Strategy, execution and evaluation for sponsored projects communications
What is the Research Communications Office?
Research sponsors and the public increasingly demand clear, accessible communication about research outcomes and impact. To meet this demand, ASU Knowledge Enterprise offers a new communications model that can better forecast projects and meet the needs of individual principal investigators.
The Research Communications Office can help you integrate communications into your proposal budget and provide the services to meet those commitments once your proposal is funded.
We know research.
Our team has decades of experience supporting ASU researchers and working closely with Research Operations teams. Several RCO staff members have conducted their own original research.
We know funders.
Our team has successfully delivered communications for grants funded by federal agencies (such as NSF, NASA, NIH and DOE), local governments, corporate sponsors and donors — meeting the unique requirements for each.
We know strategic communications.
Our team comprises award-winning experts in communications strategy, design, photography, video, writing, media relations, social media, web design and analytics.
Our services
When you schedule a discovery call with our team, we will work with you to develop a communications strategy that supports the long-term goals of your project and sets you up for future funding success.
Below are some examples of commonly outlined obligations in sponsored projects. Our team can help identify what your grant requires you to deliver.
Dissemination and public outreach
- Plain-language summary or policy brief
- Research highlight or sponsor-required summary
- Infographic or science illustration
- Animation or motion graphic explainer
- Stakeholder engagement materials
- Launch event communications support
Project identity and core materials
- Project identity guide (logo, naming, design system, visual identity, etc.)
- Branded report or slide templates
- Layout and design of final project report
Media and stakeholder relations
- Media outreach to share project outcomes
- Media toolkit
- Media training sessions
- Stakeholder newsletter template
Digital communications
- Social media content package
- Social media strategy and publishing
- Project-specific web presence
- Communications performance report
Photography and video
- Field or lab photography
- Event or stakeholder photography
- Short outreach video
Our expertise
300+ years of combined end-to-end production strategy and execution experience. This includes:
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years of experience in leadership working at YouTube, Apple, Intel, startups, and brick and mortar companies
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years of science writing and editing
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years of design across different media and teaching graphic design
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years of public relations strategy
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years of experience in photography with a background in photo journalism
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years of experience in social media strategy and management
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years of video and audio production
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years of scientific and data visualization
25+ strategic communications awards from
Why work with us?
We get it right the first time
We can help you meet your goals and make an impact — faster and more cost-effectively than an external communications agency — because:
- We have extensive experience working with researchers and funding agencies — we get up to speed quickly and get things right with fewer review cycles.
- We know which materials need to comply with ASU brand standards and automatically apply them — there is no extra step for brand team review.
We comply with federal requirements
Our team possesses extensive experience supporting communications for projects funded by federal agencies, such as NASA, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy and more. Our services and pricing are compliant with 2 CFR 200.413 (Direct Costs) and 2 CFR 200.456 (Public Relations and Communications Costs).
We empower students
The Research Communications Office employs ASU students who gain hands-on experience working on our team, along with professional development and mentorship.
How we’ve helped our clients
We align with the strategic goals of our clients to solve their communications challenges. The following are just a few examples of our team’s work.
The opportunity: Arizona’s Technology and Research Initiative Fund (TRIF) is critical to advancing ASU’s mission of conducting research with impact, providing over $30 million each year to support ASU research, but legislators and taxpayers may not be aware of its tremendous return on investment.
The solution: We worked closely with ASU’s Office of Government and Community Relations to convey TRIF’s benefits to Arizona’s economy and the well-being of its residents, using concrete examples of real impact. The final brochure was delivered to every member of the Arizona House and Senate and to the governor’s office.
The opportunity: For the first time, the nation’s largest microelectronics trade show — SEMICON West — was held in Phoenix in 2025. Attendees also had the option to tour ASU’s MacroTechnology Works facility. This offered a tremendous opportunity to showcase ASU’s semiconductor expertise to global industry leaders.
The solution: This multifaceted campaign provided numerous opportunities to learn about ASU’s microelectronics expertise, including: digital ads before and during the conference, a revamped website and custom lead generation page, booth graphics and banners, flyers, booth giveaways, media advisories, and extensive wall graphics and display content in the MacroTechnologyWorks research facility.
The opportunity: The Biodesign Institute creates tremendous impact through discoveries and innovations from hundreds of experts. But its website was built around internal organizational structure, not audience needs, making it difficult to navigate and understand.
The solution: After extensive interviews with audience members, researchers, donors and peers, we reorganized, rewrote and redesigned the site to better serve Biodesign’s goals. This included creating newcomer-friendly topical sections, providing multiple levels of scientific complexity for different audiences, mapping the site to typical user journeys, and planning for the institute’s anticipated growth.
We have served a wide variety of clients, including:
ASU Office of the President
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
ASU Office of Tribal Nations Advancement and Indigenous Futures
Arizona Pathogen Genomics Analytics Platform
Arizona Water Innovation Initiative
Society of Environmental Journalists
Kyl Center for Water Policy
Arizona Department of Health Services
City of Phoenix
Arizona Board of Regents
Deca Technologies
Go Daddy
What our clients have to say:
Fantastic job on our website design! Thanks to you, the site is way easier to navigate. Really appreciate you sharing your talent—your creativity and effort are much appreciated!
The video is great! Clean, concise, gets the main message across quickly. It makes a great impression. Thank you very much!
This team is simply fantastic to work with! Your leadership, creative ideas, patience, and overall work ethic give us a tremendous amount of confidence every time we collaborate.
Thank you for all of your incredible work on the refreshed corporate.asu.edu site! Your guidance throughout the whole project was invaluable, and it was incredible to see how the project came together.
Wow! Amazing video! What a thoughtful approach to telling the human story and entrepreneurial journey. Well done! We will amplify it on our channels.