Short clips representing different types of research.

One of the nation’s leading research universities

Across 11 colleges and 6 campuses throughout Washington state and the world, WSU researchers untangle complex problems, make discoveries, and create innovations and partnerships that enrich life for us all.

News and Events

Study seeks to discover extent of coho-killing chemical’s effect

After helping identify a tire chemical that is deadly to coho salmon, Washington State University researcher Jen McIntyre is now working to find out more about how widespread the problem is.

Feeling hot triggers impulsive behavior and irritability

In the nation’s third-largest metro area, about 400 residents tracked their moods during a summer when temperatures hit 100 degrees by mid-June. Were they feeling cranky? Acting impulsively? Lashing out verbally? Yes, yes, and yes, according to survey results.

‘Got Milk?’ WSU researchers partner with farmers to solve dairy industry challenges

Washington State University’s Knott Dairy Center is working with dairy farmers around the state to learn more about the challenges facing today’s industry and research solutions to those problems. The […]

Protein discovery could help prevent cancer treatment-related heart damage

Blocking a protein known as CDK7 could prevent heart damage associated with a commonly used cancer chemotherapy medication, according to a study led by scientists at Washington State University. Importantly, the researchers also found that inhibiting CDK7 could help enhance the medication’s cancer-killing capability.

Pagan-Christian trade supplied horses for sacrifices overseas

Horses crossed the Baltic Sea in ships during the Late Viking Age and were sacrificed for funeral rituals, according to a study led by Cardiff University and Washington State University researchers.

Parasitic worm likely playing role in decline of moose populations

A parasitic worm that can infest the brains of moose appears to be playing a role in the decline of the iconic animal in some regions of North America.

VR can motivate people to donate to refugee crises regardless of politics

Political conservatives who watched a documentary on Syrian refugees with a virtual reality headset had far more sympathy for the people depicted in the film than those who viewed the same film on a two-dimensional computer screen.

Environmental and social benefits from diversified agriculture found in global study

Food security and biodiversity are both helped by diversified farming techniques, with little negative impact, according to a new paper that includes research from two WSU professors.

Grant supports helping the power grid prepare for the future

A Washington State University-led research team has been selected to receive a $2.4 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant to better prepare the power grid for the changing world of electricity […]

New program helps students graduate with extra training to tackle carbon emissions

The first cohort of graduates from Washington State University’s Energy Conscious Construction (ECC) certificate program are hoping to use their training to design and build the more efficient and less carbon-polluting homes […]

Grant aims to better understand effects of classroom lighting on students

A new grant through the American Society of Interior Designers will enable Washington State University researchers to study how different types of LED lighting in classrooms affect children with autism […]

Multiple air pollutants linked to asthma symptoms in children

Exposure to several combinations of toxic atmospheric pollutants may be triggering asthma symptoms among children, a recent analysis suggests.

NSF grant will improve understanding of movement in people and animals

Washington State University researchers have received a National Science Foundation grant to better understand the underlying mechanisms that enable movement in people and animals. The three-year, approximately $900,000 grant will allow […]

WSU Research Sheds Light on Substance Use Disorders and Addiction

WSU Nurses have been assessing mothers, infants, and healthcare providers to enhance care for women with opioid use disorders. The research delves into the challenges faced by pregnant women and new mothers, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive support system.

AI research supports health equity in rural Washington

Washington State University sociologist Anna Zamora-Kapoor is studying how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) could help improve cancer survival outcomes among the Pacific Northwest’s rural Hispanic population.

Sustainability Task Force seeking community ideas

Whether it’s proposals for making campuses more efficient or pitches for eco-friendly community engagement, a new task force is eager to hear ideas from the university community as it charts the course […]

Read more Research News

Graduate student Albina Makio, left, and Anthony Nicola, right, a professor of Virology in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at WSU, pose for a photo in their lab (photo by College of Veterinary Medicine/Ted S. Warren).

WSU’s Office of Research is here to support you.

What do you need help with?

At every step of the research lifecycle, the Office of Research (OR) supports WSU’s vision of being one of the nation’s leading land-grant universities, preeminent in research and discovery.

Steps of the Research Lifecycle. The table below provides links to further information.

Find Funding
We can provide tools and guidance to find and apply for grants and other sources of funding.

Develop Proposals
We offer training, workshops, and many other kinds of support to write research proposals.

Develop Budgets
We can offer support to help you understand and prepare research budgets.

Submit Proposals
We can help you prepare and submit research proposals.

Manage Research Projects
We supply guidance and training to manage the administrative and contractual aspects of research, including partnerships, budgeting, and more.

Comply with Laws and Guidelines
We can equip you with up-to-date information, guidance, training, and oversight on ethical issues, conflicts of interest, animal care and use, biosafety, hazardous materials, and more.

Commercialize Research
When your research results include findings, materials, services, or other commercially-viable results, we can support you.

What is the Office of Research?

The Office of Research (OR) is a constellation of six primary offices and many supporting labs, centers, and institutes. Each office provides particular expertise in different aspects of research support.

Office of Research Advancement and Partnerships (ORAP)

ORAP provides support for research initiatives and infrastructure; stimulates faculty collaborations; creates a culture of productive grant writing; and increases funding success by assisting with the development of grant proposals. Led by Kim Christen, ORAP works closely with faculty, government relations and external stakeholders to advance the research enterprise and support the full range of research and creative activities systemwide. ORAP also oversees Office of Research supported Centers, providing fiscal support and management.

Office of Research Support and Operations (ORSO)

ORSO reviews and submits grant proposals, leads award and non-monetary agreement negotiations and related compliance, provides training, and oversees data reporting operations. Additionally, they provide support for Office of Research activities related to the ONEWSU. Under the leadership of Dan Nordquist, ORSO offers tools to guide faculty through administrative processes and keeps researchers informed about federal, state, funder-specific, and WSU policies and guidelines governing research conduct.

Office of Research Assurances (ORA)

ORA supports and promotes safe, secure, and ethical research practices at WSU. Led by Mike Kluzik, ORA helps manage the University’s research compliance and integrity programs and administers the Presidential committees that oversee research with animals, biological agents, humans, and radiation. ORA also provides hazardous materials shipping services, administers the export control program, and helps promote research security.

Office of Campus Veterinarian (OCV)

OCV oversees the health and welfare of animals used at WSU and administers high-level care to animals across the WSU system. OCV provides a complete range of services including veterinary care, vivarium services, training and research, and safety support while assuring compliance with federal, state, and local guidelines for laboratory animal care. OCV Director Nina Woodford is the WSU Attending Veterinarian and serves on the Institutional Animal Care and Use and Institutional Biosafety Committees.

Office of Commercialization (OC)

OC supports faculty and student efforts to translate research discoveries into innovations ready for the marketplace. Led by Scott Steiger and Denise Keeton, OC is responsible for the evaluation, protection, and commercialization of innovations and discoveries for the expansion of WSU’s public impact. OC facilitates productive collaborations based on WSU intellectual property by bridging the gap between the researchers, their discoveries, and industry partners or start-ups.

Office of National Laboratory Partnerships (ONLP)

ONLP enhances WSU external visibility and research partnerships with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratories for Ph.D. students and faculty in mutually strategic areas within energy and the environment. Led by Jonathan Male, ONLP’s predominant partnership is with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), enabling collaborative research in three Joint Institutes: the Advanced Grid, Bioproducts, and Nuclear Science and Technology.

Labs, Centers, and Institutes

The Office of Research supports several research groups, including the Nuclear Science Center (NSC); the Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC); the Center for Environmental Research, Education and Outreach (CEREO); and many more.

Land Acknowledgement

Washington State University acknowledges that its locations statewide are on the homelands of Native peoples, who have lived in this region from time immemorial. Currently, there are 42 tribes, 35 of which are federally recognized that share traditional homelands and waterways in what is now Washington state. Some of these are nations and confederacies that represents multiple tribes and bands. The University expresses its deepest respect for and gratitude towards these original and current caretakers of the region. As an academic community, we acknowledge our responsibility to establish and maintain relationships with these tribes and Native peoples, in support of tribal sovereignty and the inclusion of their voices in teaching, research and programming.

As a land-grant institution, we also recognize that the Morrill Act of 1862 established land-grant institutions by providing each state with “public” and federal lands, which are traced back to the disposition of Indigenous lands. In 1890, Washington state received 90,081 acres of Indigenous Lands designated to establish Washington State University (see data). Washington State University retains the majority of these lands to this day. We acknowledge that the disposition of Indigenous Lands was often taken by coercive and violent acts, and the disregard of treaties. For that, we extend our deepest apologies. We owe our deepest gratitude to the Native peoples of this region and maintain our commitment towards reconciliation.