{"id":87,"date":"2026-03-21T20:45:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T20:45:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/research\/?page_id=87"},"modified":"2026-08-05T14:50:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T14:50:46","slug":"homepage-template","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/research\/","title":{"rendered":"NAU Research"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Northern Arizona University is an R1 research institution where interdisciplinary work meets real-world impact. Our researchers lead breakthroughs in wildfire science, rural and community health, infectious disease, remote sensing, climate and environmental science, and more. Students don’t just observe \u2014 they work alongside faculty mentors to present, publish, and shape discoveries of their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Backed by world-class facilities and expert support, and with the Colorado Plateau as a living laboratory at our doorstep, NAU turns curiosity into discovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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\n Advancing research together<\/small>\n \n Office of the Vice President of Research \n <\/h2>\n\n\n

The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) oversees NAU\u2019s research enterprise, bringing together sponsored projects, compliance, innovation and commercialization, and shared centers, institutes, and research cores within one coordinated network. This approach supports researchers and external partners across the research lifecycle, from proposal development and funding to compliance, project management, and the transition of discoveries into practical use.<\/p>\n

Teams provide coordinated support, streamline processes, and connect researchers and partners with the resources and expertise needed to move work forward. This is supported by a shared environment with dedicated meeting spaces and areas for collaboration and idea exchange, with views of Flagstaff and the San Francisco Peaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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Carnegie Classification   <\/div>\n
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Annual Research Expenditures (FY25)  <\/div>\n
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Research doctorates awarded annually  <\/div>\n
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\n NAU Review <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n
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NAU Research in the news<\/h3>\n \n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Read stories from The NAU Review that bring research to life across NAU. Discover new findings, innovative projects and collaborations, and see how students and faculty are advancing work that extends beyond the university.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n \n Read NAU Research stories<\/span>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/a>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

Research support and resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Explore the support behind NAU Research, including Innovations, research spaces, award management, funding opportunities, and compliance requirements that support and advance research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Proposal and award management<\/h3>\n \n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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The Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) helps move research from idea to funded project. From proposal development and submission to award management, the team supports researchers and partners in securing funding, maintaining compliance with sponsor and university requirements, and keeping projects on track. With expertise across pre-award, post-award, research contracting, and invoicing, OSP provides coordinated support throughout the full project lifecycle.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n \n Proposal and award management<\/span>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/a>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Innovations<\/h3>\n \n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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NAU Innovations is the university’s technology transfer office, connecting research with real world application. The team supports researchers in translating discoveries and scholarly work into partnerships, practical solutions, and commercial opportunities. From intellectual property and patents to licensing and industry collaboration, NAU Innovations provides the guidance needed to move research into broader use.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n \n Learn more about NAU Innovations<\/span>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/a>\n \n <\/div>\n \n

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Centers, institutes, and research cores<\/h3>\n \n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Our centers, institutes, and partnerships are places where ideas gain <\/span>scale,<\/span>\u00a0partnerships take root, and bold questions find solutions. Centers and\u00a0<\/span>Institu<\/span>t<\/span>es<\/span>\u00a0amplify the creativity and\u00a0<\/span>expertise<\/span>\u00a0of our faculty and researchers, connect\u00a0<\/span>scholarship<\/span>\u00a0to the communities we serve, and transform individual\u00a0<\/span>expertise<\/span>\u00a0into collective impact. Through shared research facilities and collaborative research spaces, NAU provides access to specialized equipment, technical\u00a0<\/span>expertise<\/span>, and interdisciplinary environments that support discovery by campus researchers and community partners.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n \n View our centers, institutes, and research cores<\/span>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/a>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Resources and opportunities<\/h3>\n \n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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This support area connects researchers with internal and external funding opportunities from federal and state agencies, private foundations, and industry partners, supporting both new and ongoing work. Through coordinated support from OVPR and OSP, researchers receive guidance in identifying opportunities, developing proposals, preparing budgets, and submitting sponsored project proposals.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n \n Resources and opportunities<\/span>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/a>\n \n <\/div>\n \n

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Research compliance<\/h3>\n \n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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NAU is committed to supporting the conduct of research that is safe, ethical, and compliant with federal, state, and university regulations. The OVPR provides oversight, guidance, and resources to help researchers meet safety and compliance requirements, including human subjects research (IRB), animal care and use (IACUC), safety, and responsible conduct of research.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n \n Research compliance<\/span>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/a>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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