Congrats to FAU Researchers on a Banner Year

FAU faculty, staff and students continue to do their part to find solutions to some of our most pressing challenges, from the COVID-19 pandemic to climate change. The past year was no exception. In fact, fiscal year 2020-21, which ended June 30, was our best year ever for research expenditures and sponsored research funding.

We started off the year strong, with FAU researchers receiving $38.9 million in federal, state and private agency funding in Q1 alone — a whopping 92 percent increase compared to the same timeframe last year. We ended the year with a grand total of more than $78.5 million in external sponsored research awards to FAU faculty — a 24 percent jump from the previous year. This is particularly remarkable considering the challenges of the past year related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the recent State University System Performance-Based Funding rankings, Total Research Expenditures — a unique metric selected for FAU by the Board of Trustees — was one of the areas in which we excelled. FAU’s research expenditures for FY 2020-21 were $71.3 million, earning the university 10 out of 10 possible points. This contributed to our highest-ever overall score and our No. 3 ranking.

This record-breaking year reflects the tireless dedication of our outstanding researchers, who are submitting applications to federal funding agencies for bigger, more ambitious projects than ever before — and receiving those funds. Congratulations to Vice President for Research Daniel Flynn, Ph.D., the Division of Research staff, and all FAU researchers on a banner year.