The numbers are in: The College of Engineering garnered $33 million in research awards in CY 2023, up about $11 million from 2022. Research faculty won 132 grants in 2023, up from 94 in 2022.
Some of the larger grants announced in 2023 include:
- $5 million, five-year cooperative agreement with the Federal Highway Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded to Civil Engineering Professor Elie Hajj.
- $4 million award from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center to establish the Nevada Center for Water Resiliency to Chemical Engineering Associate Professor Sage Hiibel and Environmental Engineering Associate Professor Eric Marchand.
- $2 million award from the National Science Foundation to Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor Floris van Breugel to apply emerging knowledge in insect neuroscience to the development of autonomous robotic systems.
Engineering Dean Erick Jones credits not only the research faculty but the team from the College’s Engineering Research Office (ERO) for the jump in research awards. The team — Roger Evans, Julia Henning, Kristy McLean and Brett Shirey — provides research faculty with proposal development and project management support. Erika Hutton, former ERO team lead and now with the Sponsored Projects team in the University’s Research & Innovation organization, also is credited with laying the groundwork for an efficient, effective ERO staff.
- Engineering Research Office
- Civil engineering professor secures $5 million cooperative agreement with FHWA
- Engineering receives $4 million Army grant to establish Nevada Center for Water Resiliency
- Mechanical Engineering professor awarded $2 million grant to apply emerging knowledge in insect neuroscience to the development of autonomous robotic systems
“The momentum in the College of Engineering right now is very exciting,” Jones said. “Our faculty is bringing a level of innovation and excellence to their research that is truly cutting edge. We are grateful to have a faculty and an ERO team that embraces our vision and helps articulate our goals so eloquently.
“This small but mighty team has truly supported our research faculty in getting to a higher level,” Jones continued. “It’s one of the advantages of working at the College of Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno.”
Research is a priority for the College, along with providing students with a rigorous, hands-on education in engineering and computer science. The focus on research is reflected in College’s strategic plan, Wolf Pack Innovation, which lists as its research pillars:
- Resilient supply chains, lithium and critical materials.
- Equitable infrastructure, mitigating natural hazards.
- Cyber-protected information and communication technology.
- Sustainable, net-circular, green and recyclable systems.
- Unmanned vehicles — the new space frontier.
