Mississippi State moves closer to top 50 national research ranking
December 31, 2001
Mississippi State University continues its rise among the nation’s universities recognized for research strengths.
In data recently posted by the National Science Foundation at https://www.nsf.gov/, the university shows gains in overall science and engineering research expenditures and holds a top 10 spot in agricultural research expenditures. [From the NSF main page, follow these links: “science statistics,” “publications and data,” “academic R&D expenditures.”]
Mississippi State moved to 58th among public universities in total research and development expenditures, which include all funds used in the operation of a research project. A university goal is to rank in the nation’s top 50 public research universities, as reported by NSF.
Among other highlights:
* Mississippi State continues to hold the eighth spot in agricultural expenditures at all universities and colleges with $57.9 million reported in 1999, up from $54.9 million the previous year. It ranks ahead of Texas A&M, Louisiana State and Cornell universities, among others.
* In engineering expenditures, the university moved to a 37th-place ranking among all universities, up from 49th the previous year. With $30.7 million in expenditures, Mississippi State ranked ahead of Clemson, Rutgers and the universities of Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia.
“These totals reflect the commitment of MSU faculty members to seek research funding that will help address the needs of the state, the region and beyond,” said Robert A. Altenkirch, vice president for research.
“The faculty’s success in areas that include remote sensing, electronics, biotechnology, and computational engineering, among others, is translating into direct economic benefits for Mississippi.
“The ranking of our engineering college, indicating an extensive research capacity, and the diversity of its expertise were important factors in the recruitment of Nissan to Mississippi. We’re pleased to be able to contribute to economic development in this way,” he added.
For the 1999 fiscal year–the most recent year reported by NSF–MSU’s research expenditures were $110.89 million, up from $100.4 million the previous year. Mississippi State ranked ahead of Clemson, Arizona State, Florida State, and Auburn universities, among others. Last year’s totals placed the university at 59th.
Of the $153.2 million reported for all of Mississippi’s doctoral-granting institutions, MSU’s expenditures represent more than 72 percent of the state’s total, Altenkirch said.