Examining the Role of Research Development in Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

April 2022

Rebecca Shea Irvine (IRWG’s Program Director for Faculty Research Development) and Alexus Roane (IRWG Graduate Fellow for Research) were recently awarded a grant from the National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP).

Their project, Examining the Role of Research Development in Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion aims to explore how research development (RD) professionals can help faculty integrate diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) frameworks into research. Taking a multi-method approach, this 18-month project seeks to identify the challenges and opportunities of this integration by gaining insight from both DEI and RD professionals about how to improve these efforts.

“Many research development professionals feel ill-equipped to offer insight and suggestions on improving the DEI aspects of research proposals,” explained Rebecca. “Building stronger relationships between DEI and RD professionals and providing the right tools to facilitate these conversations may be a way to begin to bridge this divide.”

The findings of the study are expected to help inform future policy and practice through a series of practical recommendations, reports, and resources. Alexus is enthusiastic about the project’s potential, “I look forward to challenging ourselves to expand the possibilities of how we can imagine the necessary integration of DEI frameworks into research development both in and beyond the U-M community!"

Rebecca and Alexus plan to administer a nation-wide survey this summer and will host a workshop for the U-M community in summer 2023.