Abstract. The Wyoming Sensory Biology Center (SBC), a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE), integrates and supports thematic multi-disciplinary sensory biology research at the University of Wyoming. The Administrative core (AC) will assume the organizational and fiscal responsibilities of the SBC. The AC will be responsible for steering the research direction of the SBC, overseeing the progress of research projects, coordinating career development and mentorship for junior scientists, reviewing pilot projects, managing the Center budget, improving research infrastructure, and cost-sharing in start-up packages for research faculty. The AC team in Phase II has been significantly expanded to address the growing need for adequate administration for the expanded Center. The SBC will be led by Dr. Qian-Quan Sun, an experienced sensory biologist with a consistent federal funding record and extensive mentoring and administrative experiences. The AC staff will include the Center Director (PI), a Mentoring Coordinator, an Evaluation and Outreach Coordinator, a Data Science and Statistics Coordinator, and a Grant Manager. The AC will rely on a team of experienced mentors and internal and external advisory committees under the leadership of the Center Director to guide junior investigators toward independent research careers. The AC of the Phase II SBC has established the following specific aims: Aim 1. Improve the Phase I Center organization to provide more effective administrative oversight of the research, finance, mentoring, and evaluation activities of the Center. Aim 2. Bolster scientific growth and maturation through a more rigorous mentoring and collaborative program that includes junior and senior investigators working together. Aim 3. Sustain the growth achieved during Phase I by leveraging the Phase II financial resources to facilitate the recruitment of new junior investigators and integration into thematic programs. Aim 4. Reinforce the research infrastructure built during Phase I and continue to expand its research capacities to match with thematic research and scientific development. Successful operation of the AC will enable the Center to achieve the following milestones within the second Phase of five-year funding: 1) further expanding the state-of-the-art Integrative Microscopy Core facility in its capacity and optimizing its operations; 2) successful securing R01-level funding for all current and new Project Leaders; 3) the addition of four to six new or early-stage investigators to the Center; 4) the addition of two to four new mentors (including Project Leaders who have recently graduated from COBRE support); 5) the contribution of at least 40 manuscripts to be published or accepted for publication in reputed, peer-reviewed journals; 6) significant strengthening of the research and training infrastructure at the University of Wyoming, and 7) progressing towards the Center’s long-term self-sustaina...