Dr. Robert Nobles is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research for Responsible Conduct of Research & Institutional Research Integrity at the University of Tennessee. In his current capacity, he leads a team of compliance officers in their efforts and coordination with the faculty committees committed to the integrity, compliance and safety of all research activities conducted at UT. Dr. Nobles places priority on the awareness of responsible conduct of research and guiding faculty toward research success.
In his role as a Co-Principal Investigator of the PEER program, Dr. Nobles seeks to expand the impact of PEER through its efforts in providing complimentary training activities for all UT doctoral students. He elaborates, “ We anecdotally know that the level of engagement PEER provides to its students and the departments they represent is very positive. To enhance internal assessment, I seek to help create mechanisms that can better track PEER activities & capture the progress students are making. When we can combine compelling empirical data with the stories of our PEER students, then we have great chance of increasing our visibility and participation with other STEM academic programs at the University of Tennessee.”
On the current impact of PEER, Dr. Nobles explains, “Anytime you talk to a PEER student it becomes immediately evident that this program is creating real impact and enhancing the doctoral study experience for students at UT. The activities of PEER such as mentoring, career training, individual development planning coupled with training & research being performed inside an academic program give PEER students a unique, holistic experience.”
In the future, Dr. Nobles envisions PEER extending its activities and impact to all doctoral students attending the University of Tennessee. Furthermore, since PEER engages underrepresented students that seek to complete STEM doctoral programs, Dr. Nobles sees PEER as a critical element of how the University will interpret and cultivate diversity in research.
Dr. Robert Nobles is from San Diego, California and obtained his Doctorate of Public Health from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. He obtained his Master’s of Public Health & B.A. in Molecular Biology from Florida A&M University.