To answer BooDro82's question - yes, I finally realized recently you do have to complete tier 1 research before you can do tier 2 or for example you have to complete a tier 4 before you can research a tier 5 research, etc.

(I would click on a tier 5 or 6 research item and at the bottom of the screen text would pop up saying that it was adding to my queue and researching, but when I would go to the queue, it would be empty. Kinda confusing or misleading.)