Portland State research activity reaches all-time high

Portland State’s research productivity surged in the 2022-23 fiscal year based on two key indicators: awards received and money spent.

University researchers attracted a record $92.2 million in awards, a 42% increase over the previous fiscal year and 30% over its previous record high in 2017. Likewise, research expenditures — or the amount that was spent doing research, considered a reliable measure of research activity — increased to $65.3 million, a 20% increase over the previous fiscal year and 12% over the previous record in 2019.

"Today, we celebrate this remarkable growth in PSU’s research activity—a testament to our unwavering commitment to bettering our region and world while enhancing our students’ experiences,” said PSU President Ann Cudd.

“These figures show that Portland State continues to serve our community by producing world-class research on important drivers of our economy and our planet’s health,” said Rick Tankersley, PSU Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies. “And such projects provide our undergraduate and graduate students with knowledge and skills that deepen their understanding of the world and position them for excellent careers.”
 

Many projects embody Portland State’s students-first focus by helping students attain new and valuable skills, such as:

• $1.8 million from the National Science Foundation to Erin Shortlidge, professor of biology, to train graduate students throughout the region to become more effective and inclusive instructors.
• $900,000 from the National Science Foundation awarded to no fewer than eight Portland State math professors, led by Jay Gopalakrishnan, to provide training to undergraduate, graduate, and post-doc students in computation- and data-enabled science.

Embracing Portland State’s motto to “Let Knowledge Serve,” some awards enlist the expertise and experience of our faculty to address major challenges facing our region, including:

• Nearly $2 million from the Oregon Housing & Community Services to Lisa Bates, faculty in the Center for Urban Studies, to provide assistance with initiatives relating to eviction prevention and homeless services
• $1.5 million from the State of Oregon to Beth Green, Director of Early Childhood and Family Support Research in the School of Social Work, to conduct a statewide assessment and evaluation of services that support families with young children and child care providers
• $1 million from the National Science Foundation to Bob Bass, engineering professor, to facilitate coordination among a range of partners to build an equitable and smart power grid throughout the Pacific Northwest

Finally, several awards demonstrate that Portland State is home to excellent researchers producing work with global — or even interstellar — consequences:

• $2.5 million from the US Department of Energy to engineering professor Jonathan Bird to perform an open-water test of the performance of a wave energy converter generator
• $810,000 from the Simons Foundation to early-career biology professor Anne Thompson and her students to research mortality in aquatic microbes in the open ocean
• Nearly $1 million to engineering professor Raúl Cal to design experiments on particle transport that will be performed by astronauts in the International Space Station, providing an out-of-this-world experience for undergraduate and graduate students

“Portland State is proud of the quality of our faculty’s research and expertise and their commitment to the success of our students,” Tankersley said. “This growth shows that Portland State’s value is increasingly recognized by federal, state, and private partners.”