At the intersection of law, ethics and innovation, Assistant Vice President for Research Compliance Ashley Guritza plays a critical role in supporting research at UCF. A passionate advocate for both higher education and the law, Guritza and her team help researchers comply with federal and state regulatory requirements so they can continue to advance discovery and innovation in research.
Known for her collaborative approach, Guritza sees compliance not as a barrier, but as a tool for enabling research to move forward responsibly. Whether she’s helping researchers navigate evolving requirements or finding practical solutions to complex challenges, her work is driven by a commitment to supporting the groundbreaking research across UCF. Get to know her in the Q&A below.
What does research compliance mean in practice at UCF?
Research compliance at UCF means, in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies, facilitating the amazing work of UCF researchers, including faculty, staff, and students. Complying with these laws, regulations and policies allows UCF to continue to grow as an institution and to continue to become one of the leading higher education institutions in the U.S. (and maybe someday outside of this world).
At what point of their project should researchers reach out to your office?
To best assist researchers, research compliance is automatically built into several business processes at UCF. For example, hiring, international travel, sponsored research, and procurement. In general, researchers should make sure to follow established UCF business processes. Doing so allows my team and me to proactively assist with any applicable research compliance requirements. If a researcher ever has a question related to research compliance, please feel free to reach out to my team and me. We are always happy to help!
How is the field of research compliance evolving as research becomes more complex (AI, data sharing, partnerships)?
In general, research compliance requirements at U.S. higher education institutions are growing. There are multiple reasons for this, including protecting U.S. national security interests, protecting intellectual property, and making sure that research continues to follow acceptable ethical standards. My team and I are consistently monitoring the evolving research compliance landscape where doing so allows us to proactively and efficiently assist researchers.
What’s a common misconception about research compliance?
Sometimes people see compliance as a barrier. It can be perceived as slowing things down, but really, we are here to safeguard the work being done and prevent regulatory violations from happening down the road. The research compliance team is very customer-service oriented. We always try to work with researchers to find pathways that allow their research to proceed in accordance with the law.
What drew you to the intersection of law and academic research?
Given my legal background, I have always had a passion for the law. Along the same lines, I have a passion for higher education because no matter your background, higher education can open so many doors and the research at higher education institutions leads to the expansion of knowledge and innovation. Being able to combine both my passion of the law and higher education is what drew me to research compliance. UCF’s incredible researchers and research portfolio is what drew me to UCF. Go Knights, Charge On!
What advice do you have for someone looking to follow a similar career path or a leadership role?
Find a good mentor. I have been so fortunate over the years to have several good mentors as part of my professional development. I am always happy to connect with those looking to pursue a similar career path, so if someone is interested, please feel free to reach out to me directly.
What are some of your favorite hobbies or activities to do in Florida?
Fishing, kayaking, exploring the outdoors, and attending sporting events. As a kid, I was lucky enough to get to do these things with my family. As an adult, I not only get to continue to do these activities with the same family members, but I also have the opportunity to share these experiences with future generations.
What is your favorite international travel destination?
I still have a lot of places I would like to visit, but at this time, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. This is my favorite place so far because of the people I have met while exploring this area, the clarity of the water, all the sea life, and the coral.
About the UCF Office of Research Compliance
The UCF Research Office of Compliance supports UCF’s research enterprise by ensuring that work is conducted ethically, responsibly and in accordance with regulatory standards. For more information related to research compliance, please visit: https://www.research.ucf.edu/compliance/.