Collaborative scholarly work cultivates impactful research by bringing together multiple areas of expertise, methods, perspectives and contexts. From speaker series to University-wide research grand challenges, these programs seek to match research interests, showcase expertise and build relationships.
Community and Research Partnerships
Research partnerships help facilitate connections, build strong teams and establish creative collaborations, both within the University and beyond.
City of Austin-UT Collaborations
Collaborate with the City of Austin on research projects via the UT-City of Austin Master Interlocal Agreement (ILA), which simplifies agreements between City departments and UT researchers. To connect with City of Austin staff or UT researchers for a project, fill out the Pre-Proposal Form. The form's details will be used to pair City departments with UT researchers.
Sara Hernando, Assistant Director for Research Engagements
UT-Sandia National Laboratories Academic Alliance
Partnering with Sandia National Labs’ researchers means leveraging Sandia’s capabilities to solve big problems, sustain and engage human capital, and accelerate adoption of new technology. Utilize the Sandia – UT Austin Collaboration Request form as a starting point for either UT or Sandia researchers who are interested in collaborating but may not know where to begin. Our strategic alliance partners will review these submissions and help make connections.
Sara Hernando, Assistant Director for Research Engagements
Questions?
researchengagements@austin.utexas.edu
Bridging Barriers Research Grand Challenges
Bridging Barriers, an OVPR Research Development Initiative, serves as an incubator for high-impact, interdisciplinary collaboration at UT Austin. Researchers from across the University comprise broad teams tasked with identifying urgent issues—and discovering the best ways to solve them in less than a decade. Researchers partner with communities, nonprofits, local government agencies and industry leaders to design solutions that have real-world impact.
Texas’ population is on track to double by 2050. Climate change will bring more floods, more droughts and more heat. Acute and chronic stressors have compound and cascading impacts that disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. Planet Texas 2050 works to find equitable solutions that make Texas more resilient.
Heidi Schmalbach, Program Director
When it comes to life expectancy, ZIP code continues to matter more than genetic code. The Whole Communities - Whole Health cohort study, co-designed with community members, provides vital physical and mental health information to change the way science helps society thrive.
Clint Leysath, Program Director
Artificial intelligence-based technologies are helping society solve complex problems in nearly every discipline and industry, but they have the capacity to be harmful in ways that humans can’t predict or intend. The Good Systems grand challenge works to design AI technologies that benefit society.
Lea Sabatini, Program Director