Early last week, I was in Washington, D.C., engaging in conversations about the future of research. Advocacy is about building relationships — engaging with decision-makers, shaping discussions, and ensuring that research at the U plays a critical role in addressing national and global challenges. This work is essential for securing resources, influencing funding priorities, and amplifying the impact of U research.

Back on campus, we’ve been focused on creating more opportunities for researchers to engage with research opportunities on emerging national priorities. Last week, we hosted a Federal Funding Updates Town Hall. These town halls will continue through March, keeping our research community informed in an evolving funding environment and national priorities. We are putting together tiger teams to actively prepare and compete for these emerging opportunities. We also launched our faculty retreats, designed to bring researchers together to explore new funding pathways and expand interdisciplinary collaboration.

The week wrapped up with the Remote & Austere Conditions (RAC) Grand Challenge, a powerful reminder that resilience, flexibility, and creativity are some of our greatest strengths. This challenge brings researchers together across disciplines to develop solutions for extreme environments, demonstrating how diverse expertise fuels breakthrough innovation. This event also focused on increasing translation of research into real world impact.

Looking ahead, our retreats will focus on drones, core readiness, and bionics — areas where the U is poised to lead. These sessions will help faculty form research teams, identify infrastructure needs, and strengthen our position in emerging fields.

Whether in D.C. or here on campus, working together fuels progress. By staying engaged, adaptable, and open to new partnerships, we can turn challenges into opportunities and discoveries into impact. Thank you for all you do — I’m honored to champion your work.

Erin Rothwell, PhD
Vice President for Research