Office of Research
About the Office of Research
The Office of Research encourages and supports innovative interdisciplinary research, scholarship and creative activities that contribute to the physical, emotional and economic well-being of the people of Georgia, the nation and the world. Through partnerships and collaborations, we seek to share knowledge, increase innovation and deliver the products of our research to the marketplace.
VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH
There’s never been a better time to be a researcher at the University of Georgia. Over the past five years, our research enterprise has grown by roughly a third, as our talented faculty have pushed the boundaries of knowledge and developed new technologies and innovations that have made the world a better place.
The UGA Office of Research exists to support these investigators in all they do for science, engineering and the humanities. We work in partnership with central administration, colleges and major centers and institutes to advance UGA research in all its myriad forms.
We assist with the hiring of research-intensive faculty, the development of research space, major equipment acquisitions and technology services, as well as the building of interdisciplinary research programs.
We connect faculty to research funding opportunities and help ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of research administration, as well as research integrity and safety.
We encourage innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-based economic development through technology transfer and business incubation. And we help spread the word about all of these accomplishments to audiences far and near.
Thank you for your interest in UGA research. Whether you’re already a researcher on a UGA campus looking for answers, or you might enjoy working and creating new knowledge at the nation’s oldest public university, we’re here to help.
David Lee
Vice President for Research
SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Carl Bergmann
Associate Vice President
Research Core Facilities
706-542-4487 | cberg@ccrc.uga.edu
Carl Bergmann is associate vice president for research cores and research facilities, which includes remote research centers on the Georgia coast and within the Savannah River Site. Carl has a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from The Ohio State University.
Derek Eberhart
Associate Vice President
Innovation Gateway
706-542-2207 | dereke@uga.edu
Derek Eberhart is the associate vice president for research and executive director of Innovation Gateway, UGA’s intellectual property licensing and startup support arm. Derek has a Ph.D. in genetics and molecular biology from Emory University, and worked in biopharma before joining UGA.
Shelley Hooks
Associate Vice President
Internal Grants and Awards, Research Personnel
706-542-2189 | shooks@uga.edu
Shelley Hooks is associate vice president for research and directs UGA’s internal research grants and internal awards programs, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and the Visiting Researcher/Scholar Program. Shelley has a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Virginia.
Lawrence A. Hornak
Associate Vice President
706-542-2462 | lahornak@uga.edu
Larry Hornak is associate vice president for strategic research development and is responsible for integrative team initiatives, supporting large, center-scale team research proposals. Larry has a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Rutgers University. He previously worked at AT&T Bell Labs and West Virginia University and as a program manager at NSF.
Christopher King
Associate Vice President
Research Integrity and Safety
706-542-5933 | cking@uga.edu
Chris King is associate vice president for research, overseeing the Office of Research Integrity and Safety, which includes human and animal research, biosafety and lab safety, export control, financial conflict of interest, occupational health, and responsible conduct of research. Chris completed a DVM at the VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine and an NIH postdoctoral fellowship at Yale before joining UGA.
Jessica Orbock
Senior Legal Advisor
Legal
706-542-3961 | jkorbock@uga.edu
Jessica Orbock is the senior legal advisor to the Office of Research and general counsel to the UGA Research Foundation, and she provides legal assistance to researchers across campus. Jessica has a J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law and practiced IP litigation at Smith, Gambrell & Russell in Atlanta prior to joining UGA.
Jill Tincher
Executive Director
Sponsored Projects Administration
706-542-8808 | jill.tincher@uga.edu
Jill Frazier Tincher is the executive director of Sponsored Projects Administration and oversees central pre- and post-award administration. Jill has an MBA from the University of Miami and worked at the University of Miami in Florida prior to joining UGA.
Ian Biggs
Director
Innovation Gateway Startups, Innovation District Programming
706-542-4308 | ibiggs@uga.edu
Ian Biggs is the director of Innovation Gateway’s Startup Program and also director of programming for the Innovation District, with responsibility for providing UGA investigators with the training and support they need to bring their research ideas to market. Prior to coming to the university, Ian ran global businesses and venture-backed startup companies. He has a master’s in mathematics from Oxford University.
Martin Bink
Director
Defense & Security Collaborations
706-542-0038 | martin.bink@uga.edu
Marty Bink is the director of defense and security collaborations, and assists with partnerships between researchers and agencies, such as Department of Defense, Homeland Security, and NASA. Marty has a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Georgia.
Kevin Burt
Director
Business and Human Resources
706-542-5930 | kevburt@uga.edu
Kevin Burt is the director of finance and human resources, and manages day-to-day business operations and assists the vice president for research with budget development and strategic planning. Kevin has a B.S. in accounting from Auburn University.
Crystal Leach
Director
Industry Collaborations
706-542-2289 | csleach@uga.edu
Crystal Leach is director of industry collaborations and works with faculty to build industry partnerships that align with UGA’s research capabilities and strategic priorities. Crystal has a Ph.D. in textiles and polymer science from Clemson University and managed innovation and technology development at Kimberly-Clark prior to joining UGA.
Gary Rachel
Director
IT Operations
706-542-5905 | gcrachel@uga.edu
Gary Rachel is the director of information technology and supports application development and infrastructure support, including UGA’s enterprise research systems, as well desktop support. Gary has a Ph.D in forest ecology from UGA.
Michael Terrazas
Director
Research Communications
706-542-5941 | michael.terrazas@uga.edu
Mike Terrazas is director of research communications and is responsible for raising the visibility and profile of UGA research among a number of strategic audiences. Mike has a master’s degree in journalism from UGA and worked at Georgia Tech and Emory University prior to joining UGA.
