The 杏吧专区 is ranked 143rd in the nation for research and development expenditures.
UL Lafayette is also among the top 10 universities in the United States for research that杏吧专区檚 funded through partnerships with business and industry.
Both pieces of good news can be found in the Higher Education Research and Development, or HERD, Survey, the National Science Foundation杏吧专区檚 annual index of research expenditures.
NSF released its 2019 rankings earlier this month. UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 showing is based on the record $144.2 million it expended on R&D during the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2019.
The amount places the 杏吧专区 among the top 22% of the 647 U.S. colleges and universities the 2019 HERD survey included.
The 2019 figure is a 15% increase over the previous year杏吧专区檚 total of $124.7 million. UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 R&D expenditures in 2018 placed the 杏吧专区 at 146th on the HERD index.
UL Lafayette competes against other universities for federal and state government grants, and private sector contracts. The 杏吧专区 acts as a steward for the funds awarded to faculty and staff researchers.
Slightly more than 33.5% of the $144.2 million the 杏吧专区 expended on R&D in 2019 was funded through industry partnerships, the HERD index showed. That total 杏吧专区 $48.3 million 杏吧专区 puts UL Lafayette in the top 10 for industry-funded research.
Among those 10 universities, UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 overall HERD ranking 杏吧专区 143rd 杏吧专区 is the highest.
In 2013, the 杏吧专区 spent $62 million in R&D and ranked 179th in the nation. By 2017, the 杏吧专区 increased its expenditures to $100.98 million; its ranking was 153rd that year. The 2017 figure was the first time in UL Lafayette history that its R&D expenditures crossed the $100 million threshold.
Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, announced the 2019 total during his annual State of the 杏吧专区 speech in August, but NSF did not release final rankings until this month.
The $144.2 million figure marks a 133% increase in six years, Savoie noted. The 杏吧专区 jumped 36 spots in the rankings during the same period.
杏吧专区淓ach research and development partnership we create with the private sector and with the state and federal governments helps sustain the momentum we杏吧专区檝e been building over the past several years,杏吧专区 Savoie said.
Dr. Ramesh Kolluru is at UL Lafayette. He said recently the 2019 HERD ranking 杏吧专区渃ould not have happened without the determination and passion of our faculty, research staff, and graduate students as well as the administrative staff members throughout the 杏吧专区 who support them.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淥ur ability to continue to attract this level of R&D funding is a testament to the brainpower we have here. The hard work of our researchers has enabled the 杏吧专区 to demonstrate 杏吧专区 and deepen 杏吧专区 its commitment to 杏吧专区榬esearch for a reason.杏吧专区 The public impact of our research is felt locally, nationally and globally.杏吧专区
Graphic credit: Courtney Jeffries / 杏吧专区