Organizational Structure
The Office of the Vice Provost for Research assists the UMass Boston community to strengthen and expand the research enterprise, and represents the university in research matters with external agencies and sponsors. It supports economic development and technology transfer activities, oversees research compliance programs, and coordinates information and training services that relate to research administration.
Reporting to the Office of the Vice Provost for Research are these component groups:
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) is the centralized unit charged to coordinate sponsored program activities campus-wide. ORSP assists university faculty, students, and staff in the identification of potential external funding sources, the development and submission of competitive proposals, and their interaction with program officers at sponsoring agencies. The office processes all awards, provides principal investigators with assistance in the financial management of sponsored projects, and administers the university’s programs of compliance including those in the areas of research with human or animal subjects. ORSP also provides leadership for electronic research administration, manages communications with on and off-campus stakeholders, and coordinates an array of sponsored program education and training programs.
The Venture Development Center (VDC) supports faculty, students, and staff in carefully selected and focused entrepreneurial initiatives that advance the university’s strategic research priorities, contribute to the economic development of the Greater Boston community, and provide a return on the university’s investment. By attracting and leveraging resources and expertise, the center builds intellectual capital through multi-year investments in interdisciplinary and industry research collaborations. In conjunction with the Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property office in the UMass president’s office, the VDC will assist faculty, students, and staff to turn a promising research concept into a practical business reality through a nurturing venture development process.
The UMass Boston Research Institutes and Centers are distinct and freestanding interdisciplinary units established to implement research, training, or community service that cannot ordinarily be accommodated within existing departmental structures. Varying in emphasis, structure, and activities, they use different combinations of resources to focus intensely on research problems and policy issues in defined areas. The vice provost for research exercises administrative oversight for all research institutes and centers at UMass Boston.
Use the links in the left-hand navigation pane to explore the services and programs that support UMass Boston’s research enterprise