The University of Florida spent a record $1.26 billion on faculty research in fiscal year 2024, driven in part by a 10% increase over FY2023 in federally funded research.
Federally-funded research makes up about 46% of UF’s total, with a record $581 million in 2024, a number that has increased by 46% in the last five years, according to a press release.
“Driven by a spirit of discovery and backed by the state of Florida, UF’s incredible faculty do incredible work,” Mori Hosseini, chair of UF’s Board of Trustees, said in a press release. “We are proud of our researchers and their teams.”
Overall, UF increased its research spending by about $8 million over last year.
“At the University of Florida, we do big things and we solve big problems,” UF President Ben Sasse said in a release. “We are proud to work with government agencies to put our expertise to work. Our discoveries are driving Florida forward.”
Research spending data is based on UF’s response to the National Science Foundation’s yearly Higher Education Research and Development survey, the national standard to compare research spending at universities. Fiscal year 2024 ended on June 30.
“UF’s partnership with the federal agencies continues to expand, driving a consistent increase in our research expenditures,” David Norton, UF’s vice president for research, said in the release. “UF faculty are writing highly competitive proposals and winning significant grants to help solve some of society’s most pressing problems, in health care, agriculture, national security and many other areas.”
Almost half of UF’s research spending was in the six UF Health colleges, with $370.5 million at the College of Medicine in Gainesville and Jacksonville, $37.3 million at the College of Public Health & Health Professions, $36.4 million at the College of Pharmacy, $29 million at the College of Veterinary Medicine, $18.9 million at the College of Dentistry and $5.3 million at the College of Nursing.
The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute accounted for $101 million in research spending.
UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) accounted for $269.6 million in research spending to address the health of crops and livestock such as citrus, tomatoes and cattle, and responding to environmental challenges like invasive species and new diseases.
The Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering conducted $150.4 million in research on cybersecurity, accessibility to computer technology, storm readiness, retail theft deterrence, robotics and other topics.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences faculty conducted $60.2 million in research on topics including black holes, plastics recycling, the exploration of Mars and the ethics of artificial intelligence.
Scientists at the Florida Museum of Natural History conducted $9.5 million in research on living species like butterflies, birds, and fish, and on fossils such as the Megalodon shark and prehistoric elephants.
The College of Education conducted $21.1 million in research to enhance “whole school” improvement, from early childhood readiness to teacher preparation and classroom technology advances.
Research awards also hit a milestone $1.14 billion in 2024, including $768 million from the federal government, $123.5 million from the state of Florida and $107 million from private foundations.
UF is one of about 30 public and private universities in the United States with more than $1 billion in annual research spending, ranking 15th among public universities on the most recent HERD report, and 25th by all research and development expenditures.
UF also makes up about 40% of the State University System of Florida’s research spending each year. Research at Florida’s state universities has an estimated statewide economic impact of about $4 billion, according to the release.
2024 Research Awards by College (rounded):
- College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (includes IFAS research) – $181.7 million
- College of the Arts – $1.1 million
- Warrington College of Business – $1.45 million
- College of Dentistry – $14.4 million
- College of Design, Construction and Planning – $8.7 million
- College of Education (includes New World Reading Initiative) – $150.3 million
- Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering – $130.7 million
- College of Health and Human Performance – $13.5 million
- College of Journalism and Communications – $7 million
- Levin College of Law – $121,160
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences – $43.9 million
- College of Medicine (Gainesville/Jacksonville) – $372.6 million
- College of Nursing – $5.1 million
- College of Pharmacy – $23.6 million
- College of Public Health and Health Professions – $33.1 million
- College of Veterinary Medicine – $15.6 million
- Florida Museum of Natural History – $8 million
- Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute – $64.8 million