Federal funding for UAH research topped $154.5 million in Fiscal 2024

Federal funding for research and development projects at the University of Alabama in Huntsville topped $154.5 million last fiscal year, the university announced Thursday.

The university’s five-year research and development expenditures total $639 million. Four programs at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) rank among the top 10 federally funded programs in the United States, according to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey.

“These rankings indicate the continued strength of UAH research programs, showcasing the dedication of our exceptional faculty, staff, students, and research centers and reflecting on our close partnership with the Redstone Arsenal and Cummings Research Park,” Robert Lindquist, UAH vice president for research and economic development, said.

This marks the 12th year in a row UAH has had five or more research programs in the top 25 nationally, including:

• Eighth in aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical engineering

• 10th in computer and information sciences

• 10th in atmospheric science and meteorology

• 10th in astronomy and astrophysics

• 25th in industrial and manufacturing engineering

UAH also ranked 22nd in the nation for research funded by the Department of Defense, and thirteenth in the nation for NASA-funded research and development.

At the state level, UAH ranks first in Alabama in six categories of federal research expenditures, including Department of Defense, NASA, aerospace/aeronautical/ astronautical engineering, computer and information sciences, atmospheric science and meteorology and astronomy expenditures.

The university did not say whether any of the programs will be affected by Department of Government Efficiency cuts.

With 17 research centers and institutes, UAH researchers are developing capabilities in areas critical to national interests, including hypersonics; logistics and supply chain management; cybersecurity; optical systems and engineering; artificial intelligence; rotorcraft and unmanned systems; severe weather; plasma fusion research; space propulsion and space physics

“We continue to support and collaborate with partners across government and industry, working together to drive innovation and advance research in critical areas,” Lindquist said. “UAH researchers are making a meaningful impact not only in Alabama but also across the nation and the globe.”

The HERD Survey collects information on research and development expenditures by field of research and source of funds and also gathers information on types of research, expenses and headcounts of R&D personnel. The survey is the primary source of information on R&D expenditures at U.S. colleges and universities, an annual census of institutions that expended at least $150,000 in separately accounted for R&D in the fiscal year, the university said.