[Researchnews] Launching March 31: Faculty Insight & External Discovery Tools in Academic Analytics

[VCREDadmin]

Dear Colleagues,

I am delighted to announce the upcoming launch of the Faculty Insight and External Discovery tools within Academic Analytics<https://research.ucr.edu/academic-analytics> on March 31, 2025. This initiative, which has been in development for the past year, is designed to enhance our research community's visibility, facilitate collaboration, and streamline access to funding opportunities.

As you may recall from Provost Watkins' 2024 fall campus update<https://insideucr.ucr.edu/announcements/2024/10/14/provosts-fall-campus-update>, Academic Analytics is a powerful platform that showcases faculty research activity. Over the past several months, we have conducted two successful pilot programs, involving 75 faculty members, to refine the tool and ensure it meets the needs of our community. Their valuable feedback has been instrumental in preparing for this full launch.

What are the Faculty Insight and External Discovery tools?

These tools provide a comprehensive view of your research and facilitate connections with potential collaborators, both within and outside UCR. The External Discovery tool will also increase the discoverability of our faculty's expertise to external stakeholders, including journalists, government agencies, and other research institutions.

Key Dates

Timeline
Event
Description
March 17 - 28, 2025
Faculty Review Period
During this period, you will have the opportunity to review your Faculty Insight profile and preview your public-facing page within the External Discovery tool. You will also have the option to customize your profile or opt out of the public-facing page if you choose.
March 31, 2025
Official Launch
The Faculty Insight and External Discovery tools will be officially launched and External Discovery pages will be accessible to the general public.
June 2025 & December2025
Planned Data Updates
We will provide data updates to Academic Analytics twice a year (June and December) to ensure information accuracy and onboard new faculty.

Note: The June 2025 update will include data for Academic Researchers, as access for this population is still under development.

Who Has Access to These Tools?

Faculty, as well as Agronomists (AES) and Specialists in the Cooperative Extension (CE), have Faculty Insight profiles and access to the resources within. All academic personnel have access to the External Discovery Site and resources within.

What to Expect During the Review Period

  *   You will receive instructions on how to access Academic Analytics and review your profile.
  *   Self-help guidance on how to customize your profile and manage your public-facing page will be available.
  *   If you identify a problem with the information presented on your profile, you can report it from within the tool.
Adding Value for UCR Researchers

This tool allows users to easily search for experts by topic or keyword and connect researchers across disciplines, which is crucial for interdisciplinary projects. Journalists, foundations, industry professionals, and other external stakeholders can also use it to find the right experts. Additionally, it helps streamline the process of assembling multidisciplinary proposals, ensuring no key resources are overlooked.

Here at UCR, with over 1,000 PIs, this tool will make it significantly easier to locate expertise and prevent missed opportunities for funding and collaboration. It will be transformative in showcasing our PIs' expertise both within and beyond UCR.

The Provost and I believe this tool will be a valuable asset to our research community, however, we appreciate that there is a learning curve when using any new tool. The project team has worked closely with Academic Analytics to provide comprehensive training and support materials to ensure you are set up for success. These resources will be shared closer to the review period.

In the meantime, I encourage you to visit the UCR Academic Analytics webpage at research.ucr.edu/academic-analytics<https://research.ucr.edu/academic-analytics> to learn more about this initiative.

Sincerely,

Rodolfo H. Torres
Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development
Distinguished Professor of Mathematics

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