Communiqué
Ohio University’s VP for Research and Creative Activity Leads Innovation Charge
By: Tom Hodson
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Although innovation activities are spread across many departments and colleges at Ohio University, the epicenter of focus is in the office of the Vice President for Research and Creative Activity headed by Dr. Joseph Shields.
He promotes research and creative endeavors by faculty, staff and students and he manages the university’s investment in that scholarship. Shields’ office protects and promotes the commercialization of intellectual property by the university and manages relationships with external sponsors and funders.
Currently, Ohio University ranks first among other Ohio state campuses in research licensing revenue. The University generated $10.6 million during 2014, according to the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM).
Ohio University ranks ninth nationally for its return on investment – the amount of research licensing revenue compared to total research funding. Almost $61 million was received by the university in 2014 in “research and sponsored program funding.”
In addition to these notable accomplishments, Ohio University is trying to do even more in the fields of innovation.
Shields, talked with WOUB’s Tom Hodson, and told about the university’s dedication to interdisciplinary partnerships and joint research projects across departments and colleges at Ohio University. Proposals are currently being reviewed for major funding as part of the Ohio University Innovation Strategy competition.
Shields came to Ohio University in 1996 and served as chair of the Physics and Astronomy Department for six years before becoming vice president. He is an expert in nebular astrophysics and studies “the consequences of supermassive black holes in galaxies.”