老司机福利网

Skip to main content
Picture of bricked arched walkway on medical center of SLU

Advancing Ambition

The Research Institute was established to grow 老司机福利网鈥檚 research capabilities and affirm the University鈥檚 path to becoming the world鈥檚 leading Jesuit research university. The Institute鈥檚 vision is closely aligned with SLU鈥檚 strategic plan, which calls for the University to make research a core part of its identity and to increase total research output.

Picture of scientist sitting down while looking through a microscope in a lab

Research by the Numbers

  • 200+
    Years of Discovery
  • $53M
    Grant Revenue
  • 20+
    Regional Partnerships
Pictured: Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield pose for a photograph in front of the historic Samuel Cupples House on the campus of 老司机福利网

Made Possible By a Historic Commitment

The Research Institute was established following a historic gift from Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield in August 2018: $50 million 鈥� the largest single gift in the University鈥檚 history 鈥� to accelerate research growth at the University and place SLU on the path to becoming a preeminent research university.

Goals of the Research Institute

  1. Achieve and sustain annual research expenditure growth that places SLU among the fastest growing universities in the country
  2. Establish eminence in strategic, university-wide research priority areas
  3. Raise the profile and reputation of SLU as a world-class research university in the St. Louis area and around the world
  4. Recruit and retain world-class research leaders and provide significant investments in their work
  5. Leverage the initial gift from Dr. Jeanne Sinquefield and Rex Sinquefield to increase federal, industry, and philanthropic funding for research done at SLU

Research Institute Leadership

Headshot of Kenneth A. Olliff

Kenneth A. Olliff

Vice President for Research and Partnerships
Director of SLU Research Institute

Ken Olliff serves as Vice President for Research and Partnerships at 老司机福利网, a position he has held since July 2016. Olliff is responsible for growing the scale and eminence of SLU鈥檚 research enterprise, fostering an innovative research culture, building areas of distinctive strength, and raising SLU鈥檚 profile as a preeminent Jesuit research university. Olliff also oversees SLU鈥檚 research innovation efforts, and partners with business and civic leaders to advance talent, commercialization, workforce development, and regional economic impact.

In 2018, Olliff oversaw the creation and now serves as director of the Saint Louis University Research Institute. Founded through a 10-year, $50 million gift from Dr. Jeanne and Mr. Rex Sinquefield, the goal of the Research Institute is to grow SLU into a leading private research university.

Olliff also serves on the board of the Cortex Innovation Community, where he co-led the search for the CEO of Cortex. He serves on the boards of the Taylor Geospatial Engine, the St. Louis Science Center, and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center STL. He is a member of the BioSTL Coalition, the Missouri Botanical 骋补谤诲别苍鈥檚 Mission Science Council, and the Governing Council of Washington University鈥檚 Institute for Clinical and Translational Sciences.

Olliff joined 老司机福利网 after 12 years at the University of Chicago, most recently as associate vice president for program development in the Office of the Vice President for Research and National Labs. Responsible for managing UChicago鈥檚 research enterprise along with Argonne and Fermi National Laboratories, the Office oversaw a combined annual research expenditure of approximately $1.4 billion.

Olliff received his bachelor鈥檚 degree at the University of Rochester and his Doctor of Ministry from Meadville Lombard Theological School. He did advanced graduate work in religion at Harvard University, and he holds an Executive MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Research Leaders

The Research Institute works closely with faculty research leaders from a variety of disciplines to ensure the support it offers to the University community aligns with researchers鈥� needs and ambitions. The following three research leaders represent different aspects of SLU鈥檚 research enterprise 鈥� science and engineering, scholarship and the humanities, and the medical sciences, respectively 鈥� and they each have appointments with the Research Institute, enabling them to facilitate research growth that aligns with both the strengths and capabilities of the colleges and the University鈥檚 larger research ambitions.

Headshot of Jenna Gorlewicz, Ph.D.

Jenna Gorlewicz, Ph.D.

Associate Dean of Research and Innovation, School of Science and Engineering
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Jenna Gorlewicz, Ph.D, is associate professor of mechanical engineering, director of the People and Technology Horizon (PATH) at SLU, and associate dean of research and innovation in SLU鈥檚 School of Science and Engineering (SSE). She works alongside SSE faculty and students, the dean, and the vice president for research and partnerships to enable research growth across SSE, forge new interdisciplinary research collaborations, and foster a research environment compatible with SLU鈥檚 research growth agenda.

Learn more about Gorlewicz's work in this role in .
Headshot of Claire Gilbert, Ph.D.

Claire Gilbert, Ph.D.

Director of Scholarly Research Initiatives, Office of the Vice President for Research
Associate Professor, History

Claire Gilbert, Ph.D., is associate professor of history and interim director of the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. In 2022, Gilbert was named director of scholarly research initiatives in the Office of the Vice President for Research. In this position, Gilbert works alongside the vice president for research and partnerships and faculty across the University to facilitate excellence in scholarship as the University pursues a rigorous research growth agenda.

Learn more about Gilbert's work in this role in.
Headshot of Adriana Monta帽o, Ph.D.

Adriana Monta帽o, Ph.D.

Vice Dean for Research, School of Medicine
Professor of Pediatrics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Adriana M. Monta帽o, Ph.D., is professor of pediatrics, biochemistry and molecular biology, and the vice dean for research in SLU鈥檚 School of Medicine. In this position, Monta帽o works with the dean of the School of Medicine and the vice president for research and partnerships to enhance SLU鈥檚 biomedical research.

Learn more about Monta帽o's work in this role in
Headshot of Vasit Sagan, Ph.D.

Vasit Sagan, Ph.D.

Associate Vice President for Geospatial Science, Office of the Vice President for Research
Professor, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Vasit Sagan, Ph.D., associate professor of geospatial science, was named associate vice president for geospatial science in the Office of the Vice President for Research in 2023. In this role, he works with University and faculty leaders to advance SLU鈥檚 institutional geospatial priorities, including faculty and staff recruitment, educational programs, research infrastructure, and faculty grant support. This assignment solidifies SLU鈥檚 commitment to advanced geospatial science as a key University priority.

Sagan is also the director of 老司机福利网's Remote Sensing Lab. His current research focuses on developing state-of-the-art remote sensing and GIS tools, AI/machine learning, climate change detection and geospatial analytics. Sagan鈥檚 work involves utilizing these tools and technologies to address the growing issue of food and water insecurity.

Institute Directors

Since the establishment of the Research Institute, SLU researchers have launched a number of interdisciplinary institutes that tackle an array of global challenges 鈥� from drug discovery to water research. The following faculty leaders serve as the directors of these institutes.

Headshot of Nadine Alameh, Ph.D.

Nadine Alameh, Ph.D.

Executive Director, Taylor Geospatial Institute

Nadine Alameh, Ph.D., is the inaugural executive director of the . TGI is a first-of-its-kind entity in the geospatial ecosystem 鈥� designed to fuel research, collaboration and impact. With a legacy investment from Andrew C. Taylor and the commitment of eight academic and research institutions led by 老司机福利网, TGI is the cornerstone of establishing a global center of geospatial excellence in St. Louis. As executive director, Alameh serves as the principal point-of-contact for business with TGI and is responsible for the management of the day-to-day operations and administration of TGI according to the policies, procedures, and strategic direction devised in concert with TGI's Governing Council.

Learn more about Alameh's background in the 2023 Research Institute Annual Impact Report.

Headshot of Amanda Cox, Ph.D., P.E.

Amanda Cox, Ph.D., P.E.

Director, WATER Institute
Associate Professor, Civil Engineering

Amanda Cox, Ph.D., P.E., is the director of the Water Access Technology, Environment and Resources (WATER) Institute at SLU. Located in the City of St. Louis and at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, the WATER Institute aims to advance water innovation to serve humanity. 

Cox鈥檚 own research activities cover a wide range of topics related to water movement. She has conducted studies on river engineering, sediment transport, urban drainage, stream restoration, bridge pier scour, hydraulic structures and erosion control. Cox uses a variety of research methods including numerical simulations, physical modeling, direct field measurements and remote sensing. Through her research, she applies advanced technologies in novel ways to observe and model water and sediment flow behavior.  

Headshot of


Headshot of John Tavis, Ph.D.

John Tavis, Ph.D.

Director, SLU Institute for Drug and Biotherapeutic Innovation
Professor, Molecular Virology

John Tavis, Ph.D., professor of molecular virology, is director of the SLU Institute for Drug and Biotherapeutic Innovation (SLU-IDBI). SLU-IDBI is a multidisciplinary association of researchers with a shared interest in drug and biotherapeutic discovery and development to address unmet patient needs.

Tavis has studied the HBV replication mechanisms, HBV reverse transcriptase鈥檚 metabolism and non-catalytic roles in the cell, and biochemistry of viral reverse transcription since 1992. He serves as the chairman of the Scientific Advisory Council for the molecular biology of the Hepatitis B Viruses Meeting and as a member of the Council for Extramural Grants at the American Cancer Society. His research focus is currently on basic biochemistry of the HBV ribonuclease H and developing drugs to suppress HBV replication that target this essential enzyme. Notably, Tavis received the Society鈥檚 Mission Hero Award in 2018 for his efforts on behalf of the American Cancer Society. 

Headshot of Andrew. F. Hall, D.Sc.

Andrew. F. Hall, D.Sc.

Director, SLU Center for Additive Manufacturing (SLU-CAM)
Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Andrew F. Hall, D.Sc., associate professor of biomedical engineering, is the director of the SLU Center for Additive Manufacturing (SLU-CAM), which is a resource for 3D printing, computer-aided design and related activities, available to faculty, students and the larger St. Louis community.

Hall鈥檚 own research interests since joining SLU include medical imaging, medical devices, and medical robotics. He works with interventional radiologists to optimize pro-operative imaging protocols to support emerging minimally invasive procedures. His lab is also working on image-guided robotic therapies for pedicle screw placement and laminectomy in the spine. His lab uses 3D printing extensively, including the development of 3D-printed objects with controllable radiopacity and dissolvable 3D-printed tissue molds derived from CT images. Finally, Hall works on the development of smartphone-based medical devices.

Headshot of Daniel Hoft, M.D., Ph.D.

Daniel Hoft, M.D., Ph.D.

Director, Center for Vaccine Development
Director, Stephen C. Peiper and Zi-Xuan Wang Institute for Vaccine Science and Policy

Daniel Hoft, M.D., Ph.D., is a professor and director of the Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunology, Adorjan Endowed Chair of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, director of the Center for Vaccine Development (CVD), and principal investigator for the SLU Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit (VTEU), one of only 10 elite NIH-funded units in the country. Under his leadership, the CVD has built upon its 30-year legacy of community-centered vaccine research. In December 2019, the NIH renewed SLU鈥檚 VTEU status, and in April 2020, a generous donation from Stephen C. Peiper, M.D. (Med 鈥�77) and Zi-Xuan Wang, Ph.D. established a new center of excellence under Hoft鈥檚 leadership: the Stephen C. Peiper and Zi-Xuan Wang Institute for Vaccine Science and Policy.

In addition to his proven leadership, Hoft has earned national recognition for his contributions to science. Hoft has studied whether mucosal vaccinations and booster vaccinations enhance immunity induced by conventional vaccination. He was the first to demonstrate that human 纬9未2 T cells develop protective memory responses after vaccination, a paradigm shift that provides an important new approach for tuberculosis vaccine development. Among his contributions to the field are: the development of improved tuberculosis vaccines, the development of vaccines for Chagas Disease, pandemic influenza vaccine development, and conducting multiple phase 1-3 COVID-19 vaccine trials.

Headshot of Steven Rogers, Ph.D.

Steven Rogers, Ph.D.

Director, SLU/YouGov Poll
Associate Professor, Political Science

Steven Rogers, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, is the director of the SLU/ YouGov Poll. The SLU/YouGov Poll fills a void in the study of public opinion in Missouri. No other academic institution regularly conducts a non-partisan, scientific survey of Missouri voters and publicly makes its results available to citizens, researchers, and policymakers.
 
Rogers鈥� research focuses on elections, particularly at the state level. His in-progress book manuscript addresses the question, 鈥淒o elections hold state legislators accountable for their own performance?鈥� Rogers鈥� research has appeared in top disciplinary journals such as the American Political Science Review and the American Journal of Political Science. Prior to joining 老司机福利网, Rogers was a postdoctoral fellow at Vanderbilt University, where he contributed to the Vanderbilt Poll.
Headshot of Daniela Salvemini, Ph.D.

Daniela Salvemini, Ph.D.

Director, Institute for Translational Neuroscience
William Beaumont Professor and Chair, Pharmacology and Physiology

Daniela Salvemini is William Beaumont Professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology at 老司机福利网 School of Medicine, professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience, and director of SLU鈥檚 Institute for Translational Neuroscience, which brings together researchers and clinicians throughout 老司机福利网 who share a common interest in the neurosciences
 
Salvemini鈥檚 research interests are understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underpinning neuropathic pain and developing therapeutics to target these mechanisms. Her highly translational approaches combine behavioral pharmacology, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, toxicology, and drug discovery. Her work led to several seminal discoveries that resulted in the development of novel therapies that entered clinical trials. She has published over 270 peer-reviewed articles and holds many U.S. patents. Salvemini is the founder of BioIntervene Inc., which is developing first-in-class selective A3AR agonists for the treatment of chronic pain and neuroinflammatory diseases.
Headshot of Mary Dunn, Ph.D.

Mary Dunn, Ph.D.

Director, Center for Research on Global Catholicism
Associate Professor, Theological Studies

Mary Dunn is the director of the Center for Research on Global Catholicism and an associate professor in the Department of Theological Studies at Saint Louis University. A historian of religion, Dunn works in the area of early modern Catholicism. She has published extensively on both Catholicism in 17th- and 18th-century colonial New France and theory and method in the study of religion, and is the author of several books, including 鈥淔rom Mother to Son: The Selected Letters of Marie de l鈥橧ncarnation to Claude Martin鈥� (Oxford, 2015), 鈥淭he Cruelest of All Mothers: Marie de l鈥橧ncarnation, Motherhood, and Christian Tradition鈥� (Fordham, 2016), 鈥淩eligious Intimacies: Intersubjectivity in the Modern Christian West鈥� (Indiana, 2020), and most recently, 鈥淲here Paralytics Walk and the Blind See: Narratives of Sickness and Disability at the Juncture of Worlds鈥� (Princeton, 2022). She is currently at work on a new book project focusing on the history of Quebec鈥檚 19th century foundlings and the Augustinian nuns of the H么tel-Dieu who cared for them.

Research Councils and Committees

The Research Institute engages a number of research councils and committees in allocating funding and identifying emerging research priorities. These bodies are made up of SLU faculty and administrators. Full rosters can be found here.