Wichita State University has set a new record for research and development awards,
with a total of $136 million in fiscal year 2019, which ended June 30, topping last
year’s record-breaking total of $104 million.
The significant increase comes from a steep rise in contracts and awards from the
U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), which increased by more than $40 million from FY18
to FY19.
Recent DoD awards include:
$33 million from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Command Aviation & Missile Center
for emerging materials for high-speed missile applications.
$23.5 million from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory for advanced materials and
automated manufacturing.
$7 million from the Office of Naval Research for multiple projects involving advanced
materials, digital modeling and advanced manufacturing.
“Senator Moran’s position on the Defense Appropriations Committee and familiarity
with Wichita’s strong manufacturing and aviation base is crucial to the safety of
our nation,” said John Tomblin, WSU vice president for research and technology transfer.
“This relationship has opened up connections that will benefit Wichita State students,
faculty and staff, in addition to the state of Kansas, manufacturing industry, various
DoD agencies and the nation as a whole.”
Since 2012, Wichita State has made a strategic concentrated effort to increase basic
and applied research from industry and government partners, focusing on interdisciplinary
efforts and the discovery, creation and transfer of new knowledge in current and related
areas of expertise.
Collaboration with the Department of Defense is expected to continue, and Wichita
State has taken additional steps to diversify research activity.
Coleen Pugh, WSU’s new Graduate School dean and associate vice president for Research
and Technology Transfer, recently arrived on campus with plans to create funded research
for WSU with a new polymer synthesis lab. She also will emphasize new collaborative
faculty-led research projects and grants.
Pugh, formerly a professor of Polymer Science at the University of Akron (Ohio), will
focus on connecting the Graduate School’s priorities to WSU’s focus as an urban public
research university, as well as building, leading and growing university-wide, faculty-based
research initiatives.
The mission of Wichita State University is to be an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the
greater public good. Wichita State is a doctoral research university enrolling nearly
15,000 students and offering 59 undergraduate degree programs in more than 150 areas
of study in seven undergraduate colleges. The Graduate School offers 45 master's and
12 doctoral degrees that offer study in more than 100 areas. Wichita State's Innovation
Campus is an interconnected community of partnership buildings, laboratories and mixed-use
areas where students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs and businesses have access to
the university's vast resources and technology. For more information, follow us on
Twitter at www.twitter.com/wichitastate and Facebook at www.facebook.com/wichita.state.
