An Examination of the Role of University Chief Research Officer: Pathways, Pipelines, and Professional Development

Abstract

The world’s great universities impact the contemporary intellectual, societal, and cultural landscape through a rich history of academic inquiry, pedagogy, research, and discovery. The results of faculty-led scholarship increasingly serve as an important measure for global institutional ranking and prestige. As a result, esteemed American and Canadian universities have professionalized leadership of the enterprise-wide responsibilities of research development and administration under the position of the Chief Research Officer (CRO). Despite the critical importance and increasingly complex aspects of the role, little systematic inquiry has been conducted to date that seeks to identify the shared academic and professional development of successful CROs. Accordingly, a study is underway to explore the common pathways and preparation for those seeking to assume the role. Results of the study will have the potential for professional development programs for future CROs, especially for emerging universities across Europe and Asia prioritizing academic excellence through an enhanced research culture. Employing a mixed method approach, the study includes a cross-sectional analysis of more than 250 CROs at empirically rated high research universities in the United States paired with a detailed assessment of focus group interviews of current CROs summarizing experiences deemed critical for success in the role.