Federal investment in the university’s people and programs will help produce important economic outcomes for the state and nation – through workforce development; research and development; technology commercialization; small business growth; policy analysis and forecasting; technical assistance; and low- and no-cost business, government, and human services.
Michael J. Pazzani, Vice President for Research and Graduate and Professional Education at Rutgers, said that as a public research university Rutgers is committed to exploring the frontiers of science, technology, and knowledge through its research programs.
President Obama signs the economic stimulus package into law (ARRA), Denver, Colorado, February 17, 2009.
“The new dollars from the ARRA are particularly important to continuing this productive research – research that will ultimately improve the welfare, health, and quality of life of all people,” Pazzani said.
Rutgers has received $28.5 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), $12.9 million from the National Science Foundation, and $1.6 million from other federal agencies. The first grant was awarded on May 23 and new research grants are being made each week. A total of 125 research awards have been funded including three prestigious NIH Challenge Grants in Health and Science Research. Read story.
Executive Dean Douglas Greenberg of the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) said the arts and science faculty have garnered major new ARRA awards in the life sciences and beyond. “I am deeply gratified that they have so successfully met the challenge and opportunity presented by the stimulus funds,” Greenberg said. “These achievements strengthen the already superb work they are doing and will also inspire multidisciplinary programs across departments, units, and universities, and private sector partnerships.”
Executive Dean Robert M. Goodman of the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences said faculty are continuing to submit grant applications to federal agencies. “In an environment where the success rate in federal grants has fallen below 10 percent, it’s a big boost to morale and a welcome stimulus to research productivity to have that level of ARRA dollars coming to Rutgers.”
The university has been awarded a total of at least $43 million in competitive research funds and more is anticipated, Pazzani said. Rutgers' ARRA website will present regular updates of the funds received.
Rutgers students also will benefit from the stimulus package. Millions more will make their way to Rutgers students through increases in need-based, federal financial aid programs, particularly the Pell grant and Federal Work Study programs provided through the ARRA. In fact, more than $180 million in Pell grants and $4 million in Work Study funds have been awarded to students attending colleges and universities in New Jersey through the ARRA. The U.S. Department of Education reports $14.3 million in Pell awards to Rutgers, $858,000 in Work Study, and another $500,000 in student financial assistance.
In addition, a portion of the operating support being provided to the university through the state budget approved in the summer also comes from the ARRA. Approximately $15 million is due to be provided to the university through the ARRA’s State Fiscal Stabilization Fund.
There are also many large and small funding opportunities in such areas as workforce training, broadband infrastructure, energy transmission and efficiency, where the university is seeking funding either as a direct applicant or in conjunction with the state, industry, or other partners.