Indiana University is launching a new career track aimed at attracting and retaining top diverse talent to engage in research at IU.

The IU Research Innovator Career Track will support hiring specialized staff with deep experience from industry, government and nonprofits, offering highly competitive salaries. Work within the new career track will focus almost exclusively on research and creative activities and will help achieve IU 2030 strategic plan goals.

“IU research innovators will play a critical role in our plans to grow large-scale, multidisciplinary research and creative endeavors at IU that will improve lives across the state and beyond,” said Russell J. Mumper, vice president for research. “We are laser-focused on recruiting world-class researchers to Indiana University, offering competitive wages and a path for professional growth to retain them.”

Individuals hired as an IU research innovator will provide significant intellectual contributions, driving innovation and discovery across the entire breadth of research and creative disciplines at IU. They will also contribute to the dissemination of findings and knowledge and will mentor students or other trainees as appropriate.

Research innovators will be staff opportunities, including the titles of assistant research innovator, associate research innovator, full research innovator and senior research innovator. The 12-month, non-tenure positions will be funded almost exclusively through external grants and contracts.

At IU, researchers have long driven discovery, innovation and creative endeavors that address some of our state and world’s most critical challenges. In 2023, researchers secured $772 million in total sponsored research awards — more than any other university in the state.

Kelsey Cook is deputy director for research communication.