The Office of the Vice President for Research has announced the promotion of Jakob Jensen to Senior Associate Vice President for Research, recognizing his leadership in strengthening the University of Utah’s research enterprise and expanding support for faculty across disciplines.
Jensen has served as Associate Vice President for Research since 2022, following seven years as associate dean for research in the College of Humanities. Over that time, he has helped build systems and initiatives designed to support ambitious, collaborative research and position faculty to compete more successfully for major funding.
“Dr. Jensen helps researchers succeed. He understands what faculty need to move their work forward, and he’s built the kind of infrastructure and relationships that let good ideas actually get somewhere,” said Erin Rothwell, Vice President for Research. “This promotion is a recognition of what he’s already contributed and a reflection of how central he’ll be to where we’re headed.”
A hallmark of Jensen’s leadership has been his focus on durable research support. He founded the Large Infrastructure Funding Team, or LIFT, to help faculty pursue large, interdisciplinary proposals. The initiative has helped secure approximately $130 million in funded awards while building a growing pipeline of major submissions.
In his new role, Jensen will help lead the next phase of OVPR’s enterprise-wide research strategy. He also sees continued opportunity to elevate the visibility of research across campus through recognition programs and stronger research communications.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting our amazing research community,” Jensen said. “This new role creates even more opportunities to work across traditional boundaries, strengthen research infrastructure, and help position the university for continued success.”
In addition to his administrative leadership, Jensen is a professor of communication and a nationally recognized scholar whose work has been supported by major funders, including the National Institutes of Health.
As Senior Associate Vice President for Research, Jensen will continue working to strengthen the systems, partnerships, and visibility that help Utah researchers thrive.
