News Release

BOISE STATE NEWS RELEASE / September 5, 2008

Boise State Research Momentum and Stature Continues to Gather Steam with New FY 2008 Records

More Boise State University research projects than ever received a record amount of sponsored project funding during fiscal year 2008, continuing the trend of growing momentum and stature for a wide array of research and creative endeavor.

A total of 281 Boise State research projects surpassed $28 million in sponsored project funding during fiscal year 2008. That far outpaces the previous highpoint for the number of projects funded and set yet another university record for the amount of funding with an increase of $1.2 million over the previous year.

“There’s a continuous drumbeat of progress and growth for Boise State’s research programs,” said Boise State President Bob Kustra. “With each new program and each new dollar in funding, the momentum and stature of Boise State becomes more evident. But more importantly, these programs pump millions directly into the regional economy and directly contribute to the quality of life for which our community is famous.”

Boise State research helps the community most by attracting high-value employers, developing new technologies valuable to local firms, incubating start-up companies, developing medical treatments or contributing to the development of public policies that add to the quality and longevity of lives. Direct infusions to the economy include research staff payrolls, the purchase of equipment and supplies, and the hiring of consultants and graduate students, among others.

Almost $14.2 million of Boise State’s sponsored project research dollars came from federal grants, according to Boise State Vice President for Research Mark Rudin.

“Boise State’s reputation as a research university continues to grow and create the foundation for our future success,” Rudin said. “More research initiatives, better research infrastructure and facilities, stronger research-oriented faculty members and students interested in rolling up their sleeves as part of these programs are all key elements that feed off of one another and help us build a metropolitan research university of distinction.”

Here’s a sampling of some of Boise State’s research highlights from fiscal year 2008:

• Kevin Feris, biology, received awards totaling $119,685 from the National Science Foundation for the study of chronic stress in ecosystems.
• Michael Baltzell, art, received a $39,250 award from the Boise City Arts Commission to create an African village display to house new animals in Zoo Boise’s new African Plains exhibit.
• Vladimir Davydov and Mark Schmitz, geosciences, received a $114,296 award from the National Science Foundation to study climate change during the final stages of the Late Paleozoic Gondwanan Glaciation through an integrated data-model study.
• Karen Viskupic received a $320,294 award from the National Science Foundation for a project that utilizes local resources and education settings to stimulate K-12 learning.
• John Ziker and Christopher Hill, anthropology, received $118,434 from the National Science Foundation to study “Home, Hearth and Household in the Circumpolar North.”
• Sian Mooney, economics, received $40,984 from Battelle Energy Alliance and the U.S. Department of Energy to study the suitability of layered basalt deposits as targets for industrial carbon dioxide sequestration
• Keith Thiede and Jonathan Brendefur, curriculum, instruction and foundation studies, received $1.8 million from the U.S. Department of Education to develop methods for improving metacomprehension and self-regulated learning from scientific texts.
• Kris Campbell, Jake Baker, electrical and computer engineering, and Jeff Peloquin, chemistry and biochemistry, received $726,768 from NASA for reliability investigations of radiation resistant, multi-state phase-charge computer memory.
• Michelle Sabick and Ron Pfieffer, Center for Orthopaedic & Biomechanics Research, received $115,641 from the National Football League for a biomechanical study of shoe-turf interactions on NFL playing surfaces.
• Pamela Springer, nursing, received $340,000 from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare for ongoing registered nurse education and intervention services for in-home cases.
For more information about Boise State research, go to www.boisestate.edu/research/.

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Media Contact: Mike Journee, University Communications, (208) 426-1517, mikejournee@boisestate.edu

Boise State University is “The New U Rising” with record student enrollment, new academic buildings, additional degree programs and a growing research agenda. Learn more at www.boisestate.edu. 
 

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Last reviewed on Wednesday, September 10, 2008