Office of Research – Faculty Senate Presentation
February 22, 2006
Omkaram (Om) Nalamasu
Vice President for Research
Feb. 22, 2006
Faculty Senate Presentation
1
Outline





A Snapshot of Research at Rensselaer
Research Portfolio Analysis
Opportunities and Challenges
Office of Research Services
Summary
Feb. 22, 2006
Faculty Senate Presentation
2
Strategic Research Areas

Biotechnology
–
–

Information Technology
–
–
–


Renewed NSEC, New Nanofab
Energy
–
–

Completed Future Chips Constellation
Tetherless World, Multiscale Computing, Kodosky Constellations
CIE
Nanotechnology
–

$100 M New Building, 9 New Hires in Biology
Bioinformatics, Tissue Engineering, Systems Biology, Biocatalysis Constellations
CAT, Fuel Cells, Solid State Lighting
CPES
Homeland Security
Arts & Technology Interface
–
EMPAC
Feb. 22, 2006
Faculty Senate Presentation
3
Some Recent Research Wins








$20 M Future Energy Systems (Sponsors: NYSTAR and Industry,
PI: Nalamasu)
$3.2 M IGERT grant from NSF for Fuel cells (PI : Michael Jensen)
$2.1 M grant from NIH to develop virtual patient models for
calculating optimal dosage for imaging and cancer (PI: X. George
Xu)
$1.15 M NSF NIRT (Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Team)
award for the growth of 3D nanostructures (PI : Toh Ming Lu)
$1.2 M grant from DARPA for designing and building intelligent
machines that can read, comprehend and answer queries (PI:
Selmer Bringsjord)
$1.0 M grant from DOE for novel fuel cell membranes (PI: Brian
Benicewicz)
Over $3 M dollars in Terahertz Technology (X.-C. Zhang)
$ 1.0 M NIH center planning grant for Cheminformatics (PI: Curt
Breneman)
Feb. 22, 2006
Faculty Senate Presentation
4
Rensselaer Plan : Growth in Research
Research Expenditures
Feb. 22, 2006
Faculty Senate Presentation
5
Research Awards – FY05
Feb. 22, 2006
Faculty Senate Presentation
6
Expenditures by Sponsor Type
50
45
40
Millions
35
30
Federal
State
Corporate
Other
25
20
15
10
5
0
Millions
2000
Feb. 22, 2006
2001
2002 2003
2004
2005
Faculty Senate Presentation
7
Expenditures by School: FY01 - FY05
60000
Annual Expenditure in $K
50000
40000
Average of 2001-2002 ($K)
30000
Average of 2004-2005 ($K)
20000
10000
0
ARCH
ENG
H&SS
MGMT
SCIENCE
Other
School
Feb. 22, 2006
Faculty Senate Presentation
8
Profile of Research Awards – FY05
Dollar Amounts
Millions $$
30,000,000
20,000,000
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
10,000,000
0
0-50,000
50,001 to 100,000
100,001 to 200,000 200,001 to 400,001 400,001 to 800,000
>800,000
Award Activity Fiscal Year
Feb. 22, 2006
Faculty Senate Presentation
9
Distribution of Faculty Awards
200
180
Number of faculty with large awards is growing
160
Number of Faculty
140
2001
120
2002
100
2003
2004
80
2005
60
40
20
0
0
<50,000
50,000 99,999
100,000 199,999
200,000 499,999
500,000 1,000,000
>1,000,000
Annual Expenditures
Feb. 22, 2006
Faculty Senate Presentation
10
Distribution of Research Expenditures
40,000,000
35,000,000
30,000,000
2001
25,000,000
2002
20,000,000
2003
2004
15,000,000
2005
10,000,000
5,000,000
0
0 - 49,999
Feb. 22, 2006
50,000 99,999
100,000 199,999
200,000 499,999
Faculty Senate Presentation
500,000 1,000,000
>1,000,000
11
Research Expenditures from New Faculty since FY00
Total Research Expenditure from
ALL New faculty to FY ($K)
New faculty accounted for 18% of research expenditures in FY 2005
14000000
Total number of new faculty since FY 2000
134
12000000
10000000
113
8000000
Series1
6000000
95
4000000
76
2000000
Feb. 22, 2006
20
38
0
2000
2001
2002
2003
Faculty Senate Presentation
2004
2005
12
Challenges for Continued Research Growth
External







Federal R&D dollars are flat or declining (adjusting for inflation)
Competition for R&D dollars is getting more fierce
R&D dollars for basic research decline
Decline in foreign graduate students
Changing national demographics
Our peer and aspirant institutions continue to invest to grow their
research at a healthy rate
Rapidly changing global economic and R&D landscape
Internal




Constellations
New Faculty hires
Research-active faculty
Research professors to faculty ratio
Feb. 22, 2006
Faculty Senate Presentation
13
Office of Research: Performance Plan Goals




Create Research Strategies and Vision
Develop and Grow Sponsored Research
Enhance Research Visibility
Provide Support for Research Enterprise
Feb. 22, 2006
Faculty Senate Presentation
14
Office of Research: Principal Activities
• Proposal preparation:
• Technical writers; Graphics
• Mentoring
• Internal review of proposals prior to submittal
• Arranging federal agency contacts and
briefings; provide faculty travel support
• Expanded cost sharing policy
• Exploratory seed grant funding program
• Research Development Committee
Feb. 22, 2006
Faculty Senate Presentation
15
Office of Research: Principal Activities
• Office of Research Weekly Bulletin
• Office of Research Special Bulletins (Federal
budget, State budget, Policy issues)
• Office of Research Newsletter; Annual Report;
Funding advisories
• Office of Research workshops
• Coordinate internal review of limited submittals
• Establish linkages to federal funding agencies
Feb. 22, 2006
Faculty Senate Presentation
16
Strategies for Aggressive Research Growth



Exploit unique world class research infrastructure
(EMPAC, Biotechnology)
Lead new and innovative interfaces (Arts/technology,
Medicine/Engineering, Energy and Architecture)
Develop new ideas and lead novel growth platforms
–
–
–


Public/private enterprises
NY State Stem cell initiative
Master research sponsorship agreements with Industry
Partnerships
Hiring of Constellation Faculty
Feb. 22, 2006
Faculty Senate Presentation
17
Goals for the Next 2-3 Years

Create partnerships
–
–
–

Create Institution Defining Research Centers that
integrate research, technology, policy and innovation
–



Global, National and Local
National Labs, Academia, Industry, and Foundations
Partnership with Medical/Biotech Institutions is a Priority
ERC or STC or MRSEC (Energy Science, Innovation and Policy
Institute; Center for Homeland Security Technologies)
Build centers that can create a “Brand Name” for
Rensselaer in Biotechnology
Lead the new frontier at the interface of Arts &
Technology with EMPAC
Innovate new models of partnership with industry and
federal agencies to address the innovation gap
–
–
–
Virtual Nanotechnology Center
Master IP Agreements
Open Collaboration Principles for Software IP
Feb. 22, 2006
Faculty Senate Presentation
18
Executive Summary



Continued focus on world class research
and growth
Focus on areas of highest priority to
accomplish research goals
Renewed emphasis on new paradigms to
continue momentum and growth
Feb. 22, 2006
Faculty Senate Presentation
19
Q&A
Feb. 22, 2006
Faculty Senate Presentation
20