1. Update on Norman Campus Research
Briefing to the Norman Campus Committee and Audit and Finance Committee of the OU Board of Regents
Dr. Kelvin K. Droegemeier Vice President for Research 27 January 2016

2. Why Does OU Have a Research Mission?
OU is in the highest tier of US research universities (R1)
Research creates new knowledge that
Leads to new products & services
Creates new technologies, companies and jobs
Provides valuable hands-on learning experiences and problem-solving capabilities for students
Writes the textbooks of tomorrow

3. The Research Enterprise
State Federal Corporate Private Internat’l/Other
(4%) (79%) (3%) (5%) (9%)
OU Competitive Grant Proposals
$356M requested in FY15
$102M received in FY15
$92M expended in FY15
Faculty
Research Staff
Students

4. Research is Self-Funded and Operates Like a Private Business
Grants are beneficial to the funder and OU so the costs are shared
Funding agency pays the Direct Costs
OU Pays the Indirect Costs but is reimbursed
The Vice President for Research budget is set equal to the Indirect Costs OU receives
That reimbursement is invested internally to grow research (seed funding, start-up, retention, facilities, equipment, staff)
The more research we do, the greater the Indirect Cost recovery, which is then invested internally in research, which leads to more Indirect Cost recovery, etc
Research therefore is self-funded and spending occurs to grow research
Indirect Costs
of Supporting
the Research
Direct Costs
of Actually
Doing
the Research
Grant Budget

5. The Value of Strategic Investment: OU’s Radar Enterprise
OU now leads the world in weather radar research and education
The radar group brings in more than $1M/year in Indirect Cost recovery
(and is growing) against an investment of 14 faculty (mostly existing lines)
Total Norman Campus Expenditures
Radar Expenditures

6. The Value of Strategic Investment: Retaining Star Researchers
World renowned scholars who study societal views toward risk
Came from Texas A&M, heavily recruited by others (even now)
Retention package in 2010 of $100K ongoing and $100K one-time
Combined expenditures
$320K/year in 2010
Over $1M/year today
Now lead two major organizations:
Carol Silva and Hank Jenkins-Smith
Professors of Political Science

7. Norman Campus Research Expenditures
2016 is looking
better but
recovery is
slow
$6.5M Sequestration Hit Begins

8. The Road Ahead
Continue investing in our greatest strengths, especially radar and remote sensing, and build new capabilities around them
Significantly enhance research engagements with private companies and recruit to Research Campus
Pursue more large national center opportunities and build more linkages with major Federal laboratories
Continue strong push in defense, security and intelligence research, where progress and returns on investment have been substantial