College of Technology research funding reaches all-time high

Sponsored research funding for the Purdue University College of Technology topped $11.6 million in 2009-2010, a total that is four times higher than the previous year and more than double the previous high set in 2007-2008.

The funding is a reflection of the college’s commitment to research overall and to the six signature research areas outlined in its five-year strategic plan: advanced manufacturing, cyberinfrastructure, energy and sustainability, security and forensics, STEM education and technology and life sciences.

The strategic plan, now in its second year, includes a goal of increasing funded research to $15 million by 2014.

“We attribute much of our success in growing our research funding to the fact that we are working in areas that are critical to the future of the state of Indiana and our nation; these are important targets,” said Melissa Dark, associate dean for research and strategic planning. “Second, the faculty and students in the College of Technology have a wealth of expertise in technology implementation and innovation. In other words, we have a lot of arrows in our quiver to aim at these targets.”

The awards in 2009-2010 funded initiatives that highlight the expertise and passions of the college’s faculty, the broad reach of technology disciplines and the college’s goal to deliver solutions that meet global challenges and improve the well-being of society.

“For close to 50 years we have been dedicated to inquiry and innovation for our faculty, staff and students,” said Dennis Depew, dean of the college. “With the continued growth of our research initiatives, we are demonstrating to business, industry and government that we are at the forefront of the innovation and application of technology to solve the grand challenges of our world.”

Many of the projects involve collaboration among the college’s eight departments and some span to other colleges across the University.

A total of 75 projects were funded in 2009-2010. Highlighting the awards were the National Science Foundation-funded George E. Brown Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES); the development and implementation of the National Test Facility for Fuels and Propulsion, funded by the U.S. Air Force; and the Indiana Advanced Electric Vehicle Education and Training Consortium, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Other projects included research to improve technology education, developing a lab to monitor the efficient consumption of energy, studying iris recognition systems, providing computer forensics training to law enforcement personnel, developing sustainable manufacturing portals and studying the movement of robots using mobile broadband networks.

“While these and other funded projects stress the importance of scholarship and discovery, research also provides fuel for our strategy of pursuing technology commercialization and technology transfer via the granting of patents and the creation of several companies over the past three years,” said Matt McKillip, director of research relations at the college. “The entrepreneurship and technology commercialization successes have likewise resulted in yet more research and are making the college a leader in discovery through delivery.”

ALCOA, U.S. Department of Education, National Science Foundation, Indiana Department of Transportation, Rolls-Royce Corporation, Lockheed Martin and Landis+Gyr were among a host of corporate and government entities providing support to the college.

The college is well on its way to a successful 2010-2011. Project funding through the first two months of the fiscal year stands at more than $587,000.

Learn more about the College of Technology research initiatives at the applied research Web site.

For more information on applied research projects or sponsored projects, please contact Melissa Dark, associate dean for research and strategic planning.