Idaho State University Office of Research announces restructure; will offer increased support for researchers, economic development

The Idaho State University Office of Research has been restructured to better accommodate and support researchers and to promote the economic benefit of that research.

"We have restructured the ISU Office of Research to increase innovation and research activities at Idaho State University," said Howard Grimes, ISU vice president for research and economic development. "We recognized we needed greater clarity in our operating model to better serve research faculty."

The ISU Office of Research now has three major focuses and departments: Research Development, Research Integrity and Research Innovation.  

• Research Development (phone: 208-282-2592)  – Its Executive Director is Dave Harris. The function of this department is to help faculty get research proposals out the door, to increase the success rate for the funding of proposals, and to distribute appropriate information to faculty to better help them submit and process grant proposals.

Monica Huyg, director of contracts, also works in this office and can help ISU faculty create contracts with state and federal agencies, and private industry.

• Research Integrity (phone: 208-282-1150) – Its Executive Director is Deb Easterly. This office ensures that researchers are compliant with all guidelines and requirements once funding is received. It also sets ethical standards and research policy, and manages potential conflicts of interest.

• Research Innovation (phone: 208-282-1168) – Its Executive Director is Darlene Gerry.  This office will focus on economic development through the commercialization of research, technology transfer, intellectual property development and assessment, research start-ups and securing venture capital. It will also work on private partnerships with industries and business, and on public partnerships with other universities and government agencies.

"The new structure has been put in place to facilitate the channels of information for the Office of Research and the faculty it serves," Grimes said. "We'll see a lot of improvement in research development, allowing faculty to work faster and more easily with the Office of Research. We'll get them better information and it will improve research opportunities."

The Vice President for Research Office is located in the ISU Administration Building, 921 S. Eighth Ave., in Pocatello. The Research Development, Research Integrity and Research Innovation offices are located at the ISU Research and Innovation in Science and Engineering Complex, 1999 Alvin Ricken Drive, Pocatello.

For more information on the ISU Office of Research, visit http://www.isu.edu/departments/research/.

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