University Research Council

The University Research Council is the governance body for the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research as defined in Faculty Policy and Procedures 6.59.

Functions

1. Advises the Vice Chancellor for Research (VCR) on the overall UW–Madison research enterprise, including, but not limited by enumeration, to:
   1. Strategic planning to maximize the research productivity of faculty and staff, and to support highly innovative, transformative research.
   2. Allocation of flexible resources, including resources provided by WARF, such as support of research competitions, matching funds for grants, funding for recruitment and retentions, and honoring research contributions.
   3. Major campus-wide research programs and issues.
   4. Compliance processes and committees.
   5. Approving policies governing five-year reviews for VCR centers to ensure that centers remain at the leading edge of new discoveries. Members of the URC will provide advice to the VCR regarding the outcome of Center reviews.
   6. Review and approval of the establishment of new, and closing of existing, VCR centers.
2. Brings to the attention of the VCR views and opinions of the faculty and staff. In turn, members are responsible for assisting the Office of the VCR in helping to communicate the research resources of the VCR office.
3. Advises and counsels the VCR and the chancellor in the formulation of the annual request to the WARF board of trustees. The VCR and chancellor shall routinely seek the advice and counsel of the committee regarding the allocation and disposition of WARF funds. Ensures that the disposition of WARF  funds by the university is transparent to the WARF board of directors. The committee, or its individual members, shall be available to the WARF board of trustees, upon request, as direct and independent advisors and as such shall share with the trustees their expertise and insight.
4. Creates subcommittees to study specific topics, as needed.

URC Members

The members of the URC include representation from the four divisions, as well as faculty, academic staff, and classified staff. URC members are expected to represent the interests of the university community at large.

• Dorota Brzezinska – Vice Chancellor for Research (Chair, ex officio, non-voting)
• John Berry – Chemistry
• Lauren Bishop – Social Work
• Michael Casey – WI State Lab of Hygiene (Univ. Staff)
• Lisa Cooper – English
• Alfonso Del Rio – Horticulture (Acad. Staff)
• Simon Gilroy – Botany
• Justin Hougham – Natural Resources Institute
• Rama Maganti – Neurology
• B. Venkat Mani – German, Nordic & Slavic
• Adel Talaat – Pathobiological Sciences
• Paul Wilson – Engineering Physics
• Ellen Zweibel – Astronomy
• Lonnie Berger – Associate Vice Chancellor for Research in the Social Sciences (ex officio, non-voting)
• Nadine Connor – Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Policy and Compliance (ex officio, non-voting)
• Cynthia Czajkowski – Fall 2024 – Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Research (ex officio, non-voting)
• Florence Hsia – Associate Vice Chancellor for Research in the Arts and Humanities (ex officio, non-voting)
• Bill Karpus – Dean of the Graduate School (ex officio, voting)
• Mark Rickenbach – Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Policy and Integrity (ex officio, non-voting)
• Petra Schroeder – Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration (ex officio, non-voting)
• John Svaren – Fall 2024 – Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Research in the Biological Sciences (ex officio, non-voting)
• Mark Sweet – Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Administration, Director of Research and Sponsored Programs (ex officio, non-voting)
• Amy Wendt – Associate Vice Chancellor for Research in the Physical Sciences (ex officio, non-voting)