Centering people and place
The Public Impact Research (PIR) Network is designed to build capacity and shift the institutional landscape for public impact research within and across public research universities, elevating the role of public affairs schools and scholars in this work. The Network operates as a knowledge commons by sharing tools, resources, and practices across participating universities.
Its purpose is to create a distributed ecosystem where researchers can improves public programs and policies in the states where their universities are located. By aligning incentives, recognition, and infrastructure, the PIR Network helps make public impact research more visible, supported, and sustainable.
Over the next few months, we will continue to add to an iterate on this website. Check back in for updates!
Workgroups
Faculty from institutional members participate in workgroups that fuel the work and create the solutions emerging from the network.
Focuses on training the next generation of Public Impact Researchers and will design and oversee the PIR Fellowships and residential Summer Institute.
Oversee the creation of an open-access, Creative Commons-licensed digital library to curate tools, cases, analytic frameworks, communication products and implementation resources.
vate norms and standards for recognizing public impact research in promotion, tenure and professional reputations through awards, national seminars, conferences and partnerships.
Call for Fellows
In May 2026, member universities of the PIR Network will be soliciting applications for PIR Fellows – doctoral students, research scientists, and faculty. This years Fellows will attend a network-wide workshop in Columbus, Ohio on September 10-12.
More information about the application process is forthcoming – mark your calendars and stay tuned!
November Accelerator Workshop
Over four days, the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance at University of Washington and the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University convened a community of scholars from major public universities—a coalition of the willing.
We listened to stories and engaged in conversations around what is needed to activate scholars’ capacity and develop a strong network of public affairs scholars across peer R1 public institutions – the Public Impact Research Network.
Our Partners
Participating R1 public universities may engage in the Public Impact Research Network at one of three levels, reflecting differential investments and benefits. All membership levels require commitment from institutional leaders to support public impact research and embed this commitment within their institution’s culture and faculty governance documents.
Core Innovators
Strategic Partners
General Members
