About RDI

Who We Are

The Research Development Institute: A Bold, New Initiative

USF is on a bold trajectory! Nearly 20 years ago, USF set a bold vision to earn an invitation into the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). Today, we are among the 71 leading research universities to achieve that distinction.

As a continuation of that journey, research funding awarded to USF reached an all-time high of $692 million in fiscal year 2023, representing an increase of nearly 27% from the previous year and elevating USF’s stature as one of the nation’s most research-intensive universities. USF is pioneering research solutions for global challenges, with state and federal funding agencies recognizing and choosing to invest in the critical research conducted at USF. 

Though, to be at the top means you must be bold. Set ambitious goals, like USF’s move toward $1 billion in awards by 2030. Have forward-thinking vision—such as becoming the  first university in Florida to announce plans to create a college dedicated to AI and cybersecurity—and be willing to make strategic investments in infrastructure to achieve it.  

As the academic year begins, this bold vision sets the stage for USF’s continued historic trajectory, and the RDI stands ready to support USF’s move toward $1 billion in awards.

The goal of the RDI is to empower interdisciplinary research teams to pursue large-scale, center-level grant funding and elevating those submissions to be successful in a highly competitive environment. 

The Research Funding Landscape

The funding environment for research is extremely competitive, with institutions across the nation contending for limited, large-scale support. Large-scale research proposals, often totaling over $5 million, typically focus on “grand” challenges with significant societal or global impact, and/or pave the way for a new technology, field, or industry to emerge. They, consequently, require long-term planning with strong, interdisciplinary or multi-institutional teams ready to articulate a bold, strategic, and scalable vision, inclusive of novel innovation, societal impact, and public engagement.  

How can the RDI help?

RDI chart

The RDI, in complement to the important administrative support of colleges, aims to be a guide for teams looking to navigate the complex landscape of large-scale funding.  We work closely with faculty throughout the entirety of this “research development” process—from “bold idea” generation to post-submission support—as well as across their careers to prepare and pursue these transformative, large-scale grant opportunities. Our aim is to maximize research productivity, offering a concierge service for grant seekers including grant writing, editing, and graphic support, and assist in communicating the significant and compelling impact of their research. 

We also aim to elevate the USF research enterprise—creating diverse pathways for transformative knowledge to emerge through think tanks, research collaboratives, and the university’s thriving innovation ecosystem. Think Tanks, a featured initiative of the RDI, bring together dynamic, interdisciplinary teams capable of generating transformative discoveries and bold solutions for the world’s most pressing challenges.  By empowering faculty to pursue dynamic discoveries and investing in open networks of collaboration, the RDI works with purpose to advance USF’s bold trajectory of excellence and relentless pursuit of innovation with an eye toward the future. 

RDI Contact Information 

RDI TEAM