Research Insights Survey

Research Insights Survey

The 2026 Research Insights Survey is now open.

The survey invites members of the UNC–Chapel Hill research community to share their experiences with research support and compliance. Responses are confidential, and most people complete the survey in about 15 minutes. 

What is the Research Insights Survey?

The Research Insights Survey is an annual survey administered by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, Research Compliance Services (OVCR-RCS). It’s designed to understand how research policies, systems, and support services work in practice at UNC–Chapel Hill.

The survey gathers input from researchers, research teams, and research administrators about their day-to-day experiences with research support, compliance expectations, training, and research processes across the full research lifecycle, from planning through closeout. Responses help identify strengths, gaps, and priorities for improving how research is supported and coordinated across the University.

Survey results are also used to track trends over time and guide improvements in research support and compliance.

What the survey covers

Questions are tailored to your role and may include topics such as:

  • Communication and clarity of research compliance expectations
  • Alignment with institutional research priorities and research culture
  • Access to policies, guidance, and research support resources
  • Training, onboarding, and professional development
  • Efficiency of research processes from planning through closeout
  • Confidence in identifying and managing compliance risks

Who should participate?

If your work touches research at UNC–Chapel Hill, your perspective matters.

This includes:

  • Researchers and research team members who conduct or directly manage research activities
  • Research administrators and staff who support, oversee, or facilitate research operations or compliance

See examples of specific roles

Researchers and research team members, including:

  • Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators
  • Research Coordinators
  • Research or Lab Managers
  • Regulatory Coordinators
  • Research Assistants
  • Postdoctoral Fellows
  • Graduate Researchers

Research administrators and research support staff, including:

  • Research Administrators
  • Compliance Officers
  • Grants or Contracts Managers
  • Department or Unit Leaders

If your role spans more than one area, please respond based on the role that best reflects your current responsibilities.

What to expect

  • Most respondents complete the survey in about 15 minutes
  • Questions are tailored to your role, but you can skip any that don’t apply
  • You may stop and return to the survey if needed
  • There are no right or wrong answers
  • We’re interested in your day-to-day experience, not isolated incidents

How responses are used and why they matter

Survey responses are confidential and reported only in summary form. Individual responses are not shared.

Results are used to inform improvements in research support and compliance programs, highlight areas where additional guidance or coordination are needed, and support long-term planning and benchmarking across the research enterprise.

By sharing your experience, you help UNC–Chapel Hill improve how research support and compliance are communicated, coordinated, and delivered, making research easier to navigate and better supported across the University.