CEGE researchers selected for Growing Research Opportunities Academy cohort
Representing seven colleges from around the university, 25 researchers have been selected through a competitive process for the 2023 Growing Research Opportunities (GRO) Academy. This professional development program helps researchers develop the skills and confidence to work on and lead effective interdisciplinary research teams.
“The Office of Knowledge Enterprise supports faculty in becoming research leaders,” said Julie P. Martin, assistant vice president for talent and team development in the Office of Knowledge Enterprise. “Federal funders are increasingly emphasizing research that is interdisciplinary, convergent or collaborative. We’re offering GRO Academy to facilitate participants’ ability to effectively lead interdisciplinary research teams that can tackle today’s complex problems.”
The interactive GRO Academy curriculum was specifically designed – using evidence-based models of training – federal funders are also increasingly emphasizing research that is interdisciplinary, convergent or collaborative. The GRO Academy curriculum was specifically designed – using models of training through evidence-based guidelines – to provide a supportive environment for learning about principles of team science and apply them to their research collaborations.
The 2023 cohort includes about 30 hours of program participation, including: a kickoff retreat, weekly in-person sessions and weekly virtual small group discussions. Highly interactive sessions will be led by national and international experts in interdisciplinary research at Ohio State and across the nation. As the lessons build off of each other, participants will ultimately come away from the course with a three- to five-year research plan and the toolkit to put the plan in motion.
Three faculty members from the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering join the 2023 cohort: Jordan Clark, Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering, Karen Dannemiller, Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering and Alper Yilmaz, Professor of Geoinformation and Geodetic Engineering.
Previously, Associate Professor Jeffrey Bielicki participated in the Academy.

All members of the 2023 cohort include:
Candice Askwith, PhD | Associate Professor, College of Medicine
Harmony Bench, PhD | Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
Leigh Bonds, PhD | Associate Professor, University Libraries
Jordan Clark, PhD | Assistant Professor, College of Engineering
Jessica Cooperstone, PhD | Assistant Professor, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
Karen Dannemiller, PhD | Associate Professor, College of Engineering
Sean Downey, PhD | Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
Laszlo Farkas, MD | Associate Professor, College of Medicine
Erica Glasper, PhD | Associate Professor, College of Medicine
Matthew Grizzard, PhD | Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
Jennifer Hefner, PhD | Associate Professor, College of Public Health
Jeffrey Jacquet, PhD | Associate Professor, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
Rachel Kajfez, PhD | Associate Professor, College of Engineering
Bryce Kerlin, MD | Professor, College of Medicine
Zhiqiang Lin, PhD | Distinguished Professor, College of Engineering
Tasleem Padamsee, PhD | Assistant Professor, College of Public Health
Shaurya Prakash, PhD | Associate Professor, College of Engineering
Carolyn Presley, MD, MPH | Assistant Professor, College of Medicine
Kelly Purtell, PhD | Associate Professor, College of Education and Human Ecology
Leah Pyter, PhD | Associate Professor, College of Medicine
Catherine Quatman-Yates, PT, DPT, PhD | Associate Professor, College of Medicine
Audrey Sawyer, PhD | Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
Jonathan Slaughter, MD, MPH | Associate Professor, College of Medicine
Jonathan Song, PhD | Associate Professor, College of Engineering
Alper Yilmaz, PhD | Professor, College of Engineering
-Prepared with information provided by the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge