Beyond the Grant: How TTOs Can Bolster Faculty Facing Funding Cuts

The current research funding landscape presents a significant challenge for universities and their dedicated faculty. Federal funding cuts, stop notices, and grant terminations can devastate research programs and impact morale. However, as the University of Delaware (UD) has demonstrated, tech transfer offices (TTOs) are uniquely positioned to become vital allies for at-risk faculty, offering a comprehensive and empathetic approach to diversifying funding and fostering a culture of support.

For many years, UD faculty have come to know and appreciate the TTO through initiatives like last October’s Inventors Recognition, where present and past inventors were invited to celebrate University of Delaware innovations. The highly regarded event brought guests from well beyond the university setting, including U.S. Senator Chris Coons and Elizabeth Dougherty, director of the Northeast Regional Outreach Office of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

With recent changes to the research funding landscape, UD's Julius Korley, associate vice president of the Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships (OEIP)—and the university’s TTO team headquartered in OEIP—have collaborated on a pioneering approach to faculty support with colleagues in development and alumni relations, corporate engagement, and research development. Their proactive and multi-faceted strategy goes beyond traditional tech transfer functions and offers valuable lessons to TTO professionals seeking to empower their faculty during uncertain times.

Identifying and Engaging At-Risk Faculty: A Coordinated Approach
UD's initiative began with a meticulous identification process. They created a list of faculty members who had received stop notices, cancellations, or terminations of their federally funded grants. This allowed for targeted outreach and resource allocation.

Crucially, the TTO at UD doesn't operate in a silo. From their home in OEIP, they've forged strong partnerships with key offices including Corporate Engagement, Research Development, Development and Alumni Relations, and Government Relations. This collaborative force ensures a holistic approach to faculty support.

The Power of One-on-One Engagement and Tailored Plans
A cornerstone of UD's success is their commitment to individualized support. The team developed a comprehensive discussion guide for one-on-one meetings with impacted faculty members. The goal of these discussions is to understand the specific needs and challenges of each researcher.

"Once we get info, our collaboration develops a specific plan to help the faculty diversify funding opportunities," explains Korley. “These plans are not generic; they are tailored to the faculty member's research focus and career stage.”

Diversifying Funding: Beyond Federal Grants
While federal funding remains crucial, UD's program emphasizes the importance of diversification. Key avenues explored include:

• Engaging with Industry: Leveraging the Corporate Engagement Office, the TTO facilitates meetings with industry partners. This acknowledges that building industry relationships is a long-term endeavor requiring consistent cultivation.
• Entrepreneurial Activities: While entrepreneurial activities and community engagement may not always be explicitly incorporated into promotion and tenure guidelines, the UD program helps faculty leverage these avenues for funding and impact.
• Philanthropic Support: The UD Research Office and the Provost’s Office have established Research Continuity Fund Awards to assist at-risk faculty and enable the continuity of faculty research programs, and a philanthropic campaign is underway to match the research funds for those faculty whose grants have been terminated. Additionally, the Provost’s Office and the Graduate College have created Graduate Bridge Fund Awards to support outstanding PhD students through up to one year of graduate stipend and tuition support.

Building Morale and Fostering a Culture of Care
Beyond immediate financial concerns, UD's initiative prioritizes faculty morale. "We aren't just doing this for faculty at risk," Korley emphasizes. "We are trying to improve faculty morale and show them that people care about them and the research that they have dedicated their lives to." This empathetic approach demonstrates that the administration values its researchers.

Strategic Communication and Education
Effective communication is vital. UD's Research Office leverages its monthly newsletter, which has seen a dramatic increase in engagement, to highlight the services and resources available to faculty. Also, a popular weekly communication provides federal agency and higher education news, along with UD guidance for navigating federal changes. This helps to educate faculty about the support structures in place to help them.
Another example is the recent symposium held to demystify corporate engagement and address common misconceptions, as part of the U.S. National Science Foundation Accelerating Research Translation (NSF ART) program at UD (Supported by NSF ART Award 2331440). The University is an inaugural awardee of the NSF ART program, which is investing in capacity-building resources that enhance research impact. The ART symposium brought in inventive faculty to share their experiences and offer practical insights.

Leadership Buy-In and Scalability
The success of such an integrated approach hinges on strong leadership support. Korley notes that his direct supervisor, Miguel Garcia-Diaz, UD’s vice president for research, scholarship and innovation, has fully supported the initiative. Ideas that cannot be addressed within the immediate scope of the Research Office are elevated to higher administration, ensuring all potential avenues of support are explored.

The long-term vision for this program is akin to a capital campaign – starting with positive narratives and stories before a broader unveiling. This strategic approach allows for continuous refinement and builds momentum.

Images courtesy of University of Delaware:

• First image: Julius Korley is a co-PI of the NSF Accelerating Research Translation program at the University of Delaware, which recently held a research translation symposium that brought together innovators for a day of knowledge sharing about the process of translating research to society.
• Second image:  Julius Korley