Welcome to OU Research

The University of Oklahoma is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a Very High Research institution, placing it in the highest tier of research universities in the nation. This designation is one of the most important measures that distinguish among institutions of higher education, and as the only Very High Research university in the state, OU is a foundational engine for economic growth because proximity to an outstanding research university is among the most important factors in business start-up or relocation decisions.

The University of Oklahoma is an institution on the move in research and creative activity. Research expenditures in 2010 across all three campuses (Norman Campus, Health Sciences Center Campus, and OU-Tulsa) exceeded $261 million in FY10, and Norman Campus faculty (including faculty associated with Norman Campus programs at OU-Tulsa) set a record for new grants in 2010, topping the $100 million mark for the first time in OU history. The associated 40% increase from the previous year is the largest ever, and this achievement contributed significantly to the near tripling of Norman Campus research funding over the past 15 years. Research expenditures in 2010 also set a new record, representing the second largest yearly increase in a decade.

Of course, grant funding is but one measure of faculty achievement in research and creative activity. OU faculty are receiving prestigious national and international awards and fellowships, publishing in acclaimed journals and books, serving as editors and jurists, and presenting or performing your scholarship in venues around the world. You can learn more about the wide variety of exciting research and creative activity underway on the Norman Campus by visiting http://vpr-norman.ou.edu/research-areas.

A new era for research and creative activity began in 2010 with the initiation of Aspire 2020 (http://aspire2020.ou.edu), a bold planning activity leading to a decadal strategic roadmap for scholarship. And Aspire 2020 already is yielding significant fruit.

The Norman Campus recently established the Center for Research Program Development and Enrichment (CRPDE) to assist faculty in developing their research programs as well as grant proposals. Also in 2010, OU launched a Strategic Initiative in Defense, Security and Intelligence (DSI) Research, and the Research Council conducted a pilot program on Potentially Transformative Research. A new competitive seed funding initiative, known as the Faculty Research Challenge Grant Program, was established and will provide over half a million dollars per year to initiate new projects that show promise for long-term growth.

New emphasis is being placed on multidisciplinary research and especially bold, imaginative engagements with Federal agencies and private industry. The Norman Campus soon will establish a Center for Applied Research and Development (CARD) to support new types of grants and contracts, particularly those in areas of defense and national security, and launch a Faculty Leadership Academy. And with great excitement, OU is developing a new vision for its Research Campus, which is closing in on one million square feet of developed space and now houses more than 350 private employees among more than a dozen companies.

The University of Oklahoma indeed is an institution on the move. Its scholarly endeavors improve the quality of life for Oklahomans, lead to start-up companies and high-technology jobs, provide unique educational experiences for students, and help us better understand and enjoy the world in which we live.