Clemson elevates status as a top research institution

Clemson University continues to post unparalleled increases in research activity.

The institution carries a strong track record of growth as it aims to double research activity by 2035 as identified in Clemson Elevate – the University’s strategic plan.

“Clemson University was founded as a land-grant institution with the purpose of transforming lives through the power of education, research and service. One hundred and thirty-five years later, our purpose remains unchanged and has helped to shape the three pillars of our bold, strategic plan Clemson Elevate – to deliver the No. 1 student experience, to double research (again), and to transform lives across the state of South Carolina and beyond. Our faculty continue to lead our research enterprise to unprecedented levels of success, and I am incredibly proud of their outstanding dedication and commitment,” said Clemson University President Jim Clements.

Total research and development expenditures as tracked at all institutions by the National Science Foundation (NSF), for example, have already nearly doubled over the past decade to $287 million in 2023, the latest year for which data is available from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

During that time, Clemson posted a compound annual growth rate in total R&D of 5.6 percent, a percentage point higher than the average of all other Carnegie R1 research institutions, according to data from the NSF Higher Education Research and Development Survey (HERDS).

Growth continued in fiscal year 2024 ended June 30, as Clemson earned $237 million in competitive research awards and submitted $951 million in research proposals.

“We feel strongly in the bold vision laid out in the Clemson Elevate strategic plan because we have proven capable of exceptional growth over the past decade by having great research ideas and worldclass faculty and students,” said Tanju Karanfil, senior vice president for research, scholarship and creative ideas. “Beyond that, we see the results of our research put to use in the local economy, in schools and hospitals, and beyond other scholars around the country. That is why agencies continue to invest in Clemson research.”

Karanfil attributed research growth to a university-wide commitment to maturing Clemson into one of the nation’s most active Carnegie R1 research institutions, crediting university leadership, deans, associate deans, department chairs, faculty, research associates, graduate students and support staff with implementing a shared vision to enhance Clemson’s research enterprise.

Additionally, Clemson has diversified its portfolio with investments from numerous agencies, as evidenced by some of the top awards received in FY2024:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded Clemson $17.5 million to inform and improve disease-outbreak detection and response in South Carolina and beyond.

• The Virtual Prototyping of autonomy-enabled Grounds Systems (VIPR-GS) Research Center at Clemson University received another $21 million from the U.S. Army to develop next-generation offroad military vehicles.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded Clemson $6.5 million for a program to help eradicate the Asian longhorned beetle.

• The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded $6 million for a project to advance translational research and enhance the societal impact of Clemson research.

• GE and the U.S. Air Force awarded Clemson $4.9 million to develop composites for use in extreme environments.

• The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) awarded Clemson $4.5 million to collaborate with Prisma Health and the Addiction Medicine Center to provide opioid education, stewardship and harm reduction for people with substance-use disorders.

• And 10 junior faculty members earned prestigious National Science Foundation Early CAREER Awards, catalyst investments that help jumpstart the research careers of the nation’s brightest young scientists.

These are a few examples of awards received in FY2024. Additional details on Clemson’s research activity are available here.

As research activity increases, Clemson students are finding increased opportunities and are becoming increasingly competitive for national honors. Clemson earned its fourth Truman Scholarship since 2017 and only its fifth in 42 years, for example. The university had its 2nd Churchill Scholarship recipient in school history. Three students and two alums earned Fulbright Awards and will travel throughout the world to learn. Five students and one alumnus earned Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation – the most prestigious, highly sought-after STEM-focused research fellowships available to graduate students. Additionally, Clemson awarded more than 300 Ph.D.s over the past year.

“The curiosity of our faculty and the excellence of our student body is solidifying Clemson’s place as an impactful Carnegie R1 research institution,” Karanfil said. “It is an exciting time to be a Clemson Tiger.”