Notre Dame Announces Major Growth in Research Funding

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Researchers from the University of Notre Dame say they received $180.6 million in research funding for fiscal year 2019, a more than 27% increase over the previous year. The funding supported projects to address what the university calls globally significant issues, including vector-borne diseases, cancer, psychology, nanotechnology, and hypersonics.

Some of the awards researchers recieved include:

• A $7.8 million grant, which is part of a $38.1 million, five-year commitment from the Semiconductor Research Corporation and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for the Applications and Systems-Driven Center for Energy-Efficient Integrated Nanotechnologies 
• A $5.9 million grant award that is part of a larger $33.7 million, five-year commitment from Unitaid to determine the efficacy of a spatial repellent product in the prevention of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria
• A $1.8 million award from Lilly Endowment Inc. to continue research examining the wellbeing of pastors and priests to be engaged in ministry 
• A nearly $1 million grant, which is part of a $5.4 million commitment from the U.S. Agency for International Development  to assess the feasibility and conduct long-term retrospective impact evaluations of USAID-funded activities
• More than $900,000 award that is part of a $2.1 million commitment from the John Templeton Foundation for a program to incorporate science and the philosophy of science in conversation with theology in Indian and Pakistani madrasas, which are centralized institutions aimed at preparing Islamic religious leaders
•  A $21.5 million grant, part of a larger $42.4 million five-year commitment, from Lilly Endowment Inc. to Thomas G. Burish, the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost, for the formation of the Labs for Industry Futures and Transformation Network, which will enhance and link cutting-edge expertise, technologies, workforce development programs and innovation-based facilities throughout the surrounding community

“The consistent, exceptional growth in research funding over the last few years is a testament to the hard work of Notre Dame’s talented researchers and their desire to have a positive impact,” said Robert Bernhard, vice president for research and professor in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering in a news release. “These awards have an effect both here on campus and beyond — to our students who gain hands on experiences in archives and laboratories, to our local community which benefits from increased inward investment in the South Bend-Elkhart region, and to faculty, postdoctoral scholars and other researchers who translate their findings into real-world applications.”