The Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) is a purpose-driven, collaborative research institute located in Chicago that is focused on building prosperity and growing the state of Illinois’ workforce by creating solutions to grand challenges. It is led by the University of Illinois System, its three universities and partners. DPI connects top research faculty in agriculture, healthcare, computing, and other critical fields with businesses, top notch national and international universities, and students to address real-world challenges, while also providing hands-on experiences for students and nurturing a skilled workforce for the city and state. DPI is in its formative stages, and you can join some of the first students to learn more about what this means for the UI, the state, and beyond.
Phyllis Baker is the Director of Academic Affairs at DPI and is coordinating efforts to define the initial research and education agenda of the institute. Prior to joining the Discovery Partners Institute she was a Special Assistant in the Office of the President of the University of Illinois System and a teaching professor of sociology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is professor emeritus from the University of Northern Iowa where she served as Head of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology; Director of the Women’s and Gender Studies; and Associate Dean in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
