BOZEMAN — Montana State University (MSU) has announced a record-breaking $257 million in research expenditures for the fiscal year 2024, marking a 12% increase over the previous year and continuing a six-year streak of growth in research funding.
According to a September 5 press release, MSU saw a 6% rise in the number of faculty leading research, bringing the total to 445. The university, the largest public institution in Montana, reported that the increased funds contribute to various fields, including scientific discovery, rural outreach, and student opportunities.
“This ongoing growth in research expenditures and advancements highlights the exceptional talent and creativity of our faculty,” said Bob Mokwa, MSU’s executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “We are equally proud of our students, who are gaining valuable hands-on experience while contributing to significant discoveries.”
MSU’s research activities support 837 undergraduate students and 681 graduate students. The university’s strategic plan, “Choosing Promise,” aimed to surpass $200 million in research funding by 2024, achieving this goal two years ahead of schedule.
MSU’s research enterprise now exceeds that of all other public and private universities in the state combined. The university has secured grants from notable organizations such as the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Air Force Research Lab, the National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Upcoming research projects include exploring the use of living materials to reduce the construction industry’s reliance on cement, enhancing Indigenous health knowledge to combat chronic diseases, and studying arsenic detoxification methods.
In addition to spending, the total funds awarded in 2024 increased from $166 million to $207 million, a 25% rise. Among MSU’s colleges, the College of Agriculture led with $54.1 million in research expenditures, followed by the College of Letters and Science with $32 million and the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering with $25 million.
Significant contributions also came from MilTech, with $44.6 million for technology transitions, the Western Transportation Institute with $4.4 million, and the Center for American Indian Rural Health Equity with $3.7 million. Approximately 90% of MSU’s research funding came from federal grants, with the remaining 10% from private sources and state funds.
Kopriva Fellowship Award
In related news, William Walls, a doctoral student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, has been awarded the 2024 Kopriva Graduate Student Fellowship from the College of Letters and Science. Walls received $5,000 to support his research, including travel expenses to attend the Metals in Biology Gordon Research Conference in January.
Walls, who joined MSU to work under Professor Joan Broderick, is investigating radical SAM enzymes, which are involved in antimicrobial properties. His research aims to understand these enzymes’ mechanisms to aid in bioengineering efforts. This summer, Walls collaborated with Professor Brian Hoffman at Northwestern University to study enzyme reactions, crucial for developing more effective antimicrobial agents.
“Understanding the exact steps these enzymes take is fundamental for their use in bioengineering,” Walls said. “Our goal is to optimize antimicrobials for maximum potency with minimal side effects.”
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