The research enterprise is undergoing a period of rapid change, shaped by several converging forces. In our work with researchers, administrators, and senior leaders across the country, we see firsthand how advances in artificial intelligence are changing how research is conducted and supported, even as shifts in federal funding policies introduce new uncertainties. At the same time, increased scrutiny of research with national security implications—and a shifting policy environment influencing what research gets funded and pursued—are raising the stakes for compliance and institutional risk exposure. Alongside these developments, there is growing recognition of the importance of open source software as a foundation for open science. Taken together, these dynamics are prompting institutions to rethink how research is supported, managed, and sustained, while reshaping the broader landscape of research operations—the people, processes, and systems that make research possible.

At Ithaka S+R, we are closely tracking these developments to understand how they are shaping research operations in practice. Through our research and engagement with the field, we equip leaders with actionable data and insights to navigate uncertainty, make informed decisions, and build more effective, resilient research environments. This work builds on a broader portfolio examining how research is supported across institutions—including deep dives into coordinating campus data services, the evolving scholarly communication ecosystem, and understanding the impacts of AI on research practices.

Our latest research brings these questions into sharper focus. We examine how emerging research institutions are approaching AI adoption in research administration, alongside a set of projects on open source software that speak directly to core challenges facing research leaders: how to govern, fund, and sustain the digital infrastructure that underpins modern research. Together, these projects highlight how institutions are adapting their research operations to harness new technologies, manage institutional risk exposure, and support the long-term viability of the tools and systems their researchers rely on.

Below, we highlight a few key insights from this recent work and what they mean for research leaders.

AI adoption in research administration at emerging research institutions

As artificial intelligence tools gain traction, universities are beginning to integrate AI into core administrative workflows, often in a decentralized and exploratory way. Based on discussions from two workshops with research administrators, this report finds that while early use cases are proliferating, many institutions lack clear governance frameworks, creating both opportunities for innovation and risks around consistency, compliance, and oversight. More fundamentally, AI adoption presents a significant change management challenge, requiring new policies, staff capacity, and coordination across units.

Why it matters

For research leaders, this raises urgent questions about when and how to formalize AI strategy before ad hoc adoption becomes embedded practice.

The impact of state and federal policies on academic researchers

State and federal policy changes are increasingly shaping the conditions under which research is conducted in the United States. Drawing on a national survey of researchers, this brief finds that policy shifts and legislation are influencing research agendas, funding availability, and career decisions, particularly in states with “divisive concepts” laws. Notably, one in five researchers report avoiding certain topics due to state policies, and many report reduced funding opportunities.

Why it matters

For research leaders, this raises pressing questions about how policy environments are affecting research capacity, talent retention, and long-term competitiveness.

Open source software and program offices in the research enterprise

Open source software is now foundational to modern research, but many institutions still lack clear strategies for sustaining and governing it. New studies on sustaining open source software and operating open source program offices, at both the system and institutional levels, suggest sustaining open source software is an organizational challenge. It requires institutions to align funding, governance, and incentives across units that have not traditionally shared responsibility for this work.

Why it matters

For research leaders, this raises critical questions about how to invest in and govern the digital infrastructure their researchers depend on, and what role universities should play in sustaining it over time.

Looking ahead

As part of a broader project on supporting international values in research, we will convene research leaders in New York City this summer to explore how institutions can manage compliance risk while supporting international collaboration. As policy and geopolitical dynamics shift, institutions must balance compliance requirements with their commitment to international collaboration.

Findings from our 2025 US Researcher Survey will be released later this summer. This work will include new insights into supporting collaborative research and how researchers’ support needs and expectations are evolving. We believe the findings will provide institutions with clearer insight into evolving researchers’ needs to align support and investment.

We are also scoping future work on the return on investment of AI adoption in research administration and on trends in state funding for scientific research.

Please reach out to Dylan Ruediger (dylan.ruediger@ithaka.org) if you have questions or would like to learn more.