Growing Research Funding In Emerging And Developed Research Universities

This thesis investigates the research funding patterns at ten doctoral universities across the country, classified by Carnegie as R2: Higher Research Activity institutions. Findings detail patterns in funding and research growth and the relationship between research administrators and funded projects. This mixed methods study uses quantitative and qualitative data to examine each of these universities’ total award dollars received in the FY2017 and compares the top three departments funded and how funding may relate to the research administration missions of each research office. I also analyze the source of research dollars, including federal and other external sponsors, and the percentage of proposals submitted versus those awarded. Overall, this paper encompasses and conceptualizes the complicated, competitive grant process at the university level and argues that in order for administrators to increase access to research dollars, they should: understand the funding climate, stay connected to their institutions’ community of scholars, and encourage scholars to conduct scholarship that drives opportunity, innovation, and change.