NC West Virginia News

West Virginia University (WVU) has reported a record-breaking $275 million in externally supported research expenditures for fiscal year 2024, marking an 82% increase from five years ago. In 2019, the university reported $152 million in research expenditures. Last year, the amount reached $231 million.

“These numbers underscore the University’s commitment to high-quality research that affects communities locally and globally in enhancing lives and well-being,” said WVU Vice President for Research Fred King. “It really is a testament to the hard work of our faculty, staff, and undergraduate and graduate students who engage in the research, that these figures continue to soar year-by-year.”

The university secures research funding from various sources including federal, state, industry, and private donors through a competitive process evaluating projects for quality and impact.

King emphasized that the steady growth in expenditures over the past five years reflects external trust in WVU's research capabilities. “As West Virginia’s only R1, land-grant university, WVU has garnered confidence from government agencies, businesses and private citizens in fulfilling its mission,” he said. “That mission is to engage in research to solve real world problems, educate our students, and contribute to the economic vitality of our state and nation.”

Key areas of strength such as astrophysics, energy, neuroscience, cancer, forensics, and robotics have continued to attract financial support. The Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources has notably increased funding for its top research initiatives since 2020.

“At the Statler College, research expenditures have grown significantly since 2020, focusing on advancements in smart grid technologies, energy solutions, decarbonization, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, water infrastructure and more,” said Pedro J. Mago, Glen H. Hiner Dean of the Statler College.

Maura McLaughlin, chair of physics and astronomy at WVU and a renowned astrophysicist elected to the National Academy of Sciences this year noted the importance of funding from entities like the National Science Foundation. “The funding we receive from the National Science Foundation for astrophysics allows WVU to be a world leader in cutting-edge research areas,” she said.

Additionally, external funding addressing health disparities across West Virginia has seen an increase. Dr. Sally Hodder noted that investing in research infrastructure has enabled groundbreaking biomedical research relevant to West Virginians.

Research funding also supports overhead costs at WVU which increased from $39 million in 2023 to $43 million today. These "indirect expenditures" are based on space utilized for externally funded work at the university.

“Research funding extends beyond the labs and field sites,” King stated. “It aids with the University’s bottom line and lays the groundwork for what we are able to accomplish.”

WVU first attained R1 status under Carnegie Classification in 2015 and has maintained it since then as one of only 146 institutions with this designation.