Grant Funding Hits All-Time High at USM

New research grant and contract awards at the University of Southern Maine hit an all-time high of $29 million, according to the 1999-2000 annual report issued by USM's Office of Sponsored Programs.

A total of 235 research projects funded by new and continuing awards from external sources are underway as USM enters the new year. That’s more than four times the 1990-1991 total of $6.5 million and more than 1.5 times the 1995 total of $18.2 million, according to Larry Waxler, director of the Office of Sponsored Programs. Waxler's office matches faculty and staff research interests with sponsors, aids in proposal preparation, and administers projects.

Growth in funded research at USM is seen across the university. Waxler cites several reasons, including more research-oriented faculty and a greater emphasis on supporting teaching through research activities.

Many of the projects are conducted by USM’s Muskie School of Public Service, which conducts applied social and health-related research throughout Maine and more than 35 other states. One of the projects will generate data on the status of Indian children in America to inform public and tribal policy. Two American Indian students from USM will be employed each year to assist with the project.

R&D (research and development) funds provided by the Maine Legislature also have played a critical role in providing a better infrastructure to support research. Renovation of the Department of Engineering labs was recently completed, allowing, for example, USM Professor of Electrical Engineering Mustafa Guvench to continue his work with students and local industry to test computer chips and experiment with such newer technologies as the micromachining of silicon. Construction plans also are being finalized for a biosciences research institute.