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Organized Research Unit Administrative Services

Last Updated: March 10, 2025 2:01:30 PM PDT
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Get information about Organized Research Units (ORUs) at UC San Diego.


 

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Organized Research Units (ORUs) promote multidisciplinary research and provide a supportive infrastructure for interdisciplinary research complementary to the academic goals of departments of instruction and research.

ORUs must go through a structured review process that includes a supporting recommendation from the Academic Senate. Each ORU is headed by a tenured faculty director and receives financial support and space from the campus. Professional researchers and technical staff can hold their appointments with the ORU, which then serves as their home academic unit. Other units on campus, of a less formal character, may designate themselves as a center or a project, but they are not ORUs unless they have been officially approved as such.

The unique culture of research and administration among the major academic areas has led to a number of different implementation and management models for ORUs on the General Campus (GC), in the Health Sciences (HS), and at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO). The Vice Chancellors for Research, Health Sciences, and Marine Sciences have primary oversight of the ORUs in their respective areas. The Vice Chancellor for Research (VCR) consults closely with the Executive Vice Chancellor (EVC) in managing the ORA's portfolio of General Campus ORUs. 

ORU Review Schedule

Cyndi Meeves provides event support for ORU Core Services. As an event coordinator, she can assist ORUs with the management of event projects.

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For more information, contact our main desk at (858) 534-9758.