Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Research

Welcome message from VPDoR David Studdert

As Stanford’s senior research officer, I am honored to support our dynamic research community. In my role as Vice Provost and Dean of Research (VPDoR), I help facilitate and guide Stanford’s research portfolio across seven schools, and I serve as the cognizant dean of 15 independent academic units that represent our investments in research across a multitude of disciplines. Collaborating with school deans, we foster innovative, interdisciplinary research to advance scientific inquiry and learning.

In addition, VPDoR units and teams have expertise in intellectual property, research development, lab safety, research security and compliance — ensuring a strong foundation for groundbreaking discoveries. Our teams work in unison to support the entire research lifecycle, from new ideas to groundbreaking innovations. I encourage you to explore our resources, and I welcome your ideas and feedback on ways to enhance the research experience at Stanford.

Learn more about VPDoR Studdert

Vice Provost and Dean of Research David Studdert oversees Stanford's 15 independent laboratories, centers, and institutes, which span the life sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, humanities, engineering, and medicine. He also oversees offices that support the university’s research enterprise, including the offices of Environmental Health and Safety, Research Administration, Research Policy and Integrity, Research Development, and Technology Licensing. In addition, he directs the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Research and its many functions, including the cognizant dean's office for the independent labs, institutes, and centers.

David Studdert is an expert in the fields of health law, health policy, and torts. His research explores how the legal system influences the health and well-being of populations. He has a special interest in injury and has studied causes of medical error, suicide, road accidents, and firearm violence. Among other honors, Professor Studdert has received the Alice S. Hersh New Investigator Award from Academy Health and Federation and Laureate Fellowships from the Australian Research Council. He received B.A. and LL.B. (Law) degrees from the University of Melbourne, Australia, as well as a masters degree in public health and a doctoral degree in health policy from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.