David Doty has been named director of the Office of Sponsored Programs, the largest unit within the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Office of Research and Economic Development. The appointment is effective Nov. 25.

Doty will lead the team and manage all aspects of sponsored programs, from proposal submission to award negotiation, closeout and audit. He will serve as Nebraska’s authorized official in signing research agreements, contracts and related financial reports, and will advise staff, researchers and administrators on research-related issues. Doty assumes the role previously held by Jeanne Wicks, who retired Oct. 31.

Doty has 28 years of experience in research administration. Most recently, he was associate director of sponsored programs at Colorado State University, overseeing a staff of 33 and handling the day-to-day oversight, management and operation of that office.

At Colorado State, he has played a key role in updating a wide range of research-related policies and procedures; leading successful multi-year audits conducted by the National Science Foundation and Department of Defense; developing the university’s export control program from scratch; converting a paper-based filing system to an electronic system; and implementing a new time and effort reporting system.

Prior to joining Colorado State, he worked at Ohio State University in various research-related roles, including director of the Office of Sponsored Programs’ engineering research services division.

Doty has two bachelor’s degrees from Ohio State, one in production and operations management, the other in marketing.

“With his wealth of experience in research administration, David is ideally positioned to lead sponsored programs as ORED works toward the goal of approaching $450 million in total research expenditures by 2025,” said Bob Wilhelm, vice chancellor of research and economic development.

Doty said he is excited to serve faculty and staff at Nebraska at a time when the university’s research enterprise is gaining momentum.

“UNL has a lot going for it in the research realm, and I’m very excited about the strategic goal of growing research by 50 percent over the next five years,” Doty said. “Research administration is definitely a team sport, and I’m looking forward to working with all of the great people within sponsored programs and ORED who help make research possible at this great institution.”