RDO staff enjoying their first RIO Town Hall as a new RIO admin unit. Photo Credit: Shelly Gustafson
Since launching in July 2025, the University of Minnesota's Research Development Office (RDO) has become an important catalyst for collaborative and competitive research. By strengthening institutional research capacity, connecting investigators across disciplines, and expanding strategic funding opportunities, the office has helped position UMN researchers for greater national impact.
Building a Strategic Foundation
RDO was established to bring institutional research strategy and proposal development together within a single organization. Its momentum accelerated in October 2025 with the arrival of Executive Director Robert Hampshire. Drawing on his experience as chief science officer at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Hampshire brought a vision for collaborative, mission-driven research and a strategic approach to strengthening the University's research enterprise.
Leading National and Campuswide Efforts
During its first year, the office played a central role in establishing two significant new initiatives.
In fall 2025, the University announced that RDO would serve as the home of the National Office for the U.S. National Science Foundation's Regional Resilience Innovation Incubator (R2I2). The program translates cutting-edge research into practical, place-based strategies that strengthen resilience in communities across the United States.
In April 2026, RDO supported the launch of LINC (Learn, Innovate, Network, Collaborate), a systemwide initiative designed to connect researchers across disciplines and enhance our research capacity by tackling some common challenges. By creating new pathways for collaboration, LINC positions interdisciplinary teams to pursue larger and more competitive funding opportunities. In its first few months, LINC has hosted a kick-off event that brought together 75 people from across colleges, campuses, centers, institutes, and administrative units; initiated its first topical working group; started research into center and institute funding models; and launched a new LINC Sharing Platform that allows the LINC community (everyone!) to ask questions and share information or resources. LINC will host its next large, in-person gathering in the fall. Please let us know if you’d like to be added to the LINC group.
A breakout group discusses opportunities for greater collaboration at the LINC kickoff event. Photo Credit: Shelly Gustafson
Supporting Researchers Every Day
Throughout its first year, RDO continued administering the Research and Innovation Office's flagship internal funding and recognition programs, providing critical support to researchers across the university. These efforts included managing the longstanding Grant-in-Aid Program, which awarded 54 grants; awarding a new collaborative team with an Artist-in-Residence grant; coordinating new seed and partnership grant programs with the National Security Research Institute, Seoul National University, and North Carolina A&T State University; recognizing excellence through Research Technical Staff Awards for 10 recipients across three campuses, two Impact Case Awards; and distributing approximately $4 million through the Research Infrastructure Investment Program to strengthen the University's research enterprise.
The office also responded to emerging institutional needs. In partnership with the Office of the Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations and the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, RDO staff helped coordinate the RAISE Program, which provided support for researchers affected by unexpected, formal terminations of federal research funding.
In addition, RDO expanded its limited submissions program, which identifies, coordinates, and manages funding opportunities that restrict the number of institutional applicants. One notable effort was support for the Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission, through which the RDO team collaborated with Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) to coordinate 69 submissions, including 39 prime submissions, across nearly 100 potential focus areas.
Contributing to the National Research Development Community
The National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP) serves as the leading professional association for research development practitioners. From April 26 to 29, 2026, members of the RDO team represented the University at the NORDP annual conference in Indianapolis. In addition to learning from peers across the country, the team presented on strategic research initiatives, artificial intelligence, and limited submissions management.
UMN NORDP attendees enjoying some down time while in Indianapolis.
Expanding Research Capacity
On June 3, 2026, RDO partnered with the School of Public Health to host an informational seminar on the National Institutes of Health High-Risk, High-Reward Research Program (NIH HRHR). The event featured Dr. Becky Miller, program leader for the NIH HRHR, who provided guidance on funding opportunities that emphasize transformative ideas rather than extensive preliminary data.
The seminar also featured lightning talks by previous UMN award recipients Drs. Kaitlyn Berry, Silvia Mangia, and Jacqueline Palmer, who shared insights into developing bold, innovative proposals and securing highly competitive awards.
Dr. Becky Miller presents to a group of UMN faculty members at the NIH HRHR seminar. Photo credit: Shelly Gustafson
Looking Ahead
As it enters its second year, RDO is building on a strong foundation by expanding strategic partnerships, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, and helping UMN researchers compete successfully for increasingly ambitious funding opportunities. Whether supporting an early-career investigator preparing a first major proposal or coordinating institution-wide initiatives, the office is helping position UMN for continued research excellence.