UC College of Engineering and Applied Science nearly doubles research funding in two years
The University of Cincinnati’s College of Engineering and Applied Science received $29.3 million in externally sponsored research funding during the 2021 fiscal year. This is nearly double the $15.4 million earned in FY 2019 and 23 percent more than the $22.3 million the college’s faculty were awarded during FY 2020.
John Weidner, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science
Of the FY 2021 (July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021) amount awarded, $24.3 million came from federal sources, such as the National Science Foundation and NASA, and $3.3 million came from industrial sources such as GE and Procter & Gamble. The State of Ohio agencies awarded $1.1 million. Nonprofit and local government funding totaled just over $260,000.
Research growth was a main goal for John Weidner, Ph.D., when he started as dean of the college in August 2019.
“I set goals for our college to significantly grow research funding. However, the amount of growth that we have had is beyond what I was envisioning,” Weidner said.
“This kind of growth does not just happen. It’s earned by faculty who are relentlessly working to further the knowledge in our areas of focus,” Weidner said. “It’s also supported by staff who aided and processed nearly double the work of two years ago — all during a global pandemic.”
I set goals for our college to significantly grow research funding. However, the amount of growth that we have had is beyond what I was envisioning
John Weidner, PhD
One reason for this growth is the hiring of an associate dean dedicated to research. Gautam Pillay, PhD, joined the college in 2020 with the responsibility of growing research. The college’s Office of Research now aids faculty in all aspects of research, from funding to space to lab safety.
Not only has the college grown its awarded total, but the number of submitted proposals hit a historical high in FY 2021 with 496 submissions from 138 faculty and 88 sponsoring institutions. The $181.1 million in requested funding was also the most in college history.
Lilit Yeghiazarian, PhD, is building a network enables better flood preparedness and response, thanks to a $2.7 million grant from the National Science Foundation.
Some of the largest awards in FY 2021 include:
- $2.7 million – Urban Flooding Open Knowledge Network (UF-OKN): Delivering Flood Impact Information to Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere – Lilit Yeghiazarian, PhD
- $1.5 million – High-Performance Modeling and Simulation Center – Frank Gerner, PhD
- $1.2 million – A Study of the Feasibility and Performance of the Rotating Detonation Augmentor – Ephraim Gutmark, PhD
- $773,860 – High Precision Sorting, Fractionation, and Formulation of Municipal Solid Waste for Biochemical Conversion – Maobing Tu, PhD
Learn more about the college’s research initiatives and focus on the CEAS research webpages.
Tags
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management
- Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
- College of Engineering and Applied Science
- Engineering Education
- Mechanical and Materials Engineering
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