With a foundation of education and specialized training augmented by years of hands-on experience leading a classroom, lab or studio in their area of expertise, faculty from universities like 麻豆免费版下载Boulder are critical to solving society鈥檚 toughest challenges and cultivating the next generation of thinkers and problem-solvers.

Now, more than ever, we need to invest in equipping our best minds to help us create our brightest future.

University researchers, scholars and artists are intellectually gifted and display exceptional capacity for hard work and perseverance. But that鈥檚 not all. Though less widely acknowledged, such individuals thrive in dynamic environments that foster collaboration across disciplines, expanding both their vision and impact. It takes multi-disciplinary approaches, collaboration, creativity and leadership to achieve breakthroughs in areas such as sustainability, health and wellness, national security, artificial intelligence, and quantum science and technology.

As a destination of choice for researchers and students alike, 麻豆免费版下载Boulder cannot leave this to chance, and is deeply invested in promoting the growth and success of our faculty. This is the overarching goal of the Research & Innovation Office Faculty Fellows program: to equip our gifted early- to mid-career faculty to achieve extraordinary success.

The RIO Faculty Fellows program provides a proven programmatic approach that builds on the natural talents and commitment of our most promising faculty, helping them realize their full potential and exponentially grow their societal impact. The program focuses on expanding the skills and capacity of faculty to create strong and successful collaborations, this translates to students at all levels, and to the progress made in their respective fields. These are the types of successes that make 麻豆免费版下载Boulder a world leader in addressing societal challenges.

Here are a few examples of how the program has helped faculty reach new heights. 

Jennifer Balch鈥攑rofessor of geography and director of the Environmental Data Science Innovation and Inclusion Lab (ESIL)鈥�joined the inaugural 2018 faculty fellows cohort and has established herself as one of the nation鈥檚 foremost experts on wildfires. 

Balch鈥檚 societal impact is underscored by her insights on the 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles. Her Jan. 10 Washington Post op-ed 鈥淔ires are moving much faster now. Here鈥檚 how to prepare.鈥� provided invaluable insights to the public in and beyond California, which is facing increased risk from wildfires. Balch has also taken the helm of a $20 million federally funded research center that combines workforce development, cutting-edge data analytics, and innovative tools for cyberinfrastructure with longstanding environmental data sets to help mitigate the increasing risks of wildfires.

Greg Reiker鈥攑rofessor of mechanical engineering and co-founder and chief technology officer for LongPath Technologies, Inc.鈥�was also part of the 2018 faculty fellows cohort. 

Rieker and his team of students and collaborators have adapted quantum-powered Nobel Prize-winning frequency comb technology to efficiently identify methane leaks in oil and gas fields. In this application, the technology is demonstrating the ability to protect industry, local communities and the environment from the harmful impacts of escaped methane. LongPath recently won a $162.4 million loan package from the Department of Energy. When Rieker joined the faculty fellows program, he was an exceptional researcher who wanted to further expand his collaboration and communication skills. As a Faculty Fellow, he honed new approaches that helped advance his startup while excelling as a researcher and mentor to graduate students interested in protecting communities and the environment or harnessing the power of quantum science and technology to benefit the public.

Stefanie Johnson鈥攁ssociate professor in the Leeds School of Business and director of 麻豆免费版下载Boulder鈥檚 Center for Leadership鈥攃onducts research and teaches about topics like the effectiveness of women in leadership roles in business. 

The 2020 faculty fellows cohort offered Johnson new opportunities to connect across campus, enabling her to create an extended network that is vital to her success at the Center for Leadership. In addition to continuing to conduct innovative research on leadership, Johnson has created a platform to help students in every corner of the campus鈥攏ot just in business, but in fields like engineering, the sciences, sustainability and the humanities鈥攁s they strive to become leaders in their own fields. Through her scholarship, she is advancing knowledge while cultivating 麻豆免费版下载Boulder students into accomplished leaders who can shape our future. 

I am thrilled to spread the word about RIO Faculty Fellows, and especially the stories of the Fellows who embody the professional growth and impact that 麻豆免费版下载Boulder seeks to cultivate in all of our faculty, students and staff. 

Learn more about our current and past faculty fellows and explore how you can and accomplishments of our rising stars through 麻豆免费版下载Boulder's annual giving day鈥�. 

Massimo Ruzzene
Senior Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation and Dean of the Institutes
Slade Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Research & Innovation Office
麻豆免费版下载

Off

The Research & Innovation Office has announced the 2024 RIO Faculty Fellows cohort, which includes 16 faculty members from departments and research institutes across the campus. The diversity of disciplines included in the cohort embodies the breadth of excellence represented in 麻豆免费版下载Boulder鈥檚 research, scholarship and creative work.

2024 RIO Faculty Fellows

• Carolyn Crow (Geological Sciences)
• Joost de Gouw (CIRES; Chemistry)
• Xiaoyun "Sean" Ding (Mechanical Engineering)
• Hannah Haynie (Linguistics)
• Kaushik Jayaram (Mechanical Engineering)
• Kris Karnauskas (CIRES; Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences)
• Chelsea Kilimnik (Psychology and Neuroscience)
• Julie Korak (Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering)
• Grace Leslie (ATLAS Institute, ICS, Music)
• Sheldon Masters (Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering)
• Keith Musselman (INSTAAR; Geography)
• Sanghamitra Neogi (Aerospace Engineering)
• Julian Resasco (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology)
• Nancy Stevens (Colorado Museum of Natural History; Anthropology)
• Anthony Straub (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
• Joel Swanson (ATLAS Institute)

The RIO Faculty Fellows program supports faculty in achieving their research and innovation goals and promotes collaboration through tailored training, experiential learning and leadership development opportunities. The program is also building a community of interdisciplinary, creative research leaders to help drive collaboration and innovation across the university through a series of intensive research leadership retreats and coaching.  

鈥淚鈥檓 pleased to welcome the sixth cohort of RIO Faculty Fellows in 2024,鈥� said Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation and Dean of the Institutes Massimo Ruzzene. 鈥淥ur world-class faculty are the heart and soul of the research and creative work that creates lasting impact on campus and beyond. This new cohort adds to the growing body of faculty benefiting from this deep dive into honing leadership skills and applying it to their scholarship.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled to work with this new group of RIO Faculty Fellows. We have such incredible scholars across 麻豆免费版下载Boulder...to spend this time together focusing on leadership, collaboration dynamics and communication is such a privilege,鈥� said Faculty Director Kirsten Rowell.

The RIO Faculty Fellows program

The RIO Faculty Fellows program identifies and develops individual leadership styles of tenured and tenure-track assistant and associate professors who are poised to lead significant collaborative projects, develop vision and deliver novel and impactful scholarly work. 

This and other faculty development programs including the  program, represent investments in 麻豆免费版下载Boulder faculty and in the university as a global leader in innovation and impact.

In addition to the cohort鈥檚 first intensive three-day retreat in January, the program framework includes several more focused retreats and a variety of informal networking activities throughout the year. Applications for the 2025 cohort will be accepted in September 2024.

Off

2023 RIO Faculty Fellows

• Kyri Baker (Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering; RASEI)
• Cinnamon Bidwell (Institute of Cognitive Science)
• Matthew Burgess (Environmental Studies; CIRES)
• Amanda Carrico (Environmental Studies)
• Laura Dee (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology)
• Paul Hayne (Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences; LASP)
• Lori Hunter (Institute of Behavioral Science)
• Dejun 鈥淭ony鈥� Kong (Leeds)
• Katherine Lininger (Geography)
• Cresten Mansfeldt (Environmental Engineering)
• Samira Mehta (Women & Gender Studies; Jewish Studies)
• Aneesh Subramanian (Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences)
• Scott Taylor (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; INSTAAR)
• Will Taylor (Anthropology; Colorado Museum of Natural History)
• Lizzy Trower (Geosciences)
• Helanius J. Wilkins (Theatre & Dance)
• Laura Winkiel (English)

The Research & Innovation Office has announced the 2023 RIO Faculty Fellows cohort, which includes 17 faculty members from departments and research institutes spanning the campus. The diversity of disciplines represented by this group highlights the range of excellence in research, scholarship and creative work taking place at 麻豆免费版下载Boulder.

The RIO Faculty Fellows program supports faculty in achieving their research and innovation goals and promotes collaboration through tailored training, experiential learning and leadership development opportunities. The program aims to build a community of interdisciplinary, creative research leaders to help drive collaboration and innovation across the university through a series of intensive research leadership retreats and coaching.  

鈥淚鈥檓 pleased to welcome the fifth cohort of RIO Faculty Fellows in 2023,鈥� said Acting Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation Massimo Ruzzene. 鈥淭he addition of this group means more than 70 faculty will have benefited from this program. Our world-class faculty are the heart and soul of the research and creative work that drives innovation across our comprehensive institution, and we can already see the difference these leaders are making across and beyond our campus.鈥�

鈥淭his year鈥檚 fellows exemplify the exciting breadth of scholarship being conducted across campus,鈥� said Faculty Director Kirsten Rowell. 鈥淭here is incredible enthusiasm as we bounce back from the challenges of the last few years, which we鈥檒l respond to in part by adding emphasis on collaboration dynamics and managing teams of students and staff. And probably most importantly, how to maintain a sustainable practice of scholarship and productivity that supports the whole person.鈥�

鈥淭his year鈥檚 selection process was especially robust due to our new advisory board, which helped with recruiting and selecting this year鈥檚 cohort,鈥� said Rowell.

The RIO Faculty Fellows program

The RIO Faculty Fellows program identifies and develops individual leadership styles of tenured and tenure-track assistant and associate professors who are poised to lead significant collaborative projects, develop vision and deliver novel and impactful scholarly work. 

The program, along with other faculty development programs including the  program, is an investment in 麻豆免费版下载Boulder faculty and in the university as a global leader in innovation and impact. 

In addition to the cohort鈥檚 first intensive three-day retreat in January, the program framework includes several more focused retreats and a variety of informal networking activities throughout the year. Applications for the next cohort will be accepted in September 2023.

Off

2022 RIO Faculty Fellows

• Kyri Baker (Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering; RASEI)
• Cassandra Brooks (Environmental Studies)
• Edward Chuong (Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology; BioFrontiers)
• Josh Combes (Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering)
• Sidney D鈥橫ello (Computer Science, ICS)
• Paul Hayne (Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences; LASP)
• Mija Hubler (Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering)
• Ben Livneh (Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering; Western Water Assessment, CIRES)
• Rong Long (Mechanical Engineering)
• Oana Luca (Chemistry)
• Maureen Lynch (Mechanical Engineering; BioFrontiers)
• Orit Peleg (Computer Science; BioFrontiers)
• Jorge Poveda (Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering)
• Sandra Ristovska (Media Studies)
• Julio Sep煤lveda (Geological Sciences; INSTAAR)
• Evan Thomas (Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering; Mortenson Center)
• Eric Vance (Applied Mathematics; LISA)

The Research & Innovation Office has announced the 2022 RIO Faculty Fellows cohort, comprised of 17 of the most promising faculty from across 麻豆免费版下载Boulder. The group reflects the diversity of expertise, research and scholarship taking place across campus. 

The RIO Faculty Fellows program supports faculty in achieving their research and innovation goals and promotes collaboration by 鈥渟hrinking the campus.鈥� The program aims to create a community of diverse, creative research leaders to help drive collaboration and innovation across the university through a series of intensive research leadership retreats and coaching.  

鈥淭his new cohort brings the number of RIO Faculty Fellows to nearly 60, and we can already see the difference these leaders are making in research and creative work across and beyond our campus,鈥� said Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation Terri Fiez. 鈥淚 am excited to welcome this next cohort and continue to develop our research and creative work leaders for campus.鈥�

鈥淭he scholarship that these professors are engaged in represents only a fraction of the disciplines at 麻豆免费版下载Boulder. This year鈥檚 group highlights the outstanding faculty we have in our institutes across campus,鈥� said Faculty Director Kirsten Rowell. 鈥淭here is an incredible level of enthusiasm as we bounce back from the challenges of the last few years, which we鈥檒l respond to in part by adding emphasis on collaboration dynamics and managing students and staff.鈥�

鈥淭his year鈥檚 selection process was especially robust due to our new advisory board, which helped with recruiting and selecting this year鈥檚 cohort,鈥� said Rowell.

The RIO Faculty Fellows program

The RIO Faculty Fellows program identifies and develops individual leadership styles of tenured and tenure-track assistant and associate professors who are poised to lead significant collaborative projects, develop vision and deliver novel and impactful scholarly work. 

The program, along with other faculty development programs like the  program, is an investment in 麻豆免费版下载Boulder faculty and in the university as a global leader in innovation and impact. 

In addition to the cohort鈥檚 first intensive three-day retreat in January, the program framework includes several more focused retreats and a variety of informal networking activities throughout the year. Applications for the next cohort will be accepted in September 2022.

Off

The Research & Innovation Office today announced the 2020 RIO Faculty Fellows cohort, which is comprised of 13 of 麻豆免费版下载Boulder鈥檚 most promising faculty. The group of professors reflects the diversity of expertise, research, scholarship and creative works taking place across campus. 

The RIO Faculty Fellows program supports faculty in achieving their research goals and promotes collaboration by 鈥渟hrinking the campus.鈥� This is done by cultivating a community of diverse, creative research leaders to help drive collaboration and innovation across the university, and includes a series of intensive research leadership retreats.  

鈥淲e are seeing the benefits of this shared Faculty Fellows experience鈥攆or our faculty leaders, as well as our campus鈥� capacity to innovate and expand our impact,鈥� said Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation Terri Fiez. 鈥淚ncluding this incoming group, we鈥檒l now have 40 faculty who have participated in this program. It is exciting to see how they have grown their leadership skills and deepened their connections across campus. Their leadership is a critical component of the future of the campus." 

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be more excited about this new cohort. It鈥檚 truly representative of the innovation and knowledge development that happens on the 麻豆免费版下载campus.  We have internationally-renowned professors in performance art, law, business, humanities, and across the sciences in this program鈥攁nd it鈥檚 this expansive, yet deep, expertise that makes it such a rich group of scholars,鈥� said Faculty Director Kirsten Rowell. 鈥淲e鈥檙e especially excited to see how this program impacts their work and what emerges from the collective.鈥� 

Incoming Fellows to benefit from previous cohorts

The 2019 cohort, which just completed the 12-month program, and the inaugural 2018 cohort will make contributions to the 2020 program by sharing lessons learned and tips for success with the incoming Fellows at various times during the next year.

In explaining what the 2020 group can expect, 2019 Fellow Christoffer Heckman, an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science, described the year as 鈥渆qual parts interpersonal training, intrapersonal reflection, and getting to know a vibrant, excellent group of colleagues on a deep level. Our diverse research interests but singular devotion to scholarship led to new research directions, insight in leading my group, and supportive friendships.鈥�

鈥淭he cross-campus network of faculty and the community we built together will last for years to come,鈥� said Wil V. Srubar III, assistant professor of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering Program, and also a member of the 2019 cohort.

More about the program

The RIO Faculty Fellows program identifies and develops individual leadership styles of tenured and tenure-track assistant and associate professors who are poised to lead significant collaborative projects, develop vision and deliver novel and impactful scholarly work. 

The program, along with other faculty development programs like the  program, is an investment in 麻豆免费版下载Boulder faculty and in the university as a global leader in innovation and impact. 

In addition to the cohort鈥檚 first intensive three-day retreat in January, the program framework includes several more focused retreats and a variety of informal networking activities throughout the year. Applications for the next cohort will be accepted in September 2020.

Off

The Research & Innovation Office (RIO) has opened , which will be accepted through October 15. Selections will be announced in early November. 

RIO Faculty Fellows seeks to identify and develop tenured and tenure-track assistant or associate professors who are poised to lead significant collaborative projects, develop vision and deliver novel and impactful scholarly work. The program offers a cohort-based program framework that includes both retreats and regular shorter meetings, as well as the development of a scholarly network that lasts beyond the formal training itself.

鈥淭his program is really taking shape and building a community of research leaders across campus,鈥� said Vice Chancellor of Research & Innovation Terri Fiez. 鈥淭he common experiences and skillsets that faculty are developing will help them succeed in new ways as individuals while also contributing to a positive culture of research leadership for the future of the campus.鈥�

The program aims to identify a network of campus research leaders who are already experts in their respective fields, and equip them with the skills and capacity to break down discipline-based silos on campus while strengthening the university鈥檚 reputation nationally and globally through collaborations beyond campus.  

RIO Faculty Fellows engages fellows as individuals and as a cohort on research and creative work leadership; collaboration and systems thinking; along with team building and academic management; scholarly communication and values; and personal and professional coaching.

鈥淐urrent RIO Faculty Fellows have truly benefited,鈥� said Kirsten Rowell, Program Director. 鈥淏eing part of this cross-campus network and learning new tools to improve leadership capacity have already begun to pay off for these faculty.鈥�

According to one member of the current cohort, program highlights include 鈥渢he chance to get support from a diverse group of faculty whom I would have never met otherwise; to hear of their struggles and my own, and to understand that we all have a lot more in common than I ever thought.鈥�

Complementing other prominent faculty leadership programs on campus, the RIO Faculty Fellows program is an investment in 麻豆免费版下载Boulder faculty and in the university as a global leader in research, innovation and impact.

Please visit the Faculty Fellows website to learn more or , or contact Kirsten Rowell with additional questions at kirsten.rowell@colorado.edu.

Off

• Jeffrey Cameron (Biochemistry; RASEI)
• Clint Carroll (Ethnic Studies)
• Alison Cool (Anthropology)
• Alireza Doostan (Aerospace Engineering)
• Erin Espelie (Cinema Studies; Critical Media Practices)
• Juliet Gopinath (Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering)
• Christoffer Heckman (Computer Science)
• Henry Lovejoy (History)
• Valerie McKenzie (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology)
• Lori Peek (Sociology; Natural Hazards Center; Institute of Behavioral Science)
• Mark Rentschler (Mechanical Engineering)
• L. Kaifa Roland (Anthropology)
• Ben Shapiro (Computer Science)
• Wil V. Srubar III (Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering)

The Research & Innovation Office has unveiled the 2019 RIO Faculty Fellows cohort, featuring 15 of 麻豆免费版下载Boulder鈥檚 most promising rising faculty in disciplines spanning the campus. The RIO Faculty Fellows program is designed to help 鈥渃ollapse the campus鈥� by cultivating a community of diverse, creative research leaders to help drive collaboration and innovation across the university.  

鈥淲e launched the program to identify a network of faculty leaders to strengthen the university鈥檚 reputation in research and creative work,鈥� said Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation Terri Fiez. 鈥淲e鈥檙e adding about 15 new fellows each year and believe this growing pool of bold thinkers and leaders will be front-and-center in creating our future as the innovation university.

鈥淎fter bringing the fellows together for the first time last week, we couldn鈥檛 be more excited,鈥� said Research Leadership Program Director Kirsten Rowell. 鈥淭he individuals selected are already recognized leaders in their fields and, after seeing how effective the program was the first year, we鈥檙e especially excited to see how this program impacts their work and what emerges from the collective.鈥� 

The inaugural 2018 RIO Faculty Fellows class

The previous cohort, which completed the 12-month program in November, will interact with the new class at points throughout the program by sharing lessons learned and tips for success with the incoming cohort. If the first class鈥檚 experience is any indication, the 2019 cohort has an exciting and productive future ahead. 

Being a part of the 2018 cohort 鈥渉elped me contemplate how to expand my impact beyond my immediate teaching and research,鈥� said Gordana Dukovic, 2018 fellow and associate professor of chemistry. 鈥淭his group really inspired me and got me excited about the university鈥檚 future.鈥�

Sam Boyd, an assistant professor of religious studies and also a 2018 fellow, said 鈥淭he program has already broadened the impact of my research by connecting me with ground-breaking faculty across campus and equipping us to communicate how our research can benefit people鈥攐n campus, in Colorado and beyond.鈥�

About the program

The 2018 RIO Faculty Fellows Cohort

The RIO Faculty Fellows program identifies and develops individual leadership styles of tenured and tenure-track assistant and associate professors who are poised to lead significant collaborative projects, develop vision and deliver novel and impactful scholarly work. 

The program, along with other faculty development programs like the  program and the Faculty Leadership Institute, is an investment in 麻豆免费版下载Boulder faculty and in the university as a global leader in innovation and impact. 

In addition to the cohort鈥檚 first intensive three-day retreat in January, the program framework includes several more focused retreats and a variety of informal networking activities throughout the year. Applications for the next cohort will be accepted in September 2019.

Off

The Research & Innovation Office (RIO) has Applications will be accepted through October 15, and selections will be announced by November.

RIO Faculty Fellows seeks to identify and develop tenured and tenure-track assistant or associate professors who are poised to lead significant collaborative projects, develop vision and deliver novel and impactful scholarly work. The program offers a cohort-based program framework that includes both retreats and regular shorter meetings, as well as the development of a scholarly network that lasts beyond the formal training itself.

According to Vice Chancellor of Research & Innovation Terri Fiez, the program鈥檚 greatest impact is 鈥渋dentifying a network of campus research leaders, already experts in their respective fields, and equipping them to break down discipline-based silos on campus while strengthening the university鈥檚 reputation nationally and globally through deeper and wider collaborations beyond campus.鈥�  

RIO Faculty Fellows engages fellows as individuals and as a cohort on research and creative work leadership; collaboration and systems thinking; along with team building and academic management; scholarly communication and values; and personal and professional coaching.

鈥淐urrent RIO Faculty Fellows have truly benefited,鈥� said Kirsten Rowell, Program Director. "During our time with this first cohort, we鈥檝e already seen that the program provides Fellows with the time and tools to work toward scholarly goals, reflect on new ways of managing and collaborating with groups, and a campus community to do it with.鈥�

Complementing programs such as the  program and the Faculty Leadership Institute, the RIO Faculty Fellows program is an investment in 麻豆免费版下载Boulder faculty and in the university as a global leader in innovation and impact.

Please visit the Faculty Fellows website to learn more or , or contact Kirsten Rowell with additional questions at kirsten.rowell@colorado.edu.

Off

Off