About
As one of Virginia Tech’s four investment institutes, the Fralin Life Sciences Institute is committed to leveraging university resources for strategic research initiatives, particularly emphasizing collaborative and interdisciplinary programs.
These investments come in various forms, all aimed at nurturing the next generation of environmental and life science professionals and revolutionizing the landscape of research and education at Virginia Tech, throughout the Commonwealth, and beyond.
Vision
Institute-catalyzed dynamic environment providing pathways to unexplored frontiers that cut across a multitude of disciplinary boundaries and lead to new destinations and unprecedented knowledge at the interfaces of the life sciences.
Mission
Improving the human condition by supporting innovative life sciences research, education, and engagement.
As stewards of university resources, we remain steadfast in our dedication to developing programs and supporting teams that will enable us to realize our mission. Through frequent collaborations with leaders from academic units, other institutes, and diverse research groups, we have an unwavering commitment to nurturing vibrant academic and research portfolios that align with our mission.
Strategic Priority Areas
To achieve our mission, the Fralin Life Sciences Institute makes strategic investments in one of four key areas:
- Research opportunities,
- People,
- Research Ecosystem; and
- Research Backbone
Aligning investments across these four areas – and with broader university initiatives such as Beyond Boundaries and Research Frontiers - and in close partnership with associated academic units, allows us to maximize the potential for excellence and ensures that our investments have a positive return on investment. Examples of these investments include:
Project and program development, undergraduate and graduate student research through partnerships with the Office of Undergraduate Research, financial and administrative support of core research and affiliated research centers
The FLSI manages a Junior Faculty Mentoring Program, provides funding to the graduate school for IGEP support, and is a partner in the Presidential Postdoctoral Program. FLSI also participates in recruitment and retention efforts in partnership with colleges and departments.
Our institute manages 5 buildings across Virginia Tech’s Blacksburg campus. Through this, we provide operational and logistical support to ensure that researchers have the spaces they need to thrive.
Examples of investments in the University’s research backbone include subsidies for core recharge centers, support for collaborative training programs and University DA 2.0 initiatives, and the VT-FAST office.
