UF Brings In Record Level Of External Research Funding

August 27, 2002

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Double-digit increases from almost every major funding source pushed the University of Florida to a record $437.2 million in research funding during fiscal year 2001-02, up more than 15 percent from the previous year.

UF’s Health Science Center accounted for just over half of the university’s total, with its six colleges receiving a record $225.3 million, up 14 percent. Funding from the National Institutes of Health – UF’s largest source of research funding – rose 11.2 percent to $103.9 million.

The university experienced a dramatic increase in funding from the National Science Foundation, or NSF, climbing from $28.2 million in 2000-01 to $39.2 million last year, a 39 percent jump. NSF funding supports research in basic sciences, such as physics and chemistry, engineering and social sciences, including sociology and psychology.

“Our faculty members have been very active in submitting proposals to new NSF programs. They have been quite successful in cross-disciplinary fields such as nanoscience and environmental science, as well as the core fundamental research areas,” said UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Neil Sullivan. “I have been very pleased with the collaborative efforts across colleges and the ability of our researchers to team up with units in many different parts of the university including agriculture, medicine and engineering.”

The College of Engineering saw a 34 percent increase to $67.7 million, thanks in part to a $15 million grant from NASA to lead a consortium of universities designing the next generation of reusable launch vehicle to replace the space shuttle.

“We’re very pleased NASA has identified the University of Florida as one of its centers of excellence,” said Win Phillips, vice president for research and dean of the Graduate School. “This is a great accolade to our faculty who have been performing excellent research for NASA and for the country for years.”

Faculty in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences brought in $38.1 million in 2001-02, up 13 percent over the previous year, and the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences brought in $69.5 million, up slightly from the prior year.

Federal money accounts for 60 percent of UF’s total research funding and this year reached $268.1 million, up more than 18 percent over last year. The university also continues to build its relationships with private funding agencies. Florida received nearly $54 million from industry sponsors in 2001-02 and another $48.3 million from foundations.

“While publicly funded research, particularly from the federal government, is vital to our research enterprise, we have tried to achieve a more balanced ratio of public and private funding,” Phillips said.