NU ranks 27th in research spending
More evidence that the University of Nebraska’s quest for star power is paying off: NU announced Wednesday it has climbed six spots in the National Science Foundation’s rankings of top spenders on research and development.
The rankings show NU was No. 27 among public universities in research and development spending for fiscal year 2005, the most recent year for which data was available. The university’s four campuses spent $333.1 million on things like laboratory space, research equipment and faculty salaries, an 11 percent increase over fiscal year 2004 spending.
The University of Michigan was ranked No. 1 among public schools, spending $808.9 million.
“This remarkable improvement reflects the high priority placed on research at the University of Nebraska,” NU President J.B. Milliken said in a statement. “Moving up even one spot per year would be an accomplishment, given how competitive this ranking is.
“Success brings more success, and this dramatic improvement in our ranking is important to our efforts to recruit and retain top faculty.”
In recent years, NU administrators have made research growth a top priority. As numbers go, they’ve succeeded: Last year, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln hauled in more than $100 million worth of research grants for the first time, meeting an ambitious goal set by research vice chancellor Prem Paul.
Grants to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha also are expanding; UNL and UNMC are responsible for the bulk of research spending across NU.
“This is great for the university, great for the state,” Paul said of the rankings. “I’m very pleased... The growth is happening all across the university.”
More grants mean more flexibility to buy top-notch research equipment and lure the best faculty, a battle that never ends among first-tier universities.
And more spending, in turn, means higher national rankings, noticed by top researchers and schools alike, Paul said.
Of course, NU’s high rank comes with mixed blessings: Now there’s a bit of pressure to stay near the top.
Paul likes to believe NU is ready for the challenge.
“We’ve got to keep going up,” he said. “We’re moving forward on all cylinders.”
Reach Melissa Lee at 473-2682 or mlee@journalstar.com.
The rankings show NU was No. 27 among public universities in research and development spending for fiscal year 2005, the most recent year for which data was available. The university’s four campuses spent $333.1 million on things like laboratory space, research equipment and faculty salaries, an 11 percent increase over fiscal year 2004 spending.
The University of Michigan was ranked No. 1 among public schools, spending $808.9 million.
“This remarkable improvement reflects the high priority placed on research at the University of Nebraska,” NU President J.B. Milliken said in a statement. “Moving up even one spot per year would be an accomplishment, given how competitive this ranking is.
“Success brings more success, and this dramatic improvement in our ranking is important to our efforts to recruit and retain top faculty.”
In recent years, NU administrators have made research growth a top priority. As numbers go, they’ve succeeded: Last year, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln hauled in more than $100 million worth of research grants for the first time, meeting an ambitious goal set by research vice chancellor Prem Paul.
Grants to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha also are expanding; UNL and UNMC are responsible for the bulk of research spending across NU.
“This is great for the university, great for the state,” Paul said of the rankings. “I’m very pleased... The growth is happening all across the university.”
More grants mean more flexibility to buy top-notch research equipment and lure the best faculty, a battle that never ends among first-tier universities.
And more spending, in turn, means higher national rankings, noticed by top researchers and schools alike, Paul said.
Of course, NU’s high rank comes with mixed blessings: Now there’s a bit of pressure to stay near the top.
Paul likes to believe NU is ready for the challenge.
“We’ve got to keep going up,” he said. “We’re moving forward on all cylinders.”
Reach Melissa Lee at 473-2682 or mlee@journalstar.com.
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