Research Excellence
Penn State is committed to growing its interdisciplinary research enterprise.
Penn State is among the top research institutions in the country, with $1.337 billion in research expenditures in 2023-24. Every day, talented researchers, including postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and undergraduate students across hundreds of disciplines, are making a difference in Pennsylvania and around the globe, helping to solve critical societal challenges and preparing students to be the leaders and thinkers of tomorrow. Ranked among the top 30 research institutions (and among the top 16 public institutions) nationally, Penn State employs some of the world’s leading researchers, who create knowledge for the benefit of all, and help drive discovery, introspection, curiosity, rigor and growth among our students as they prepare for successful careers.
Investing in research and commercialization
A thriving interdisciplinary research enterprise is imperative to Penn State’s future. University leaders are making strategic investments to help maximize the impacts of our researchers’ work and foster excellence. This means investing in areas where the University is already great, as well as in areas that are poised to go from good to great. For example, in fiscal year 2023, Penn State invested nearly $300 million in research, including in advanced infrastructure and equipment. The University also prioritizes the recruitment and retention of top faculty members through targeted seed grants, competitive retention packages, investment in state-of-the-art equipment, building interdisciplinary teams of faculty in areas of strategic impact, and faculty recognition through chairs and other means.
This investment also supports commercialization of research via licensing of Penn State’s intellectual property to existing companies or start-ups with a goal of generating real-world impacts. In turn, such efforts also have the potential to generate significant novel revenue streams for the University and its inventors, which can include undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, in addition to faculty members. This work also serves communities by supporting economic development in Pennsylvania and beyond.
Investing in research also means investing in our graduate students, who play a vital role in the success of our institution’s research enterprise. Not only are our graduate students beneficiaries of our research efforts, which provide the foundation for them to flourish, but they are also active contributors and catalysts for innovation.
University leaders also have launched the Research Support Transformation Project (RSTP), which will directly support faculty success by reducing unnecessary administrative burdens and increasing the efficiency of operations that support researchers in their work. Specifically, investments will be made in research support staff and in the tools and resources our faculty and staff need to be efficient and effective. Researchers can provide input to help guide the direction of RSTP by visiting the project’s information portal.
Impacting Pennsylvania and the world
In addition, as Pennsylvania’s only land-grant university, Penn State is uniquely positioned to conduct research that serves the commonwealth. Penn State research promotes economic development, helps to grow the workforce, and supports local businesses, while providing a world-class education to students at twenty-four campuses across the state. To support research taking place at campuses across Pennsylvania every day, university leaders recently announced grant opportunities for Commonwealth Campus researchers. In addition, to reach our goal of excellence in interdisciplinary research, Penn State provides support to foster collaborations across colleges and campuses, such as those between University Park and the College of Medicine.
Research is a foundational cornerstone of Penn State. University leaders are committed to making strategic investments where they will have the most impact on the institution’s mission and to identifying new revenue streams to build an even stronger future for Penn State.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will Penn State ensure that research remains a cornerstone of the University?
As an R1 university, research is part of Penn State’s DNA. University leaders are making strategic investments to reduce administrative burdens, simplify processes, and increase support of researchers so they can focus on what they do best. For example, in fiscal year 2023, Penn State invested nearly $300 million in research, including in advanced infrastructure and equipment. The University also prioritizes the recruitment and retention of top faculty members through targeted seed grants, competitive retention packages, investment in state-of-the-art equipment, building interdisciplinary teams of faculty in areas of strategic impact, and faculty recognition through chairs and other means.
How is the University investing in research at the Commonwealth Campuses?
Are there any further updates on the Research Support Transformation project?
There are three workstreams underway to make the University’s research support infrastructure more efficient by taking a more standardized, institution-wide approach to research support. The workstreams are focused on analyzing and making recommendations to:
- Streamline the invoice and payment process with funding agencies;
- Analyze the functional gaps within our current research information systems, including the portal researchers use to track financial progress; and
- Modernize research support moving forward, starting with research accounting.
The project at its core is focused on better understanding the root causes of the administrative burdens that researchers face that prevent additional growth. Researchers can provide input to help guide the directions of RSTP by visiting the project’s information portal. Community feedback will be critical to inform what actions we prioritize within the research support ecosystem.