DATE: October 18, 2006

CONTACT: Chris Przirembel, (864) 656-7701
cprzmbl@clemson.edu

WRITER: Susan Polowczuk, (864)656-2063
susan.polowczuk@clemsonews.clemson.edu

EXPERT: Christian E.G. Przirembel

Research numbers climb toward goal

CLEMSON — External funding of Clemson University research totaled $136.3 million for 2005-06, the highest in the university’s history and an increase of almost 10 percent over last year’s $125.6 million total. The leap moves Clemson closer to its target of $150 million by 2008.

Vice President for Research and Economic Development Chris Przirembel credited faculty members and staff for garnering $136,335,136 in research and sponsored awards. In addition, the National Science Foundation named Clemson University as a research site for the Center for Engineering Logistics and Distribution, an Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (CELDi). The selection has the potential to affect the flow of raw materials, scheduling production and distributing finished goods for everything from Homeland Security and disaster preparedness to automobile production and distribution. As a CELDi university, Clemson receives at least $1 million over a three-year period through industry projects and matching contributions.

“The steady increase in competitive funding reflects a strong research program that is integral in recruiting top students and faculty to the university,” Przirembel said. “Once again, I have to commend our faculty and their research teams for their tremendous work and dedication.”

Przirembel added that these research programs, from science and engineering to architecture and the social sciences, impact lives everywhere.

Among the research projects funded for 2005-06:

-- $2.6 million for the development of high-power lasers, led by John Ballato, associate professor of materials science and engineering and director of COMSET, the Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies. The photonics research program, located in the Advanced Materials Research Laboratory in the Clemson Research Park, is a key element of the advanced materials economic cluster being developed in Anderson County.
-- $1.6 million to help the Golden Strip community in Greenville County create a comprehensive strategy for prevention of child abuse and neglect. Gary Melton, professor of psychology and director of the Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life leads the project.
-- A total of $12.2 million in grants and contracts in the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences (CAFLS). This includes a $500,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) award for Peter Marko, assistant professor of biological sciences, to study genetics of shellfish and a $400,000 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant for Hong Luo, associate professor of genetics and biochemistry, to research turf grass enhancement.
-- $1 million from the U.S. Army to Clemson Apparel Research (CAR), led by Chris Cole, professor of materials science and engineering and director of CAR, to update and consolidate U.S. Army class A uniforms to reflect the heritage of the army. The army is shifting from the traditional green to blue uniforms. CAR builds patterns for army uniforms, and the new look is being test-fitted at Fort Jackson.
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