The Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies encourages and promotes research and graduate curricular development through partnership with the various colleges, their faculty, and staff. The Office of the Vice Chancellor provides a model service environment using state-of-art systems and trained professionals operating within a cohesive administrative structure under well defined policies and procedures to support international prominence of NC State's research, graduate program, and technology transfer missions. The Vice Chancellor's office plays an important role in the University's relationships with federal agencies, corporations, and foundations.

The units reporting to the Vice Chancellor include Sponsored Programs and Regulatory Compliance Services, Office of Technology Transfer, Centennial Campus Partnerships Office, and the Graduate School. Sponsored Programs and Regulatory Compliance Services, the Proposal Development unity, the Office of Technology Transfer and Centennial Campus Partnerships Office are led by Associate and Assistant Vice Chancellors for Research while the Graduate School is lead by a Dean, all of whom report directly to the Vice Chancellor.

The effective operation of this office involves strategic alliances and interactions among other university units such as the offices of the Provost , Finance and Business, College Research and Graduate Studies.