Research at the University of Iowa

The primary avenues for working with faculty and staff are the University Research Council and the four Vice President for Research Advisory Committees.

The Research Council consists of ten faculty members, four staff representatives, and two students. They give regular consideration to matters such as the establishment of general policies regarding the University's research and creative efforts, the review of policies and procedures concerned with securing and allocating funds for support of research and creative activity, and other matters related to the health of scholarship on the campus.

The Vice President for Research Advisory Committees represent the four broad academic areas within the University: Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Physical and Mathematical Sciences, and Social Sciences. These committees provide a broad and representative spectrum from which the Vice President may learn of new initiatives and current and projected research trends. They also function as review bodies for proposals to internal funding programs offered by the Vice President.

Two additional committees advise the Office. The Arts & Humanities Initiative Advisory Board provides guidance for the Arts and Humanities Initiative Program, designed to support humanities scholarship and work in the creative and performing arts. The Biosciences Initiative Advisory Board provides guidance for the Biosciences Initiative Program, which supports multidisciplinary collaborative research in the biosciences as well as attraction of the most promising biosciences postdoctoral students to the University.