Charting a Path to R2 Research Status

Two years ago, New York Tech, wanting to ascend to the ranks of the nation’s elite research institutions, sought to fill its newly created role of vice provost for research who could lead the institution in securing the coveted Research 2 (R2) “high research activity” status.

This designation is an imprimatur granted by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education and categorizes doctoral-granting universities with the highest performance in key areas associated with research and development. Jared Littman, Ph.D., joined New York Tech in this important role and began considerable efforts to realign the institution’s research capacities to achieve this goal.

“The R2 status is vital to our institutional prestige as it signifies a university’s commitment to research and its ability to attract grant funding and faculty talent,” Littman says. “It’s a marker of academic excellence and can significantly influence a university’s reputation and ability to secure resources.”

Littman has wasted no time charting the path to move New York Tech closer to R2 status, which requires an institution to spend at least $5 million annually on research while conferring 20 research doctorates per year. By increasing grant proposals, diversifying sponsors, and creating a strong foundation for research infrastructure, the institution now exceeds the required research dollar threshold. A Ph.D. program in chemistry will launch in the fall, adding to existing doctoral programs in osteopathic medicine/biological sciences (D.O./Ph.D.), engineering, and computer science.

Not only does R2 status elevate New York Tech’s research environment to better compete for opportunities to secure funding from federal organizations such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), but it’s also a significant selling point for attracting and retaining top-flight faculty members and students alike.

Nationally, 139 universities are classified as R2. This year, the Carnegie Foundation granted New York Tech Research Colleges and Universities (RCU) status—a new designation that indicates an institution spends more than $2.5 million on research annually. There are 216 such institutions. New York Tech is also one of 479 Opportunity College and Universities; this Carnegie designation recognizes institutions that demonstrate broad access for underserved students and strong earning outcomes for their graduates. Only 33 institutions nationwide have earned both RCU and OCU designations in the new 2025 Carnegie Classifications.

Littman has been a visible presence among faculty and administrators since arriving on campus in June 2023. “There’s a lot that has to be done, and it’s a collective effort,” he says. “Research is the seed of progress—nurture it with vision, implement it with strategy and methodology, grow it with collaboration, and lead it with purpose.”

He’s been here before. At Long Island University (LIU), where Littman was executive director of research administration, he expanded research efforts and infrastructure, increased award activity and expenditures, and supported the university in maintaining its R2 status. Before that, in a 17-year stint at St. John’s University, he more than doubled research proposal submissions, significantly increased grant awards and funding, and created an infrastructure to support a growing research enterprise. Littman started his career in this field at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, a research-intensive institution, where he gained much experience with federal sponsors as well as private industry.

“Jared is not only a strong leader but also a collaborative colleague who listens and welcomes input,” says Hesham Tawfeek, MBBCh, research associate professor of biological and chemical sciences, whose research specialties include cell signaling, molecular biology, bone biology, and osteoimmunology. “His openness to suggestions and a team-oriented mindset make him an invaluable asset to the research community at New York Tech,” Tawfeek adds. “Expanding our research programs will not only elevate the quality of teaching but also foster greater student engagement, making New York Tech increasingly attractive to both domestic and international students.”

Building a Bold Future for Innovation and Funding

The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research (OSPAR) manages both pre- and post-award activities. OSPAR, reporting to the vice provost for research, provides services and support related to research activities across the university. Its grant portfolio includes research, instruction and training, public service, evaluative testing, and other scholarly and creative activities conducted under the direction of university faculty and staff.

One of Littman’s first orders of business, even before he arrived on campus, was to review OSPAR’s data on grants, sponsored projects, and expenditures. Finding that this data was not available, he created a robust research database to capture the necessary information to utilize and leverage data analytics to help make informed decisions.

Director of Sponsored Programs and Research Christopher Egan joined New York Tech last year from Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). Before that, he worked with Littman for 12 years at St. John’s University, where the pair—directing the university’s Office of Grants and Sponsored Research—procured more than $150 million in grant funding.

Egan was one of the first hires in Littman’s “vast reorganization” of OSPAR. “Utilizing our networks through peer institutions and memberships (such as the National Council of University Research Administration), we have  recruited new pre- and post-award administrators with research expertise and experience from the private sector as well as prominent institutions such as Hofstra University, LIU, St. John’s University, BNL, and the NIH,” Egan says. “We are extremely proud of the high caliber of staff as their diverse array of expertise fostered over (collectively) decades of experience.”

OSPAR’s efforts will help create “pathways with not only federal sponsors such as the Departments of Energy, Homeland Security, and Defense but to actively court sponsorship and foster collaborations with the private sector and industry partners as well,” says Egan.

“When the opportunity to pursue the OSPAR directorship came my way, I jumped at it with little hesitation This was due to two factors: my firm belief in the vast research potential of New York Tech and its faculty and my long-standing professional association with Jared.”

One of Littman’s biggest goals is to have a new research building with lab spaces and facilities to conduct translational research.

New infrastructure is now available with the completion of the Biomedical Research, Innovation, and Imaging Center (BRIIC). Littman oversees the research facility and envisions increased interdisciplinary collaborations that will enhance research and move the university toward R2 status. Furthermore, this research could result in the development of intellectual property and patents and engage the private sector to foster commercialization.

Littman says, “A thriving research enterprise is not built by chance, but by cultivating talent, aligning vision, and forging partnerships that transcend disciplines.”

For Littman, the excitement is brewing.

“I saw a lot of positives to New York Tech, and I felt that we were ready to start on an incredible journey,” he says. “Dedicated faculty, students, and unwavering support from President [Hank] Foley and Provost [Jerry] Balentine provided confidence in which I felt we could accomplish the objectives set forth. We stress being doers, makers, and innovators. As we grow our research enterprise, we advance knowledge and opportunity through collaboration, innovation, and impact. Together, we are shaping a legacy that extends far beyond the boundaries of our institution.”