Researchers & Innovators

RDS* supports faculty members through coordination of funding opportunities, competitive proposal development, strategic development of sponsor relationships, and diversification of funding portfolios.

• RDS Website
• Email contacts:
  • rds@vanderbilt.edu for general inquiries
  • vu-lso@vanderbilt.edu for questions about limited submission opportunities
  • ovprfunding@vanderbilt.edu for questions about internal funding programs for Vanderbilt faculty
• Internal Funding Programs
• Proposal Support
• Limited Submission Opportunities

* For financial post-award administration, contact Research Finance in the Division of Finance. For school- or college-level pre-award support, contact your local grants administrator.

SPA* provides university-level pre-award support to faculty for their grant and contract proposals to external funding agencies, including proposal preparation, submission and tracking, contract and subaward processing and negotiation, non-financial post-award administration and management support, pre-award data reporting, and management of the Vanderbilt Electronic Research Administration (VERA) system.

• SPA Website
• Phone: 615-322-3827
• Email:
  • spa@Vanderbilt.edu for subaward assistance
  • spapostawardteam@vanderbilt.edu for non-financial post-award assistance
• Vanderbilt Electronic Research Administration (VERA) Information
• VERA Help Ticket

* For financial post-award administration, contact Research Finance in the Division of Finance. For school- or college-level pre-award support, contact your local grants administrator.

ACCRE is Vanderbilt's go-to resource for both high-performance computing and research IT services. Managing a 4,000-square-foot facility with over 600 multi-core systems, ACCRE supports a wide range of research fields and enhanced research-focused IT services for schools and colleges.

• ACCRE Website
• ACCRE General Inquiries
• Getting Started with ACCRE
• Open an ACCRE Helpdesk Ticket
• Status Dashboard
• Digital Research Support (pdf)

For non-research IT assistance, contact VUIT.

Vanderbilt Research Integrity and Compliance aids faculty, students, and staff in fulfilling regulatory, legal, and ethical research obligations. The office promotes responsible research, coordinates with offices across campus responsible for different aspects of compliance, and serves as a central resource for compliance queries. It also tracks federal regulations, oversees export compliance, and facilitates research involving Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC).

• RIC Website
• Email:
  • ric@Vanderbilt.edu for general inquires
  • vec@Vanderbilt.edu for export compliance
• Human Research Tip Sheet
• Accessing VUMC Clinical Resources
• Animal Care and Use Program
• Environmental Health and Safety
• Conflict of Interest Management

The DSI is a leading research institution for AI and Data Science studies, whose collaborations with a variety of researchers across many disciplines at Vanderbilt University create lifelong communities and strong relationships at Vanderbilt and beyond. DSI aims to be known nationally for their diversity and unique emphasis on next-generation models, while studying the impact of these models on society and ethics. They are also committed to partnering with local and regional nonprofits to create solutions for social good that have a positive impact on our community.

• DSI Website
• Email:
  • datascience@vanderbilt.edu for general inquires
  • datascience-grad@vanderbilt.edu for data science master’s program inquiries
• DSI-Supported Research
• Supporting Your Research

VINSE’s mission is to drive innovation in nanoscience, nanotechnology, and education that benefits society by providing access to state-of-the-art instrumentation, sharing hands-on technical expertise, and facilitating interdisciplinary collaborations.

• VINSE Website
• Email: vinse@vanderbilt.edu for general inquires
• VINSE Research
• Get access to VINSE
• VINSE facilities overview

CTTC offers professional commercialization services for all intellectual property arising from Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. CTTC’s goal is to optimize the transition of innovations to the marketplace, generate revenue to fuel future research, and create a positive societal impact. They assist with invention disclosure, patenting, licensing, material transfer agreements, and support for new ventures based on Vanderbilt intellectual property.

• CTTC Website
• Email: cttc@Vanderbilt.edu
• Technology Disclosures FAQs
• Commercialization Process (pdf)
• Startup Support Services (pdf)
• Startup Roadmap (pdf)
• Innovation Ambassadors Program
• Innovation Catalyst Fund

Located on Vanderbilt's campus, the Wond’ry is a 13,000-square-foot innovation hub equipped with makerspaces, virtual reality labs, and workshops. Catering to students, faculty, staff, and the broader community, the Wond’ry empowers individuals of all backgrounds to conceive creative solutions and embark on entrepreneurial or changemaking journeys. Importantly, the Wond’ry specializes in supporting innovations that are distinct from Vanderbilt Intellectual Property. Their services span training and events centered on entrepreneurship, design thinking, social innovation, making and prototyping, as well as backing new ventures unrelated to Vanderbilt intellectual property, such as student-led startups.

• The Wond’ry Website
• Email: thewondry@vanderbilt.edu
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship Research Guide
• NSF Mid-South I-Corps Hub – NSF initiative, led by Vanderbilt, fosters inclusive innovation involving nine universities across four states
• Upcoming Wond’ry Events
• Launch Incubator Space – offers mentorship, amenities, and office space for 6-12 months for those accepted to the program

Vanderbilt University is one of the core partner universities in association with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the U.S. Department of Energy’s largest science and energy laboratory conducting research in energy and security. This relationship offers opportunities for Vanderbilt University faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and students to access ORNL’s world-class facilities as well as develop collaborations with ORNL researchers.

• Email: VU-ORNL-Collaborations@Vanderbilt.edu
• Travel Support for VU Researchers to Visit ORNL