“This college will be one of the most powerful means for doing good.” That was the vision Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C. had for Notre Dame nearly 200 years ago, and it’s the driving force behind the University’s accelerated research activity. In fact, Notre Dame announced that it has committed $80 million in internal financial resources to support two phases of integrated research initiatives—initiatives that perhaps will save lives, influence policy and lift barriers to human development.
“Excellence in research is a central goal at Notre Dame for many reasons, but most of all because it is through the scholarly and creative work of our faculty that the University is able to better serve society, which is our driving ambition,” said Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
The $80 million commitment comes in the wake of the University receiving more than $90 million in external research (non-donor) funding in the past year. The combination, according to Father Jenkins, “allows our scholars to significantly advance their contributions to the most pressing issues of our times.”
The first phase of the research project will be dedicated to five initiatives: nanoelectronics; global health; advanced diagnostics and therapeutics using micro-instrumentation; an imaging core facility; and a new multidisciplinary “think tank” to attract leading scholars.
Each project promises to enhance the University—not only by drawing great, new minds to campus, but by specifically addressing the University’s call “to do good.” For example, the integrated diagnostic and therapeutic platforms might include a simple and small monitoring kit that could detect contamination in wells in Bangladesh. In addition, the proposal to create cutting-edge imaging will benefit all Notre Dame student and faculty researchers who rely on sophisticated microscopy. It also will establish a “hub” of University and visiting faculty engagement that is likely to encourage new ideas and solutions.
These five initiatives were identified through a grass-roots process that drew 72 faculty proposals. The five projects were identified by the Strategic Academic Planning Committee (SAPC) composed of a dozen faculty and administrators representing the University’s various colleges.
Four of the five proposals draw on the ideas of engineers and scientists, some who will seek the ethical perspective of Notre Dame’s Arts and Letters faculty or entrepreneurship guidance from the Mendoza College of Business.
“Overall, the proposals funded are varied in their reach, methodology and emphases, but alike in their potential to address major challenges,” Notre Dame’s Provost Thomas G. Burish said.
According to Robert Bernhard, Notre Dame vice president for research, the University believes its current faculty and students, and those who are attracted to our ranks, will have the opportunity to make significant discovery that addresses the most important problems of the day.
This commitment of internal resources comes in the midst of a period of continuing growth in research funding from external grants and gifts. These gifts include $20 million from the Gates Foundation in support of research aimed at evaluating existing malaria control programs and designing improved methods for malaria control, and $69 million for the construction of Stinson-Remick Hall, the engineering building that will house a nanotechnology research center, a new Energy Center, and a semiconductor processing and device fabrication clean room.
Click here for more information about the SAPC and the upcoming research initiatives.
