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Our Team

Last Updated: April 4, 2025 12:45:00 PM PDT
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The Office of Research and Innovation leads a range of programs and initiatives to promote strategic growth of UC San Diego's high-impact research portfolio, enabling a collaborative culture of scholarship and discovery that extends the frontiers of knowledge and improves lives.
  • Corinne Peek-Asa, Ph.D.

    Corinne Peek-Asa, Ph.D.

    Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation 

    Corinne Peek-Asa, Ph.D., is the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at UC San Diego and a Distinguished Professor in the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science. A nationally recognized expert in injury prevention, she is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and leads major initiatives in health, climate, and national security.

    As VCRI, she launched the Research Growth and Strategic Initiatives department to strengthen interdisciplinary research, expand innovation activities, and build strategic partnerships that advance UC San Diego's research enterprise.

    Learn more about Corinne's leadership profile on the Office of Research and Innovation website.
  • Lisa Trahan

    Lisa Trahan

    Research Growth Initiatives Coordinator 

    Lisa Trahan is the Research Growth Initiatives Coordinator in the Office of Research and Innovation, where she leads strategic programs that support research leadership development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and internal funding. With over a decade of experience in STEM education, program evaluation, and strategic planning, she brings expertise from roles across higher education, museums, and non-profits.

    Lisa holds a B.A. in Anthropology from UC Berkeley and an M.A. in Museum Studies from John F. Kennedy University. 

    Learn more about Lisa on UC San Diego's Research Development page.
  • Devon Tolliver

    Devon Tolliver

    Events and EDI Program Director

    Devon Tolliver is a seasoned professional with a master's degree in Biology from Miami University. With over nine years at UC San Diego, Devon has become a key figure in the Office of Research and Innovation. Specializing in event management, Devon crafts strategic partnerships with government agencies and industry stakeholders, enhancing UC San Diego's global research reputation.

    In 2020, Devon Spearheaded Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives, co-chairing the Research and Innovation EDI Committee and was later appointed to an official EDI position. Serving as a liason between EDI teams, Devon amplifies reccomendations for inclusive research practices. Passionate about research excellence and diversity, Devon continues to collaborate across campus, enriching UC San Diego's research landscape. 

  • Research Development Team

    The Research Development (RD) team within Research Growth and Strategic Initiatives supports the advancement of UC San Diego's high-impact research by coordinating strategic programs, interdisciplinary collaborations, and leadership development opportunities. Drawing on diverse expertise in research strategy, outreach, proposal development, and federal funding landscapes, the team helps position investigators for success across the full research lifestyle—from ideation and team formation to securing external funding and scaling impact.

    Our work is deeply aligned with the university's Strategic Research Themes and the mission of the Office of Research and Innovation to catalyze bold, collaborative scholarship that improves lives.