While some schools might be struggling to raise money for research, that’s not a problem at San Diego State University. For the 2015-2016 fiscal year, SDSU was able to raise over $130 million in public and private research funding, a $9.4 million increase over last year.
One of the main reasons for the significant amount of financing is the exceptional staff and faculty that call SDSU home. Last year, they won 707 awards through research, department projects, and other university initiatives, which all helped to bring in funding.
Some of the largest and best-funded awards were focused on health and wellness research at SDSU. A $10 million endowment was granted for health disparities research; $2 million was awarded to research autism in the brain; and another $2 million for new antibiotics research. However, those weren’t the only areas to receive funding.
Major funders included organizations such as the National Science Foundation, Price Family Charitable Fund, and the Institute of International Education. In a press release from the university, SDSU President Elliot Hirshman spoke about the importance of both research and funding for the community.
Funding for research and creative endeavors provides our community with opportunities to address pressing societal challenges, deepen scholarly inquiry and enrich our students’ educational and professional experiences,” he said. “I am extraordinarily proud of the successes of our faculty, staff, and students who are competing nationally to bring essential resources to our campus and our region.”
The role that research funding plays at SDSU is huge. Not only does it support the university’s research and educational activities, but it will also help the school become a top-50 public research institution. Top research schools can hire the best faculty and attract high-caliber students, a key to the success of any university. “SDSU continues to make investments in research and creative activities so that our students are challenged and society is served,” said Stephen Welter, SDSU’s Vice President for Research.