Organization Profile

The University of Idaho Office of Research and Economic Development (ORED) is dedicated to fostering a culture of discovery and innovation. As the research arm of the University of Idaho, a land-grant institution, ORED enables, supports, performs, and promotes research, scholarly, and creative activities that address the needs and expectations of Idaho, the region, and the world. ORED partners with faculty, students, and staff to support their creation of new knowledge, to promote the use of this knowledge, and to ensure its integrity. ORED's vision is to expand knowledge, provide solutions, foster an enhanced quality of life, and cultivate an educated 21st-century citizenry. The office connects businesses and industries with university researchers who can assist them in answering questions and solving problems. Through technology transfer, U of I discoveries are licensed to companies and launched as startups. ORED also encourages out-of-the-classroom research and scholarly and creative experiences that will expand both undergraduate and graduate students' minds and give them the skills they need to be successful in their future careers. ORED's research approach is driven by a sense of discovery, with the goal of advancing our world — from how our society functions to the ways businesses impact the environment. The office has developed partnerships with other agencies that fund research and allow its insights to have an effect beyond campus. ORED's work contributes to scientific innovation and provides businesses and organizations, including the USDA and Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fishing Commission, with data for enacting change. ORED's research helps increase awareness and understanding of certain diseases; strengthen crops and improve land and water use in agriculture; address our changing climate and create a more sustainable human ecosystem; improve food safety; grow our understanding of how humans interact with technology; apply evolutionary and computational biology to enhance human wellbeing and address agricultural concerns; survey and map the region's geologic features; explore applications of data analytics and data science; spur creative and scholarly projects in the humanities, social sciences, and performing arts; and advance the state's agricultural efforts and natural resource conservation, including through or in conjunction with the Aquaculture Research Institute, Idaho Water Resources Research Institute, and the Center for Advanced Energy Studies. ORED offers opportunities to students striving to make a difference and gain experience to jumpstart their careers. Two-thirds of undergraduate students and all graduate students participate in research. Along with faculty-led and organization-sponsored programs, the Integrated Research and Innovation Center's flexible, modular environment helps get ideas off the ground. The MILL at the U of I Library lets students familiarize themselves with the latest technologies, including 3-D printing and audio and video production. ORED is always thinking ahead and ready to forge a new path. A broad spectrum of technologies guides its efforts: optical imaging; computing and data analysis; materials fabrication and characterization; equipment for genomics and DNA analysis; animal care and holding rooms; and mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.