---- Research Strategic Plan. Phase I

---- Research Strategic Plan Phase I

Research Strategic Plan Vision Statement Be the catalyst for promoting discovery, encouraging innovation, catalyzing economic advancement, and inspiring creative achievement. Mission Statement Fundamental to New Mexico State University s identity as a land-grant institution, the research enterprise promotes scholarly and creative activities, enables dissemination of knowledge among diverse populations, facilitates the pursuit of competitive funding, fosters interdisciplinary research through local and global partnerships, improves research infrastructure, and provides efficient and effective research administration.

Scope Definition of Research Defined as the first three elements in the Ernest L. Boyer model of scholarship: Discovery Integration Application Duration 10 years Key performance indicators are set for five-year milestones to enable mid-course evaluation of the metrics and approach and application of correction as needed Phase 1 Disciplines include the agricultural, biological, health, and physical sciences and the engineering discipline Phase 1 disciplines account for 77% of the extramural research funding to NMSU for FY 2007 2011 Phase 2 A corresponding review of research activity in the humanities, social sciences, and creative arts, as well as PSL Anticipated completion: End of 2012

Methodology The methodology relies on the use of multiple sources of data to enhance reliability and validity of the data and data analysis and SWOT characterization. Data Sources Used for SWOT Analyses Data Sources Data Type Analyses ARGIS and InCites External and internal funding Strengths (research productivity) records InCites (Web of Science) Publications and citations Strengths (discipline/subject area) InCites (Web of Science) Publications and citations Strengths (collaboration) GRID (OSI) Researcher profiles (internal) Strengths (researcher interests) ARGIS, InCites, NIH, NSF, and USASpending.gov External and internal funding data records Strengths (extramural research funding characteristics) Department Head surveys and interviews Internal environment Weaknesses (systemic issues and constraints) NMSU post-session legislative briefing, New Mexico financial Weaknesses (financial challenges) April 20, 2011 environment GRID (OSI) Solicitation archives Opportunities (funding availability) ARGIS, NIH, NSF, USDA, DoE, NASA, and USASpending.gov External and internal databases Opportunities (federal agency profiles) LBA reports and NORDP newsletters and communications Political and competitive climate Threats/Challenges

Analysis of Research Activity Funding Trends (NMSU Fiscal Year) FY 2011: Awards were approximately $144 million, which is the lowest it has been since FY 2006 and was 27% lower than FY 2010 award value Expenditures exceeded $157 million, which is in line with expenditures since FY 2006 with the exception of FY 2010 when it was $163 million or 4% higher Success Rates for Proposals (NMSU Fiscal Year) FY 2007-2010: Success rate between 25% to 31% FY 2011: Success rate at time of analysis, 12%* * It is still too soon to tell the rate for FY 2011 because some of the proposals submitted are still in review; it is apparent from the data that the success rate will be significantly less than past years based on current analysis

Analysis of Research Activity Proposal Submissions FY 2008-2010: Submissions increased from 795 to 883 FY 2011: Submission decreased from 883 to 795, a decrease of 10% from the FY 2010 level Ratio of Proposed vs. Awarded Funding FY 2007-2010: Proposed vs. awarded funding decreased from 97% of requested to 54% of requested funding FY 2011: Increased to 75% of requested funding* * It is still too soon to tell the ratio for FY 2011 because some of the proposals submitted are still in review

Analysis of Research Activity Research Rankings NSF Rankings: NMSU improved in some categories or held steady; however, these rankings are based on 2009 science and engineering expenditures data and do not reflect current research status Carnegie Classification: Unchanged from 2005 designation, RU/H Publications and Citations Trend and Impact 1979 2003: Publications generally increased 2003: Publications peaked to more than 700 2004 2009: Publications have been slowly and steadily declining 2010: Publications dropped almost 36%, from 559 in 2009 to 359 Impact, measured by citations, appears to follow a similar trend but lags a few years behind since it takes time for publications to be cited by other researchers

Strengths ANIMAL AND RANGE SCIENCE 37 Funded researchers 259 Number of publications since 2000 Yes In NMSU s top 15 impacting subjects Yes PhD Program $8.7M Current funding 16 Number of sponsors BIOCHEMISTRY, MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, AND GENETICS 40 Funded researchers 126 Number of publications since 2000 Yes In NMSU s top 15 impacting subjects Yes PhD Program (biochemistry & molbio) $10.5M Current funding 21 Number of sponsors COMPUTER SCIENCE AND COMPUTER AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING 48 Funded researchers 178/389 Number of publications since 2000 CS/EE Yes In NMSU s top 15 impacting subjects Yes PhD Program $11.8M Current funding 27 Number of sponsors ENERGY AND BIOFUELS ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES 40 Funded researchers 51 Number of publications since 2000 No In NMSU s top 15 impacting subjects No PhD Program $16.4M Current funding 45 Number of sponsors 58 Funded researchers 301/384 Number of publications since 2000 environment/ecology Yes In NMSU s top 15 impacting subjects Yes PhD Program $16.0M Current funding 44 Number of sponsors 57 Funded researchers 287 Number of publications since 2000 No In NMSU s top 15 impacting subjects No PhD Program $20.4M Current funding 35 Number of sponsors PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCE SPACE SCIENCE AND AEROSPACE WATER 62 Funded researchers 242/56 Number of publications since 2000 plant science/soil science Yes In NMSU s top 15 impacting subjects Yes PhD Program $7.5M Current funding 34 Number of sponsors 29 Funded researchers 905 Number of publications since 2000 Yes In NMSU s top 15 impacting subjects Yes PhD Program $17.6M Current funding 26 Number of sponsors 55 Funded researchers 86 Number of publications since 2000 No In NMSU s top 15 impacting subjects Yes PhD Program $37.8M Current funding 29 Number of sponsors

SWOT Analysis Strengths Primary Areas (Emerging and Mature) Animal and Range Science Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Genetics Computer Science and Computer and Electrical Engineering Energy & Fuels Environment and Ecology Medical and Health Sciences Plant and Soil Science Space Science and Aerospace Water Weaknesses Financial Challenges Decreasing state appropriations Diminished ability to recruit and retain faculty Inability to offer competitive faculty salaries & start-up packages Persistent Systemic Issues and Constraints Lack of time Absence of a reward/incentive system Inadequate research instrumentation/ facilities Difficulty in securing joint appointments & in team teaching interdisciplinary classes Inadequate proposal development support Internal Factors Opportunities Federal Funding Trends & Potential Future Directions DOE: Energy innovation hubs, EFRCs, ARPA-E NIH: Translational research, IDeA, drug repurposing NSF: Advanced manufacturing, cyber security, major research equipment/facilities, SEES NASA: Earth & planetary science, decadal survey missions, Explorer program USDA: Food safety, global food security, childhood obesity prevention, bioenergy, climate change Industry & Foundations Potential needs to be explored; minimally tapped currently Threats Funding trends and future directions of major science, engineering, and agricultural agencies Absence of earmarks (both state and federal) Increasingly competitive field for extramural funds Absence of earmarks (both at state and federal level) External Factors Positive Negative

Goal 1: ENHANCE AND EXPAND NMSU RESEARCH Objectives a. Promote, enhance, and expand the full spectrum of research efforts, from individual investigatorinitiated projects to large research consortia b. Support and encourage the development of emerging research projects that expand NMSU research capabilities c. Facilitate research development by encouraging team building and consortia development around complex research problems of national or international need or importance d. Promote research activity and visibility at national and international levels

Goal 2: ENHANCE THE RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT Objectives a. Establish mentoring processes for faculty researchers to strengthen strategies for developing, funding, conducting, and publishing their work b. Provide incentives to encourage renewed and continued engagement in research c. Optimize and establish research administration procedures that improve the efficiency and effectiveness and enable the conduct of quality research d. Establish a Research Academy to provide professional development opportunities

Goal 3: ENHANCE AND EXPAND RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE Objectives a. Provide access to and improve core research facilities and multi-user instrumentation b. Improve facilities, including instrumentation and space, for research c. Facilitate effective and efficient use of research instrumentation and facilities

Goal 4: ENHANCE AND EXPAND RESEARCH EDUCATION Objectives a. Promote and support the central role of research in undergraduate and graduate education b. Foster research education through independent study or internship participation c. Ensure participation of diverse populations in research education and training d. Educate, train, and encourage the next generation of researchers to address international research problems

Goal 5: PROMOTE RESEARCH COMMERCIALIZATION Objectives a. Encourage the development of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)- and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)-funded project proposals to garner support from business and industry b. Offer Intellectual Property (IP) and entrepreneurship education c. Encourage researcher participation in the Arrowhead Launch Program

Wrap-Up Downward trend in research activity based on number of proposals submitted, success rates for proposals, amount of funding received, and number of publications and citations NMSU has the potential to continue its tradition of excellence in research by Building on strengths Addressing and minimizing weaknesses Taking advantage of opportunities Cooperation of all stakeholders critical Coordinated, systematic investment in research and research infrastructure essential Implementation of agreed-upon strategies key to achieving goals and objectives