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Dr. Sathya Gopalakrishnan among 21 researchers selected for the inaugural GRO Academy cohort

June 14, 2021

Twenty-one researchers have been named to the first cohort for the GRO Academy

The national trend in grant-making agencies has been towards convergence research or interdisciplinary team-based research. The complex challenges we face today require new ways to collaborate, solve problems, and leverage multiple disciplinary approaches. The Enterprise for Research, Innovation, and Knowledge (ERIK) has responded by creating the Growing Research Opportunities (GRO) Academy. This new research leadership development program equips faculty with the skills needed to lead complex, interdisciplinary collaborations in pursuit of external funding. Those selected for this program include mostly mid-career, associate professors, and come from dozens of disciplines ranging from the health sciences; engineering; law; social and behavioral sciences; humanities; education; and natural, physical, and mathematical sciences.

“Our GRO Academy will provide the tools faculty need to not only increase their research activity, but also expand their research leadership capabilities and catalyze their pursuit of innovative, high-impact multidisciplinary research that benefits society” says Dorota Grejner-Brzezińska, interim vice president for the Knowledge Enterprise at Ohio State. “It is yet another way the university is investing in developing our research capacity and enabling the faculty success that will translate to accelerated discoveries and innovations.”

The cohort will engage in educational sessions led by distinguished scholars and practitioners who study the science of team science. Many of the presenters also serve in research leadership roles both external and internal to Ohio State. Through self-assessments, reflection and interaction across the diverse cohort, participants will learn and engage in skill-building activities that help them understand the research evidence supporting interdisciplinary team science and how to lead and manage a team. Participants will also learn how to build a diverse and inclusive teams; hold colleagues accountable through effective communication; create a shared vision and goals; manage conflict; and build collaboration and trust.

“It’s imperative for principal investigators to bridge the traditional gaps between disciplines to harness breakthrough research,” says Grace Wang, executive vice president for research, innovation and knowledge. “The skills they develop in the academy will help set them apart as they begin to lead diverse, complex research teams.”

The GRO Academy, aimed at mid-career faculty, is part of a set of multi-faceted programs designed to foster intellectually diverse, collaborative research across academic domains, catalyze new scholarly pursuits and help generate compelling future funding proposals.

Meet the Spring 2021 GRO Academy cohort

  • Abraham Badu-Tawiah, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Alison Bennett, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Jeffrey Bielicki, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geodetic Engineering, College of Engineering; Associate Professor, John Glenn College of Public Affairs
  • John F P Bridges, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair of Academic Affairs; Department of Biomedical Informatics & Department of Surgery, College of Medicine; Division of Epidemiology, College of Public Health
  • Nicholas Brunelli, PhD, Associate Professor, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Carlos Castro, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Xiaolin Cheng, PhD, Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy
  • Edward C. Fletcher Jr., PhD, Distinguished Associate Professor of Workforce Development and Education; Educational Studies Administration, College of Education and Human Ecology
  • Jodi Ford, PhD, RN, FAAN, Associate Professor and Director of the Stress Science Lab, College of Nursing
  • Eric Fosler-Lussier, PhD, Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Sathya Gopalakrishnan, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
  • Dennis D. Hirsch, JD, Professor, Michael E. Moritz College of Law
  • Sebastian Kurtek, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences
  • David Melamed, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Mark Moritz, PhD, Professor, Department of Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Xia Ning, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Informatics Department, College of Medicine; Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Karen M. Rose, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN, Professor and Director of the Center for Healthy Aging, Self-Management, and Complex Care
    College of Nursing
  • Kammi Schmeer, MS, MA, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Christopher Stewart, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Christa Teston, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of English, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Jeffrey J. Walline, OD, PhD, Associate Dean for Research, College of Optometry