Professor Colyvas is interested in the organization and design of environments that facilitate the creation and use of socially and economically important knowledge. Her work is animated by three persistent puzzles:  why so many different kinds of innovations—from technologies to management practices to social interventions--become broadly adopted but never develop the foundation to persist; why some innovations are not widely implemented despite their demonstrated effectiveness or formal authorization; and why so many innovations remain largely unnoticed without the opportunity to facilitate meaningful change. 

For decades, Professor Colyvas has examined these puzzles in the context of biomedical innovation and the ongoing interaction among university, industry, and government science.  Her work has analyzed the processes and effects of the blending of academic and industry practices on the production of science and scientists, notably in the context of increasing patenting, licensing, and start-up activity emanating from academic labs and in the context of research, funding, and publishing emanating from firms. Through training and collaboration with former and current graduate students, Professor Colyvas’ work extends to several social policy settings—such as education, housing security, and restorative justice--that grapple with inequalities, unrealized social change, or the meaningful and sustainable adoption of effective interventions.