1. REVIEWING
INTERDISCIPLINARY
RESEARCH
MODELS
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2. Initial Questions
• What interdisciplinary research models are out there?
• How do others promote these types of initiatives
effectively?
• How do others acquire faculty buy-in?
• How do others use these types of initiatives to break down
the silos?
• How do others use these types of initiatives to promote
more comprehensive communities of practice?
• How do others use these types of initiatives to develop an
identity on/for the campus?
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3. Primary Criteria
• Goals/Purposes
Interdisciplinary Research Models
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4. Primary Criteria
• Goals/Purposes
• Organization
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5. Primary Criteria
• Goals/Purposes
• Organization
• Outreach (faculty; community)
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6. Primary Criteria
• Goals/Purposes
• Organization
• Outreach (faculty; community)
• Support
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7. Primary Criteria
• Goals/Purposes
• Organization
• Outreach (faculty; community)
• Support
• Brand/Promotion
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8. Secondary Considerations
• Communities of Practice
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9. Secondary Considerations
• Communities of Practice
• Research Collectives and Collective Intelligence
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10. Secondary Considerations
• Communities of Practice
• Research Collectives
• Open-Source/Open Education
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11. Northwestern University
Interdisciplinary Research as Research Center
 24 University Research Centers
 90+ School-Based Centers
Support and Oversight through the Office of Research
All Centers report to an AVP
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12. Northwestern University
University Research Center Administration Links:
 Center Administration Resource Guide
 Human Resources, Compensation and Payroll for Centers
 Finance Resources for Centers
 Space and Infrastructures for Centers
 Research Center Proposal And Evaluation Guidelines
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13. University of California, Davis
Interdisciplinary Research and Strategic Initiatives
• Associate Vice Chancellor of Interdisciplinary Research
and Strategic Initiatives
• Director of Interdisciplinary Research Support
 10 Organized Research Units
 65+ Interdisciplinary Research and Teaching Programs
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14. University of California, Davis
The goals of Interdisciplinary Research and Strategic
Initiatives (IR & SI) efforts are to:
• work with faculty and staff to leverage and expand
research programs at UC Davis through partnerships with
Federal, State and private entities
• develop relationships with sponsoring agencies
• facilitate, develop and review interdisciplinary research
efforts and multi-user facilities.
• wherever possible, collaboratively develop mechanisms
to alleviate barriers to interdisciplinary research imposed
by systemic campus conditions.
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15. University of California, Davis
Interdisciplinary Research Support
• Coordinate large and complex grant and contract proposal efforts
• Facilitate partnerships among UC Davis investigators and connect
proposal teams to collective research resources
• Guide the pursuit of new strategic research activities in response to the
funding opportunity landscape and new research directions
• Provide timely notification of strategic funding opportunities
• Communicate with funding agencies to gather input and advice on
developing proposals for specific programs and centers
• Coordinate with campus units (e.g., Federal Relations, Foundation
Relations, Graduate Studies) to gain key insights on new research
program development
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16. Arizona State University
Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center
• The Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center (SIRC) is
an Exploratory Center of Excellence conducting
transdisciplinary minority health and health disparities
research, training and community outreach.
• SIRC includes a Core Research Team, Clinical
Affiliates, Faculty Research Affiliates, Faculty Research
Fellows, Post Doctoral Fellows, Research
Associates, Research Assistants, Social Work Interns, and
Psychology Research Assistants
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17. Arizona State University
SIRC is comprised of four main core groups focusing on
specific aspects of health disparities:
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18. Arizona State University
SIRC Support and Funding
• The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the
National Institutes of Health
• The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA/NIH)
• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• The SIRC Office of Evaluation and Partner Contracts
• SIRC Community Advisory Board
• The ASU Office of the Provost, Office of the Vice-Provost for Research
and Economic Affairs, the College of Public Programs, the College of
Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Nursing and Health
Innovations, the School of Social Work and the School of Social and
Family Dynamics
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19. Archaeological
Research
Institute
Deer
Museum of Valley
Anthropology Rock Art
Center
Center for ASU Institute of
Bioarchaeological School of Human
Research Origins
Human
Evolution
and Social
Change
Center
Teotihucan
for
Research
Global
Laboratory
Health
Center for
the Study of Digital
Institutional Antiquity
Diversity
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20. Syracuse University
Interdisciplinary Research Clusters
• Syracuse’s 2001 Academic Plan called for advancing the
University’s research by investing in interdisciplinary
clusters that fit our academic strengths.
• Scholarship in Action embraced that concept by creating
and investing in a series of inter-disciplinary, highly
collaborative research clusters that leverage Syracuse's map
of excellence.
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21. Syracuse University
11 Interdisciplinary Research Clusters
• Biomaterials • Gerontology, Health & Policy
• Citizenship & Governance • Global Enterprise Technology
• Collaborative Design • Inclusive Urban Education
• Disability • Physics
• Entrepreneurship • Public/Collaborative Arts & Humanities
• Environmental Systems
Each includes major faculty appointments for cluster
leadership, disciplined investment from both University and
school/college resources, and creation of multi-institutional, cross-sector
partnerships.
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22. A Few (Unsubstantiated) Conclusions
• Faculty outreach, as well as community outreach, appear
minimal or unclear.
• Many interdisciplinary initiatives remain top-down
structures.
• Many interdisciplinary initiatives remain limited to select
disciplines and/or are isolated from the larger university
community.
Interdisciplinary Research Models
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CoRE Steering Committee