Dear U Community,
From books to biotech, chronic care to earth sciences, and the arts to hypersonics, you are what makes research thrive at the University of Utah.
As we begin the fall semester, I want to acknowledge that we’re navigating an uncertain time. The challenges facing research universities are real. But so is the extraordinary work you are doing. And I want to say, thank you. You’re doing an amazing job.
When I joined the Department of OB/GYN as a new faculty member, I asked my chair, Bob Silver, what benchmarks I needed to meet. How many proposals? How many wins? I was a Ph.D. in a clinical department, a social scientist in new territory, and I was nervous. His response stuck with me:
“Just keep doing what you’re doing. You’re great. You can’t control funding decisions, but stay passionate about your work and keep trying. It will work out if you keep going.”
That support made all the difference. And I want to pass it on to you.
You’ve responded to uncertainty with resilience and determination. This past year, we hit new research milestones—some I honestly didn’t think were possible.
📈 We submitted more research proposals than ever before in our history.
🏆 We saw a record high in awarded grants.
📊 Early trends for FY25-26 continue at a strong pace.
We’ll share final figures soon, but for now, I just want to say: The University of Utah punches above its weight. That’s because of you.
As we approach Labor Day, I hope you’ll take a moment to reflect on your contribution. Your research drives solutions. It creates jobs, supports students, and fuels discoveries that matter.
So, what now?
We keep going.
We stay focused.
We stay passionate.
The university will continue working hard to support you and navigate these uncharted waters. Please join us at the next Research Town Hall, Tuesday September 2, 2025 for a preview of the draft VPR strategic plan. And don’t forget to check out the new UURF Interdisciplinary Research Initiative — an exciting opportunity to grow interdisciplinary research.
I’m deeply proud to be part of this community. Thank you for all you do.
Sincerely,
Erin Rothwell, PhD
Vice President for Research
