewing and negotiating awards, assisting with strategic initiatives, providing faculty support, managing various executive and advisory committees, compliance training and policies, and data.
Office of Centers, Institutes, Labs, and Research Instrumentation Cores
Supporting interdisciplinary research that builds upon WSU’s strengths and supplying state-of-the-art equipment to accelerate discovery.
Office of the Campus Veterinarian
Overseeing all animal care and facilities at WSU. The laboratory animal care and use program complies with federal, state, and local guidelines for laboratory animal care.
Office of Research Assurances
Supporting and promoting ethical research practices at Washington State University.
Office of Research Advancement and Partnerships
Identifying funding opportunities and supporting faculty in development of successful research proposals.
Innovation and Research Engagement Office
Providing administrative support for faculty and external partners working to develop collaborations that leverage WSU expertise and yield meaningful benefits to our partners.