About RF
History
Our Mission
Department Overview
Org Chart
(pdf)
History
In 1936, members of the OSU Alumni Association and the Board of Trustees of the University decided that sponsored research conducted within the University should be coordinated through a central agency. As a result of this decision, The Ohio State University Research Foundation was created as a vehicle to promote the development, implementation, and coordination of sponsored research at the University, in furtherance of the academic plan. Prior to that time, faculty members were free to negotiate conditions of sponsorship and performance for research which involved University personnel, facilities, and equipment without institutional sanction or control. Following a national review of how other large institutions were managing their sponsored research activities, it was determined that OSU’s Research Foundation would be modeled after a similar organization at Purdue University.
On November 8, 1936, the Secretary of the State of Ohio issued a charter to the Ohio State University Research Foundation as a non-profit educational corporation. Incorporators of the Foundation included the renowned inventor, Charles F. Kettering and James F. Lincoln, President of the Lincoln Electric Company.
The Research Foundation does not own or operate research facilities, but utilizes facilities provided by the University under a research agreement between the Board of Trustees of the University and the Foundation. Research personnel working on Research Foundation projects are appointed as University personnel and are compensated through the University payroll system under provisions of the research agreement.
As with any dynamic and responsive organization, the function of the Research Foundation has evolved over the past seventy years and has moved from an organization that was originally created to encourage industries to sponsor research, to an entity that manages all extramural research activities for the campus – though interestingly, much of the focus is once again on working with industry.
Our Mission
The Ohio State University Research Foundation (RF) partners with faculty and staff to provide the highest quality research administration at all stages of sponsored projects, from identifying funding sources through award closeout. RF facilitates the scholarly activities of the research community as it positions the University to become the leading public research institution in the nation.
In accomplishing its mission the Research Foundation:
- Streamlines administrative processes and minimizes the administrative burden for investigators conducting sponsored programs, by providing easily accessible and intuitive administrative information systems.
- Creates, and consistently implements, well-documented procedures that facilitate the conduct of sponsored activities, while ensuring compliance with sponsor and university requirements.
- Ensures seamless research administration from proposal development through timely award closeout.
- Provides effective stewardship of sponsor funds and promotes positive sponsor interactions.
- Partners with other university entities to develop a shared agreement on practices and procedures.
- Supports its employees‘ personal and professional development in an environment that empowers staff to function independently and creatively.
- Provides college and department support staff with the necessary tools, resources and training so they can also enable investigators to successfully engage in scholarly activities.
- Creates valid metrics that measure performance and progress toward goals.
