At the University of Utah, we show up for research—because research is our people, our community. 

It shows up in national headlines, where policy decisions ripple into lives, labs, classrooms, and careers. And it shows up in global reports, where U.S. leadership in critical technologies is no longer guaranteed. 

Research matters. But it only works if we show up to support it—consistently, strategically, and visibly. 

As we celebrate graduation season and the remarkable students, postdocs, and faculty who make up our research community, it’s a powerful reminder of why this work is important. The students and researchers we support today are the people solving tomorrow’s challenges —including those graduating this spring with research honors, whose work reflects both academic excellence and real-world impact. 

Because showing up doesn’t just mean doing the work. It means advocating for it. Explaining it. Connecting it. And making sure no one confuses research as a cost—when it’s one of our greatest catalysts. 

Thank you to our research community for the work you do, the questions you ask, and the impact you make. Thank you for mentoring our recent graduates. We see you. We support you. And we’ll keep showing up—for you, and with you.

 

Erin Rothwell, PhD 

Vice President for Research