Effective Nov. 25, David Doty is director of the Office of Sponsored Programs, the largest unit of the Office of Research and Economic Development at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Doty will lead the OSP 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 that institution, he’s 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 CSU’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 The Ohio State University in various research-related roles, including director of the Office of Sponsored Programs’ Engineering Research Services division, which handled all pre- and post-award sponsored research activities for OSU’s College of Engineering.

Doty has two bachelor’s degrees from OSU, 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% 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.”

Office of Sponsored Programs