As I write this note, Notre Dame has just closed the books of its FY21 fiscal year. Despite all of the challenges of the pandemic and the significant achievement of teaching approximately 75% of classes in person (frequently via "dual-mode" instruction so that students in quarantine and isolation could attend remotely), our Notre Dame faculty achieved a remarkable 30% increase in research grant awards compared to the previous year. This is a phenomenal achievement given all of the challenges the pandemic presented.
In dissecting this record, the increase in awards came despite only a modest 10% increase in proposals and relatively modest success with federal stimulus opportunities. The record was built on the momentum of recent successes in areas such as strengthening elementary education programs in low- and middle-income countries, turbomachinery research and the basic science of health, as well as new areas, such as understanding food insecurity in urban areas and developing surveillance systems for emergent infectious disease.
The increased successes were fairly broad-based across colleges/schools. A majority of departments experienced increases. The increased support also originated from a diverse set of sponsors. Substantial increases in funding were received from NIH, DoD, USAID, and corporations. The breadth of the success is remarkable and, given the broad foundation upon which it is built, we believe that this year’s success will be sustained - and continue to grow.
I should also note that not all of our faculty were able to participate in these funding successes given the personal and professional challenges of the pandemic. The University moved aggressively to assist those faculty who were disproportionately affected by the pandemic, especially our junior faculty. The University was fortunate to be able to offer a Resilience and Recovery Grant Program to support those that were most affected and at risk. To date, Notre Dame has made a total of 66 funding grants and course release awards to our most significantly impacted faculty members. We continue to support these faculty in other non-financial ways as well to ensure that their programs of research and scholarship can recover and flourish.
As we turn the page to FY22, we continue to pursue research in line with the University’s mission to be a powerful means for good in the world. This year, our President, Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., has announced that our annual Notre Dame Forum topic will be “Care for Our Common Home: Just Transition to a Sustainable Future.” We anticipate a year-long series of events and dialogue around the effects of climate change on humans and the potential inequities and disparities that will emerge as we adapt to climate change. Many of these challenges are foreshadowed in Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’, which will be used as a reference and guide. I anticipate that this dialogue will inspire many new programs of cross-university programs of scholarship and inquiry.
It is an exciting time at Notre Dame. The pandemic, while tremendously challenging and impactful on many fronts, has also illuminated new questions and problems at the heart of Notre Dame’s mission. I am energized by the growth Notre Dame has experienced this year, despite our challenges. I look forward to the ideas, discoveries, and outcomes that our faculty and student researchers will produce this coming year especially as we work to find solutions for a world in need.
Sincerely,
Bob Bernhard
Vice President for Research
