Baylor Highlights Research Collaboration as University Celebrates National Research Administrator Day

Contact: Lori Fogleman, Baylor University Media & Public Relations, 254-709-5959
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WACO, Texas (Sept. 25, 2023) – Baylor University is celebrating National Research Administrator Day to highlight top-tier research throughout the University and the teamwork required to advance significant research projects. After attaining Research 1 recognition in 2021 from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, researchers and research administrators throughout the University have continued to elevate Baylor’s research output and impact, addressing complex global challenges in the process.

This year’s research campaign theme, “Collaboration for a Higher Purpose,” highlights the Baylor’s distinct Christian mission and the culture of collaboration that exists throughout the institution through interdisciplinary research and support.

“Today, we celebrate National Research Administrator Day, a day that has become truly meaningful to us here at Baylor University,” Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., said. “We are thrilled to highlight the outstanding research taking place at Baylor, and the true team effort that makes it happen: our outstanding faculty; research administrators within the Office of the Vice Provost for Research; faculty and staff who support research in their departments, offices and labs; postdoctoral researchers; and students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Their work daily advances Baylor’s Christian mission, and their spirit of collaboration takes it further still as they address global challenges together.”

To celebrate, Baylor has taken over digital billboards in Dallas, Houston and Waco along with ads in the Texas Tribune, and has shared content through Baylor social media channels. These pieces illustrate collaborative work in four distinct areas of Baylor research strength requiring complementary areas of research focus and collaboration: Cancer Drug Lead Discovery, Water and Health, Foundations for Flourishing and Developmental Disorders

This year’s campaign will highlight 20 faculty members whose work embodies the spirit of collaboration and research excellence demonstrated by faculty, students and staff across campus.

• Cancer Drug Lead Discovery: Jonathan Clinger, Ph.D., Kevin Pinney, Ph.D., Liela Romero, Ph.D, Daniel Romo, Ph.D., John Wood, Ph.D.
• Water and Health: Bryan Brooks, Ph.D., Greg Hamerly, Ph.D., Amanda Hering, Ph.D., Ryan McManamay, Ph.D., Thad Scott, Ph.D.
• Foundations for Flourishing: Craig Gundersen, Ph.D., Byron Johnson, Ph.D., Pablo Rivas, Ph.D., Sarah Schnitker, Ph.D., Renée Umstattd Meyer, Ph.D.
• Developmental Disorders: Jessica Akers, Ph.D., Erik Carter, Ph.D., Tonya Davis, Ph.D., Joaquin Lugo, Ph.D., Alison Prahl, Ph.D.

Teamwork and Infrastructure

Collectively, this year’s campaign faculty conduct research in more than a dozen departments and institutes across campus. Those efforts are supported by Baylor’s growing research infrastructure and research administrators behind the scenes. This national day of recognition for research administrators was founded to highlight their contributions, expertise and support.

Led by the National Council of University Research Administrators, National Research Administrator Day is observed annually on Sept. 25 to recognize the contributions made by research administrators and managers throughout the year. These individuals assist faculty and researchers, protect the institution or organization, assure sound stewardship of sponsored research dollars and more. Baylor has expanded resources available to support faculty in recent years, including growth in research staff. These roles are an important piece of the University’s systemic research growth.

Continued Momentum

While R1 recognition represented the attainment of a long-pursued goal, the University has continued to build research momentum. Baylor’s success has been evidenced, among other measures, by a variety of external assessments. For the second year in a row, a survey undertaken by Morning Consult, a nationally recognized research firm, placed Baylor among the nation’s Top 10 most trusted universities, joining the likes of Johns Hopkins, MIT and Harvard. More recently, Baylor moved up to 24 spots in the Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents, advancing to a top 75 ranking on the list highlighting innovation and advancing technologies. Additionally, 36 current or retired faculty appeared in a Stanford University database of the top 2% of the world’s most cited researchers, a measure of the impact of faculty research.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.