3:38 p.m., Dec. 18, 2009----The University of Delaware now ranks in the top 100 universities in federal obligations for science and engineering in the latest annual funding report issued by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

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The NSF report, Federal Science and Engineering Support to Universities, Colleges, and Nonprofit Institutions: FY 2007, is based on statistical data from the 19 federal agencies that account for virtually all support for science and engineering research and development at educational institutions. The data cover the period from Oct. 1, 2006, through Sept. 30, 2007.

The University of Delaware is ranked 99th in the report, successfully competing for $82,906,000 in federal funds for science and engineering projects in fiscal year 2007. The institution ranking first is Johns Hopkins University, and the 100th is Florida State University.

UD is among the minority of institutions in the top 100 without a medical school.

The report includes annual data for the 2000 through 2007 fiscal years. UD has seen a 60 percent increase in federal dollars garnered for research and development since fiscal year 2000 data, achieving an average annual growth rate of 7.5 percent.

“The University of Delaware has steadily closed the gap with institutions traditionally on the top 100 list in research and development funding over the last decade,” said Mark Barteau, senior vice provost for research and strategic initiatives at UD.

“The University of Delaware is a major research institution, and this ranking underscores the excellence and hard work of our faculty,” Barteau noted. “We have made gains in research activity across the board, with the most significant change represented by funding from the National Institutes of Health in the period since the launch of the Delaware Biotechnology Institute. I'm optimistic that this trend will continue,” he added. “Proposal submissions from UD were up by about one-third last year, with only a small fraction of the total accounted for by Stimulus activity.”

The Research Office has instituted a number of best practices and programs to aid investigators in the search for research funding, the development of competitive proposals, and the management of competitive research grants.

Early in the new year, a grants management training workshop will be offered, followed by responsible conduct of research training for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. A workshop for new faculty researchers is being planned for mid-February.

“High-caliber research is a major strength of UD and an engine that drives innovation,” Barteau noted. “Basic and applied research yields new discoveries and societal benefits, including economic development, but even more important, it is central to the education of our students at all levels.”

Article by Tracey Bryant
Photo by Jon Cox