Posted: December 9, 2024
Dear Colleagues,
We are excited to share an update on the progress of the University Research Centers (URCs) initiative, a cornerstone of Lehigh’s strategy to grow our research prominence. Last spring, we launched the first URC, the Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience, and awarded planning grants to two promising teams to further develop their innovative proposals. At the same time, we announced plans for a revised call for proposals centered on the theme of Conflict and Change, informed by valuable input from humanities and social sciences faculty.
This fall, we are pleased to have received proposals from the two planning teams and an additional team responding to the Conflict and Change call. These three teams, each tackling pressing societal challenges, are:
Advancing Community Electrification Solutions led by Shalinee Kishore and Arindam Banerjee
Community-Driven Assistive Technologies led by Vinod Namboodiri and George DuPaul
Small Cities Lab led by Wes Hiatt and Karen Beck Pooley
A few weeks ago, these teams shared their vision and ideas with the university community. If you missed the event, we encourage you to watch the recording here.
As with the previous round, the process has been an iterative one, with teams receiving feedback and advice from the OVPR to refine their ideas. Here’s what to expect as we move forward:
Proposal Evaluations: Study groups (one per proposal) will carefully review and evaluate the submissions. Feedback will also be gathered from college deans and McAllister & Quinn.
Team Meetings with the Provost: This month, each team will meet directly with the Provost to articulate their vision and plans.
Final Review: The OVPR will compile all proposals, evaluations, and feedback for submission to the Provost and President by year’s end.
Announcement: The President and Provost will select the next URCs, with an announcement planned for early 2025.
We are grateful for the dedication and creativity of these teams and for the ongoing interest and support from our community. As always, feel free to reach out with any questions or thoughts.
Best wishes,
Anand Jagota
Vice Provost for Research