Congrats to FAU Researchers on a Banner Year

Thursday, Jul 22, 2021
researcher looking through microscope

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.