About – Office of the Vice Provost for Research

The OVPR reviews, develops, and implements Harvard’s research-related policies, as well as the organization and execution of academic research, especially in the sciences. With Harvard’s increasing pursuit of cross-disciplinary ventures, the VPR works closely with university and school leadership to identify and ease the practical impediments inherent to interdisciplinary research in a highly decentralized academic environment. Additionally, a critical mission of the Office is to develop best practices for education, training, and guidance to promote the responsible conduct of research and to ensure compliance in all areas of research administration.

The Office, with the concurrence of the Provost, convenes as appropriate university-wide committees that bring together key faculty and administrators from across Harvard to address matters relating to research and research training policies and practices. These committees, with full cognizance of applicable federal and state law, regulation, and guidance, review existing institutional policies and implementation practices that bear on the oversight and conduct of research, and consider ways to enhance, harmonize, supplement or supplant them. The VPR works closely with faculty and administrative colleagues in government affairs, sponsored research, technology licensing, university development, and other domains to cultivate and sustain sound and appropriate relations with industry and with private and government agencies involved with academic research.

The OVPR also assists faculty in securing the necessary support for their important scholarly work – be it through one of the five internal funding opportunities it oversees; coordinating, in conjunction with the schools, the university’s competitive process for federal and foundation funding; or establishing university guidance around corporate giving.