Research & Scholarship
The research and scholarship that we pursue at UTRGV – from agriculture and ecology to cancer and neuroscience to industrial engineering and manufacturing – advances the quality of life and cultural vitality of the Rio Grande Valley and beyond. For example, our research on health disparities in aging, obesity, and diabetes for Hispanic/Latino and border populations has had a direct and profound impact on the communities surrounding UTRGV. Over the last five years, we have experienced significant growth in our research portfolio, and we have made several investments and strategic hires in our Division of Research. Concurrently, we have been developing the next generation of leading researchers by significantly increasing the number of graduate assistantships and fellowships across the university.
While we have made considerable progress in developing our research portfolio, we must continue to build capacity in this area to realize our full potential and enhance our impact. Building from strength in areas such as medicine, sciences, and engineering, we will expand our research capabilities by continuously investing in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, highly trained staff, and research support services. At the same time, we will elevate research across our campuses and promote creative works and experimentation in the arts and humanities. These activities and investments will help us build a strong foundation for achieving R1 and Texas Tier 1 status in the coming decades.
- Signature Initiatives in Support of Research & Scholarship
- Enhance Operational Excellence to Drive Research Growth: Continue to grow UTRGV’s research enterprise by investing in infrastructure, strengthening pre- and post-award support, and increasing strategic interdisciplinary and inter-campus research partnerships.
- Attract and Develop Research Faculty: Recruit and retain research-active faculty by offering robust research support, professional development programs, and access to seed grants and other funding.
- Foster Humanistic Inquiry and Creative Practice: Advance scholarship in the arts and humanities and promote inquiry and experimentation across the creative disciplines through investment in creative space and access to graduate assistants.
- Deepen Our Impact on the Rio Grande Valley: Build on current research strengths in medicine and social sciences benefitting Hispanic/Latino communities and increase community-engaged scholarship opportunities for faculty and students.