Faculty contribute to 160% research spending growth
Craig M. Berge Dean David W. Hahn welcomes attendees to the College of Engineering’s Celebration of Success on Oct. 22.
The University of Arizona College of Engineering recently announced a 28% year-over-year increase in research spending at the 2025 Celebration of Success in the Civil Engineering Courtyard on Oct. 22. Over the past six years, the college has grown its research expenditures to about 160%, said Craig M. Berge Dean David W. Hahn.
The college averaged $22 million in research costs before Hahn began implementing strategies to double expenditures. With associate dean of research Mark Van Dyke at the helm since 2020, the college has nearly tripled its research enterprise.
“Our strategic plan, developed with direct input from over 100 faculty, has served us well,” said Van Dyke, also a biomedical engineering professor. “We were proactive in collaborating with other universities and industry partners to advance national priorities like cancer research, artificial intelligence tech and homeland security.”
Roughly 20% of the year’s research expenditures were from faculty who joined the college in the last three years, amounting to $11.6 million. One such faculty member is Shang Song, Frank L. and Daphna Lederman Professor and assistant professor in biomedical engineering, who won a $2.32 million, five-year NIH Director’s New Innovator Award to develop a bioimplant that treats spinal cord damage.
“Our new faculty have made strong contributions, exceeding initial projections and increasing their research activity faster than anticipated,” Van Dyke said.