Task Force on Administrative Workload in Research

University research requires significant administrative support, from facilities and personnel to laboratory safety, protocol approvals, progress reports and more.

Recognizing that administrative duties take time and effort that could be spent on research, the University, acting on a recommendation from its strategic planning committee on the Future of Sponsored Research, constituted the Task Force on Administrative Workload in Research. The group worked from January 2017 to September 2018 to explore ways to reduce time and effort spent on administrative duties while ensuring the safe and responsible conduct of research.

The task force was chaired by Dean for Research Pablo Debenedetti and consisted of faculty members and relevant staff members. 

The task force issued its recommendations in fall, 2018: 

Members

Chair

  • Pablo Debenedetti, dean for research; Class of 1950 Professor in Engineering and Applied Science; professor of chemical and biological engineering

Faculty members 

  • Craig Arnold, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering; director, Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials
  • Nathan Arrington, associate professor of art and archaeology; director, Program in Archaeology
  • Susan Fiske, Eugene Higgins Professor of Psychology; professor of psychology and public affairs
  • John Groves, Hugh Stott Taylor Chair of Chemistry; professor of chemistry
  • Yibin Kang, Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis Professor of Molecular Biology
  • Bruce Koel, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering
  • David Leheny, Henry Wendt III ’55 Professor of East Asian Studies (now emeritus)
  • Daniel Marlow, Evans Crawford 1911 Professor of Physics
  • Elizabeth Paluck, professor of psychology and public affairs
  • Catherine Peters, professor of civil and environmental engineering; chair, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; director, Program in Geological Engineering
  • Jacob Shapiro, professor of politics and international affairs, School of Public and International Affairs
  • Olga Troyanskaya, professor of computer science and the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics
  • Jennifer Widner, professor of politics and international affairs, School of Public and International Affairs

Sits with task force

  • Steven Gill, assistant vice president for costing, analysis and policy, Office of the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer
  • Jason Knoch, assistant vice president for financial services, Office of the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer
  • Anastasia Vrachnos, vice provost for international affairs and operations, Office of the Provost

Secretary

  • Annette Tate, assistant director for finance and administration, Office of the Dean for Research