What is a Research Strength?
What is a Research Strength?
I am often asked, “What are the research strengths of the university?” It’s a great question and one that I love to answer. The University of Utah has a plethora of research strengths including world class expertise in genetics, computer graphics, and environmental law. Highlighting those strengths is one of the pleasures of this position.
Yet, in a deeper sense, identifying research strengths begs another question, “What is a research strength?” That is, how do we identify an area of research that is strong?
There is no “right answer” to this question. However, over the past decade, I have cultivated a bullet point list that helps identify research strengths. I wanted to share it with you as it might help researchers and/or units identify strengths.
A research area is “a strength” when all of the following things are true:
- You are ready to pursue a center or institute grant, if one became available
- You have 2+ scholars who are “top of the field”
- You have unique resources or infrastructure
- Leadership has expressed interest in providing continued investment
- Peers would list you as a “strong program” in that area
It is helpful to apply these criteria to an example to illustrate each point. For example:
The Department of Communication identified Health Communication as a university strength:- The Health Communication unit is actively pursuing center and institute opportunities
- They have 10+ faculty who are considered “top of the field”
- They have a state-of-the-art biophysiological lab, immersive media lab, telecommunication lab, and the largest health communication faculty in the U.S.
- The Department wants to become the #1 Health Communication program in the world and the university has identified Health Communication as a key strength
- Peers rank the University of Utah as a Top 10 program in Health Communication
Identifying research strengths helps cultivate effective strategy and amplifies visibility. I would encourage all units to consider their research strengths, collectively, and then to build strategy based on that analysis.
In gratitude,
Jake
Jakob D. Jensen
Associate Vice President for Research
University of Utah