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The Research & Innovation Office (RIO) implemented a targeted realignment in November to enhance strategic integration across key areas and best position RIO to serve the university's growing research and innovation needs.

The realignment focused on RIO’s internal organization and operations, and was designed to support long-term growth, collaboration and impact.Ìý While most of RIO’s employees were not directly affected, some units and leaders realigned to strengthen operations and maximize future opportunities.Ìý

RIO’s operations are now organized into four pillars to encourage more cross-team activity and distribute decision-making more broadly and flexibly.ÌýÌýÌý

• The Research Security & Integrity pillar—which includes areas like Conflicts of Interest and Commitment, Human Research, Animal Research and Research Security—remains unchanged.
• The Research Operations & Administration pillar—which includes Contracts and Grants, finance and budget, human resources and more—is integrating the Program Management Office (PMO) to leverage shared resources and boost coordination.
• The expanded Research Development & Strategic Initiatives pillar will combine the former research development team with four strategic research initiatives—AB Nexus, the ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥bit Quantum Initiative, the Center for National Security Initiatives and the new Sustainability Research Initiative—to strengthen strategic research support and faculty development while ensuring sustainable growth and enhanced collaboration.
• The Innovation & PartnershipÌýpillar will combineÌýVenture Partners, the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative and Workforce Development into a common reporting line to strengthen alignment across the units and drive economic impact and workforce development.

The external presence of RIO and its subunits is not changing as part of the targeted realignment.

The administrative components of the realignment are underway and anticipated to be complete in December.Ìý