U of I's Chris Nomura Honored Nationally for Advancing AI-Driven Research Operations
The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities has recognized the University of Idaho for building practical AI tools that make research administration faster and easier to manage. The award highlights work that speeds up routine processes and makes modern research support accessible to universities of all sizes.
The Council on Research Advances in Research Enterprise Operations Award, presented by the APLU Council on Research, honors senior research leaders who adopt impactful approaches that improve how institutions run research. Chris Nomura, Vice President for Research and Economic Development, received the award for leading U of I's Office of Research and Economic Development and its Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Team.
"Receiving this award is really about recognizing the incredible innovation happening across our research operations," Nomura said. "Our team is showing how AI can remove barriers, save time and help people focus on higher-value work that moves discovery forward."
Building AI Into Research Operations
Under Nomura's direction, U of I created a dedicated AI and data science unit that automates tasks like award setup, contract review and compliance reporting. Work that once took hours or days now takes minutes, reducing backlogs and improving service for faculty and staff across the university.
The team, led by Luke Sheneman, Director of Research Computing, operates within the Institute for Interdisciplinary Data Sciences, directed by Barrie Robison. Their suite of tools, known as The Vandalizer, is already delivering measurable gains in turnaround times and accuracy across core research processes.
Recent AI Initiatives at U of I
- AI embedded across the 2026-2030 strategic plan, aligning teaching, research, outreach and operations with practical AI use.
- AI4RA: A $4.5 million collaboration funded by the National Science Foundation with Southern Utah University to build open-source generative AI tools that reduce administrative burden nationwide.
- Partnership with Google's AI for Education Accelerator, giving students no-cost access to AI tools, training modules and Google Career Certificates.
"The University of Idaho's strategic investment and foresight have positioned us at the forefront of AI innovation in higher education," U of I President C. Scott Green said. "We've helped redefine what's possible in research operation thanks to Chris Nomura's leadership and our dedicated team."
Nomura was formally recognized Nov. 10 during the APLU Council on Research open business meeting at the association's annual conference in Philadelphia.
Why This Matters for Research and Science Teams
- Faster cycle times: Automate repeatable steps so staff spend more time on proposal strategy, compliance quality and faculty support.
- Fewer bottlenecks: Reduce handoffs and manual checks in award setup, contracting and reporting.
- Scalable approach: A small, focused AI unit can deliver outsized gains when it targets high-volume, rules-based processes first.
- Measurement first: Track cycle time, accuracy and satisfaction to prioritize the next round of automations.
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Media Contact
Media contact
Danae Lenz
External Communications Coordinator
208-885-1605
dlenz@uidaho.edu
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