Research

Programs and Events

Catalyst Institute: Propel Your Research Forward

Elevate Your Research. Accelerate Your Grant-Seeking Success.

Advance your skills and strategy through programs designed for PSU's research community. Our workshops, panels, and events provide expert insights and timely tools to enhance your success as a researcher, grant-seeker, and mentor. Explore our upcoming offerings and register today.

The Catalyst Institute

The Catalyst Institute is a transformative initiative from the Office of Research and Graduate Studies dedicated to one core mission: empowering Portland State University's faculty to achieve their most ambitious research goals. It represents a foundational investment in your success, providing the strategic framework and expert training necessary to lead the next wave of groundbreaking discoveries and creative works.

Through the Institute, you will engage in a cohesive suite of programming designed to elevate your grant-seeking prowess and leadership skills. Moving beyond traditional training, the Catalyst Institute fosters a powerful community of practice through in-depth workshops, cohort-based learning, and peer-to-peer mentorship. This is where you will sharpen your strategy, build powerful collaborations, and gain the tools to turn visionary ideas into funded realities.

The ultimate goal of the Catalyst Institute is to provide a clear pathway for faculty to secure major external funding and spearhead the large-scale, transformative projects that define a leading public research university. By fostering this culture of ambition and support, the Institute brings the RGS 2030 Roadmap to life, turning our shared strategic vision into tangible, high-impact outcomes for our researchers and the communities we serve.

We are now accepting applications for our flagship faculty development program: Catalyst Immersive. This program is designed to boost your grant-seeking success by providing the skills and support you need to transform research ideas into competitive, review-ready proposals. Through a 12-week workshop series, peer writing team meetings, and extended one-on-one coaching from experienced, grant-successful faculty, you’ll gain the skills and knowledge to turn your research ideas into competitive, review-ready proposals. 

This program is ideal for for early career faculty and/or established faculty looking to grow their grant-seeking skills.

The Catalyst Academy is a series of advanced, thematic workshops designed for experienced faculty looking to sharpen their competitive edge. Building on the foundational concepts of our Catalyst Intensive program, these deep-dive sessions explore the nuanced strategies required for success in today’s most competitive funding environments.

Each workshop provides a forum for peer-to-peer learning and expert guidance on a specific advanced topic. While Catalyst Fellows receive priority registration, we welcome all seasoned researchers to join these vital conversations.

Discover the next upcoming workshop and reserve your place by exploring our events calendar.

Other Programs and Events

The Office of Research Administration offers several standalone trainings designed to help faculty members and postdocs navigate PSU's research support systems, including:

 

 

The Graduate School offers programming to enhance faculty and postdoctoral researcher mentoring skills including:

  • The Mentoring Academy offers evidence-based training for mentors of research trainees across disciplines. Mentoring Academy workshops apply to those training undergraduates and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty.

InnovAIte Academy is a program aimed to empower faculty and staff with new generative AI skills along three formative tracks: research, teaching and operations. A new fall cohort application cycle will open soon, so please stay tuned!

The Office of Academic Affairs hosts a variety of professional development supports/resources for PSU faculty that include subscription access to the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity. T he NCFDD is an independent professional development center dedicated to helping faculty make successful transitions throughout their careers.

Calendar of Upcoming Events