University of Pennsylvania Office of the Vice Provost for Research

University of Pennsylvania Office of the Vice Provost for Research
Name	Office of the Vice Provost for Research
Jurisdiction	University of Pennsylvania
Headquarters	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Chief1 name	Dawn A. Bonnell
Chief1 position	Vice Provost for Research
Parent department	Office of the Provost
Website	https://research.upenn.edu/

University of Pennsylvania Office of the Vice Provost for Research is the central administrative unit at the University of Pennsylvania responsible for stewarding the institution's expansive research enterprise. It provides comprehensive support for faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students across all twelve schools, fostering an environment of innovation and scholarly excellence. The office oversees critical functions including research administration, research compliance, technology transfer, and the development of major interdisciplinary initiatives, positioning Penn as a leader in the global research landscape.

Overview

The Office of the Vice Provost for Research serves as the nexus for all research-related activities at the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League institution with a very high research activity designation. Its mission encompasses advancing the university's strategic research goals, ensuring the ethical and responsible conduct of research, and facilitating the translation of discoveries into public benefit. The office operates in close collaboration with individual schools such as the Perelman School of Medicine, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the Wharton School, as well as with central units like the Office of the Provost and Penn Global. It plays a pivotal role in maintaining Penn's status as one of the top recipients of research funding from the National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies like the National Science Foundation.

Leadership and Organization

The office is led by the Vice Provost for Research, a position held by Dawn A. Bonnell, a distinguished professor of materials science and engineering. The Vice Provost reports directly to the Provost and works with a team of associate vice provosts and senior directors who manage specific portfolios. Key reporting units within the office's purview include Penn Center for Innovation, which handles technology transfer and corporate partnerships, and the Office of Research Services, which manages pre- and post-award administration. The leadership also chairs and serves on numerous university-wide committees, such as the Institutional Review Board and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, ensuring alignment with the broader academic mission set by the President and Board of Trustees.

Research Support and Administration

This office provides essential infrastructure and services to manage the lifecycle of sponsored projects. The Office of Research Services assists investigators with grant proposal development, budget preparation, and submission to agencies like the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy. It also oversees post-award financial management and reporting compliance. Additional support is offered through specialized centers like the Clinical Research Computing Unit and core facilities that provide shared research technologies. The office ensures seamless collaboration with affiliated entities such as the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Penn Medicine health system, streamlining complex administrative processes for translational and clinical research.

Research Compliance and Integrity

Upholding the highest standards of ethical research is a paramount function. The office enforces compliance with federal regulations, state laws, and institutional policies governing human subjects research, animal welfare, conflict of interest, and research misconduct. It administers critical oversight committees, including the Institutional Review Board for protection of human subjects, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, and the Institutional Biosafety Committee. The office also provides training and education on responsible conduct of research, data management, and export controls, working in concert with the Office of General Counsel and federal bodies like the Office of Research Integrity to maintain institutional accreditation and public trust.

Research Development and Funding

The office actively cultivates new funding opportunities and strategic partnerships to sustain Penn's research vitality. This involves identifying calls for proposals from major funders such as the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and private foundations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Staff specialists assist in developing large-scale, interdisciplinary proposals for centers and training grants. The Penn Center for Innovation plays a complementary role by securing industry-sponsored research agreements, managing the university's patent portfolio, and fostering startup company formation based on faculty inventions, thereby creating pathways for economic development in the Philadelphia region and beyond.

University Research Initiatives

The office is instrumental in launching and coordinating major university-wide research initiatives that address complex global challenges. These often involve cross-school collaborations, such as the Penn Integrates Knowledge program, which recruits renowned scholars with interdisciplinary expertise. Other signature initiatives may focus on grand challenges in areas like precision medicine, environmental sustainability, artificial intelligence, and social policy, drawing on strengths from schools like the Annenberg School for Communication and the School of Arts and Sciences. The office facilitates these efforts by providing seed funding, organizing research forums, and building consortia with peer institutions like Princeton University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as well as with international partners.

Category:University of Pennsylvania