Report from the Vice President for Research

Thomas C. Collins

Federal laboratories were also a focal point as OSU researchers and Congressional science leaders demonstrated the pioneering concept of collaboratories.

Each of OSU's ten colleges worked diligently this past year to increase its federal research and sponsored program expenditures, and eight of the ten achieved this goal. Combined, the eight colleges increased their federal expenditures by $1.8 million or 4.5%. Federal laboratories were also a focal point as OSU researchers and Congressional science leaders demonstrated the pioneering concept of collaboratories. Conduct of research on federal lab instrumentation via high-speed internet connections leverages critical human and capital resources of university, industry, and laboratories. Such collaboration accelerates research activity and offers the potential to develop new thrusts.

Growth in infrastructure is also playing a key role in OSU's research capabilities. Facilities completed this past year include the Willard Sparks Beef Research Facility, Cleanroom I with MOCVD capabilities, the bovine research isolation barn, and the Textile Production Evaluation Laboratory. Such growth continues to be an essential element in OSU's aggressive research posture.

Additional facilities completed in recent years have begun to attract funds for which OSU otherwise would not have been competitive. For example, the Advanced Technology Research Center (ATRC) in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology was completed in fiscal year 1997. In fiscal 1998, the facility attracted over $3.5 million in awards that the University would not have obtained otherwise. These funds are currently being invested in equipment and research activity that will be leveraged into additional external funding.

One of the faculty who will benefit from the outstanding ATRC facilities is Dr. Ranga Komanduri, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Komanduri is featured on the cover of this report and is pictured with a Siemens low angle x-ray diffractometer. This instrument enables researchers to identify chemical reactions, crystal structure, and residual stresses on materials. One of Komanduri's research expertises is in the finishing of advanced ceramics for ball and roller bearing applications, which possesses excellent potential for commercialization. This is just one example of the opportunities for public/private partnerships made possible with the recent passage of State Questions 680 and 681.

OSU is particularly proud of its talented, aggressive new faculty. In the past four years, 210 individuals have joined the faculty and impacted scholarly activity in a very positive way. In aggregate, these individuals have submitted 729 proposals worth $94.8 million, which is an average of 3.47 proposals and $451,000 per person. A total of 285 grants and contracts worth $13.4 million have been awarded to these new faculty, an average of 1.4 projects and $63,900 per person. In addition, data regarding refereed journal articles is available for 111 of the new faculty and shows a total 427 articles, an average of 3.9 per person. The top five faculty in terms of external funding have generated a total of $3.8 million and the top five in terms of publishing have generated 112 articles. One particularly talented young faculty member is in the top five in both external funding and publications.

The FY 98 expenditures for research and sponsored programs are presented in the four tables following this narrative report. Table 1 sets forth OSU's expenditures for research and sponsored programs since 1992. Despite the completion of two major construction projects and the loss of its U.S. Army training contract, the University saw a drop of only $7.3 million from FY 97 to FY 98. Had those programs' expenditures remained level, FY 98 would have shown a growth of $10.2 million or 8%. Still, in the six-year period from 92 to 98, expenditures have grown by 28%. Table 2 lists expenditures for research by college and by source. Since FY 92, federal research expenditures have grown by 52%. Federal sponsors and state general support continued to be the largest sources of research funding in FY 98 (see Figure 1 on page 5). Tables 3 and 4 show the University's expenditures for sponsored instruction and extension, respectively. In the last six years, sponsored instruction has grown by 136% and sponsored extension has grown by 54%.

The 1998 OSU Research Report also includes the success stories of the individual departments and centers that make the University an exciting place to pursue new knowledge. I encourage you to explore these stories within this printed document and at the Report's web site, http://research.okstate.edu/report.html. I believe you will find Oklahoma State an excellent environment for investing in research and intellectual growth.

My sincere thank you to each sponsor, researcher, and administrator who contributed to making FY 98 a successful and exciting year. I am confident that the coming year will be a rewarding one for all involved in research and sponsored programs at Oklahoma State.

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Report from the Vice President for Research

Thomas C. Collins

Federal laboratories were also a focal point as OSU researchers and Congressional science leaders demonstrated the pioneering concept of collaboratories.