Sarah Pruett, a UT alumna, will start work as the director of research integrity and research integrity compliance officer for the Office of Research and Engagement, effective April 23, 2018.
As part of the Office of Research Integrity (ORI), this new position will be responsible for investigating allegations of research misconduct at the university. Pruett will also provide research integrity training and raise awareness on campus of the institutional plan for the responsible conduct of research.
“I am honored that Dr. Nobles has entrusted me with this mission,” said Pruett. “I look forward to to working with the UT community and being part of its continued success.”
With more than 10 years of research management experience in highly regulated environments, Pruett is well versed in regulatory procedures and requirements in environmental and radiation safety, human and animal research subjects, data management, responsible authorship, and research ethics.
After earning her doctorate in chemistry from Emory University, Pruett spent eight years at Yerkes National Primate Research Center at Emory, rising to the level of research assistant professor and director of the Biomarkers Core Laboratory. While there, she was part of a $20 million NIH multidisciplinary contract that encompassed several universities and the Centers for Disease Control. She was also responsible for training her team on research integrity, including radiation and environmental health and safety compliance.
After moving to Knoxville, Pruett spent two years as the director of research and development at Integrity Laboratories, where she developed and implemented training tools and requirements for compliance management. Most recently, she was an adjunct faculty member at Pellissippi State Community College where she taught chemistry.
“We are excited to welcome Sarah back to the University of Tennessee and are glad to have her as part of the Office of Research Integrity team,” said Robert Nobles, associate vice chancellor for research. “Overseeing the responsible conduct of research and raising awareness of this multi-faceted area of compliance is critical to the university’s success. I know Sarah will be a tremendous asset to UT.”
The ORI oversees integrity, ethics, safety and compliance areas in responsible conduct of research, research misconduct, radiation safety, biosafety, export control, and human subjects research. The office is led by Nobles and housed within the Office of Research and Engagement.
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CONTACT:
Erin Chapin (865-974-2187, erin.chapin@utk.edu)