Contact: Robbie Ward
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State's Bagley College of Engineering now ranks 34th among all engineering colleges nationally in research and development expenditures.
The university also ranks fifth in agricultural sciences research.
A National Science Foundation report for fiscal year 2007--the most current year for which figures are available--also lists the university as a whole at 58th among all public institutions of higher learning.
The survey included 680 higher education institutions in the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. All grant bachelor's degrees or higher in science and engineering fields and expect at least $150,000 in separately funded science and engineering research and development in a fiscal year.
From finding solutions to sustainable energy sources to protecting the public in the cyber universe, MSU research efforts have focused on the improvement of lives at the regional, national and international levels, said Glenn Steele, interim vice president of research and economic development.
In the recently released report, MSU's $37.5 million in agricultural sciences expenditures and its Bagley College's $56.4 million in research expenditures placed the university one of only two Southeastern Conference programs--University of Florida is the other--in the top five and top 40 in the respective areas. The ranking places the MSU academic unit among the highest 10 percent of all engineering colleges in the nation.
MSU is ranked consistently in the top 10 in agricultural sciences expenditures.
The report covers rankings of all federally affiliated research institutions. MSU's overall research expenditures totaled $206.2 million. The university, as a whole, moved up a notch from the previous year, 59 to 58, among public universities when expenditures were $189.9 million.
Among all universities, MSU rose from 86 to 83.
"These totals reflect the commitment of MSU faculty members to seek research funding that will help address needs of the state, region and nation," Steele observed.
"Our university and engineering college rankings also show an extensive research capacity and diversity of expertise critical to contributing to Mississippi's economic development," he added.
MSU officials long have said research expenditures are essential for advancing the 131-year-old land-grant institution's mission. They note that research expenditures directly impact state and regional economies and support students, faculty, staff technicians, and others who might not otherwise work in the state.
Equally important, campus research has lead to the development of new technologies, commercial developments and technology transfers at all levels.
"An active research and development program helps Mississippi State attract and retain some of the best engineering faculty in the nation," said Sarah Rajala, Bagley College dean.
She said the NSF study indicates that the college moved up seven spots from 41 the previous year when research and development spending was at $47.8 million.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS" For more information, contact Dr. Steele at 662-325-3570 or steele@research.msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.