News Release

BOISE STATE NEWS RELEASE / September 11, 2007

Boise State University's Research Programs Continue to Gain Momentum and Stature; FY 2007 Funding Sets New Record

Boise State University research continues to gain momentum and stature after setting another annual record for sponsored project funding for a wide array of research programs, a central pillar of Boise State’s progress as a metropolitan research university of distinction.

Boise netted $26.8 million in sponsored project funding during fiscal year 2007, a new university record and increase of $3 million over the previous year. This increase is just the latest step in a coordinated campus-wide focus on fostering research programs that deal with issues such as the development of new energy sources and the treatment of debilitating diseases.

“University research programs don’t just add to the stature and prestige of the institutions where they are housed and the scholars doing the work,” said Boise State President Bob Kustra. “It’s true that that the momentum we’re building in top-notch research programs helps Boise State attract the best faculty and students possible. But these programs also pump millions directly into the regional economy.”

Kustra said the economic benefits for the community include research staff payrolls, the purchase of equipment and supplies, and the hiring of consultants and graduate students, among others.

“Indirectly, these programs help the community most by attracting high-value employers, developing new technologies valuable to local firms, incubating start-up companies, and developing medical treatments that add to the quality and longevity of life,” Kustra said.

Since 2000, total awarded funds for research and sponsored project funding have increased 47 percent. During that same period, total awarded funds from the National Science Foundation have increased 130 percent and funding from the National Institutes of Health has increased 314 percent.

In total, 243 Boise State research projects received sponsored funding during fiscal year 2007. Nearly $14.5 million of Boise State’s sponsored project research dollars came from federal grants and awards, according to Boise State Vice President for Research Mark Rudin.

“With each new research initiative and each new dollar awarded, BSU’s reputation as a research university grows and helps breed future success,” said Rudin, who was appointed to his position one year ago to shepherd Boise State’s wide-ranging research efforts. “Our focus on research will be at the heart of Boise State’s growth and advancement far into the future.”

Here’s a rundown of some of Boise State’s research highlights from fiscal year 2007:

• English professor Jeffrey Wilhelm received $45,000 from the U.S. Department of Education through University of California-Berkeley to continue funding the Boise State Writing Project site. The Boise State Writing Project brings teachers and administrators from throughout Southern Idaho to talk, read, study, and to influence writing instruction for the students of Idaho.
• New Civil Engineering faculty member, Sondra Miller, received a $68,000 Hewlett-Packard Teaching Grant. Miller’s project titled “Models, Models Everywhere” will utilize HP Tablet PCs and modeling software to create experiential learning modules, effectively engaging students in environmental modeling. Boise State University was one of 42 higher education institutions in the U.S. selected to receive this grant in 2007.
• James Belthoff, chair of the Biology Department, was awarded $100,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study linkages between agricultural and natural systems, and to develop strategies to mitigate detrimental effects of agriculture on important wildlife species.
• In response to an increase in gang violence, Andrew Giacomazzi, Criminal Justice Department chair, and Assistant Professor Jeremy Ball received $10,000 from the Idaho State Police to conduct research on gun crimes in Canyon County.
• Diana Doumas, a professor of Counselor Education, received $91,018 from the U.S. Department of Education to facilitate a prevention program of high risk drinking in Boise State freshman athletes.
• Engineering professors Megan Frary and Darryl Butt, along with their colleagues in the Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) were awarded $239,000 from the Battelle Energy Alliance. This grant will allow the use of spark plasma sintering (SPS), a novel processing technique, to produce a variety of metallic, ceramic, and composite materials which could be used for nuclear fuel. As part of the project, a SPS system - one of fewer than 10 in the U.S. - is being purchased and will eventually be housed in the CAES building in Idaho Falls.
• Mechanical Engineering professors, Michelle Sabick and Ron Pfeiffer, were awarded $181,890 from the National Institutes of Health to study the effectiveness of specific maneuvers meant to identify labral tears of the shoulder. The data collected will allow the investigators to identify physical examination tests that have a sound biomechanical basis and that are most likely to be sensitive and specific in diagnosing superior labral pathology.
• Pamela Springer, Nursing Department chair, received $71,712 from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to provide public health outreach activities including well baby check ups, parent education, evaluation of injury to children, and follow up on diagnosed medical conditions.

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

Boise State University celebrates its 75th anniversary this fall. From its founding on Sept. 6, 1932, the institution has evolved from a small church-sponsored college in a downtown schoolhouse to a metropolitan research university of distinction with about 19,000 students. Visit boisestate.edu and click on the “75” button for more information.
 

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Last reviewed on Tuesday, September 11, 2007