Research OverviewLSU AgCenter

John Russin, Vice-Chancellor

Diane Sasser, Professor, Family and Child Studies

Wade Baumgartner, Director, Intellectual Property

Our federally-mandated mission …enhance quality of life for people through research and extension programs that develop and advance agricultural and related enterprises, improve human and community resources, and fulfill mandates of state and federal legislatures ---- agricultural biosciences

Our federally-mandated mission …enhance quality of life for people through research and extension programs that develop and advance agricultural and related enterprises, improve human and community resources, and fulfill mandates of state and federal legislatures ---- agricultural biosciences

We accomplish this through …

• 29 research locations (17 stations, 12 departments)• All closely aligned; “entire state of Louisiana is our campus”

• Federal network of multi-state research projects• Strong partnerships with:

• ~ 13 federal agencies• ~ 44 state agencies and offices• ~ 30 industries and corporations• 14 commodity checkoff groups

Where are we from scientist and budget perspective (2008 vs. 2012)? …

• Ph.D. scientist head count 261 vs. 206 -21%• SY (FTE) head count 158 vs. 139 -12%• State budget

• Reduced ~ 36% in spendable dollars since 2008

How fares our research productivity? …• Proposal values increased

+59%• Award values increased + 4%

• 2010 --- Mizzou (AAU) ~$32 M; LSUAC ~$32 M• Research expenditures ~ $90 - 95 M

• Penn State COAS (AAU) ~ $97 M• Refereed publications 2.8/SY

Where are we from scientist and budget perspective (2008 vs. 2012)? …

• Ph.D. scientist head count 261 vs. 206 -21%• SY (FTE) head count 158 vs. 139 -12%• State budget

• Reduced ~ 36% in spendable dollars since 2008

Continued success despite budgets? …• Business plan – identify and support core areas• Developed defined, focused research strategies

Continued success despite budgets? …• Business plan – identify and support core areas• Developed defined, focused research strategies

How we manage research

• Multistate partnerships• 38 federally-funded multistate projects • 55 scientists (27%) collaborating formally across state lines• Support from 13 federal agencies

Continued success despite budgets? …• Business plan – identify and support core areas• Developed defined, focused research strategies

How we manage research

• Multistate partnerships• 38 federally-funded multistate projects • 55 scientists (27%) collaborating formally across state lines• Support from 13 federal agencies

• Intrastate campus partnerships• ULM – pharmaceutical and health-related projects

• 5 projects with scientists from both campuses• Nicholls State – aquaculture• La tech – animal reproduction & nutrition• PBRC – nutrition research and statewide outreach

Continued success despite budgets? …• Business plan – identify and support core areas• Developed defined, focused research strategies

How we manage research

• Multistate partnerships• 38 federally-funded multistate projects • 55 scientists (27%) collaborating formally across state lines• Support from 13 federal agencies

• Intrastate campus partnerships• ULM – pharmaceutical and health-related projects

• 5 projects with scientists from both campuses• Nicholls State – aquaculture• La tech – animal reproduction & nutrition• PBRC – nutrition research and statewide outreach

• State agency partnerships• LDAF, LDWF, LDEQ, LDNR, etc --- 44 agencies and offices

How we incentivize research

• F&A• Waive or reduce to expand arena of grant eligibility• Return 50% ($1 - $2 M) to units and PI’s

How we incentivize research

• F&A• Waive or reduce to expand arena of grant eligibility• Return 50% ($1 - $2 M) to units and PI’s

• Fringe benefits – currently 39%• Reduce rate to allow more $$$ for research• Ex: leverage ~$300K in fringe benefits to secure ~ $3.7 M in

grant support from state commodity boards --- 1,200% ROI

How we incentivize research

• F&A• Waive or reduce to expand arena of grant eligibility• Return 50% ($1 - $2 M) to units and PI’s

• Fringe benefits – currently 39%• Reduce rate to allow more $$$ for research• Ex: leverage ~$300K in fringe benefits to secure ~ $3.7 M in

grant support from state commodity boards --- 1,200% ROI

Key --- our policies and practices designed to help satisfy our research and extension mission

How we incentivize research

• F&A• Waive or reduce to expand arena of grant eligibility• Return 50% ($1 - $2 M) to units and PI’s

• Fringe benefits – currently 39%• Reduce rate to allow more $$$ for research• Ex: leverage ~$300K in fringe benefits to secure ~ $3.7 M in

grant support from state commodity boards --- 1200% ROI

How we focus research

• By federal law, much research must ‘touch the ground’

• 5-year research projects – applied roadmaps

How we incentivize research

• F&A• Waive or reduce to expand arena of grant eligibility• Return 50% ($1 - $2 M) to units and PI’s

• Fringe benefits – currently 39%• Reduce rate to allow more $$$ for research• Ex: leverage ~$300K in fringe benefits to secure ~ $3.7 M in

grant support from state commodity boards --- 1200% ROI

How we focus research

• By federal law, much research must ‘touch the ground’

• 5-year research projects – applied roadmaps

• Stakeholder advisory groups – steer, focus research• Ex: BoR Industrial Ties – 12 awards, > half led to new or

directly support existing industries

How we incentivize research

• F&A• Waive or reduce to expand arena of grant eligibility• Return 50% ($1 - $2 M) to units and PI’s

• Fringe benefits – currently 39%• Reduce rate to allow more $$$ for research• Ex: leverage ~$300K in fringe benefits to secure ~ $3.7 M in

grant support from state commodity boards --- 1200% ROI

How we focus research

• By federal law, much research must ‘touch the ground’

• 5-year research projects – applied roadmaps

• Stakeholder advisory groups – steer, focus research• Ex: BoR Industrial Ties – 12 awards, > half led to new or

directly support existing industries

• Intellectual property – royalties > $10 M in 2012

What are ways to support interdisciplinary and intercampus research initiatives? …

• Increase awareness by faculty and administration of complimentary research elsewhere

• Provide joint incentive funding for initiatives• Structure annual reviews to recognize and reward

such engagement

What are ways to support interdisciplinary and intercampus research initiatives? …

• Increase awareness by faculty and administration of complimentary research elsewhere

• Provide joint incentive funding for initiatives• Structure annual reviews to recognize and reward

such engagement

What are 3 most significant impediments? …

• Budget stabilization• Faculty recruitment and retention ( = raises)• Support staff