Projects include wetlands mitigation projects, software upgrades and more.
The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research at California University of Pennsylvania has announced that Cal U was awarded more than $16.5 million in federal, state and private grants and contracts between during the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2020.
The amount surpasses the University’s previous record of $12.4 million, set in the 2018-2019 fiscal year.
The largest grant was obtained by Dr. Daniel Harris, a geology professor at Cal U. The $10.3 million award for FY 2019-2020 is part of an overall $23.5 million award for software that integrates geoscience, geophysics and engineering assessments.
Students in Cal U’s geology program will use the software for mapping, data management, reservoir modeling, well-planning, borehole positioning and geophysical seismic analysis.
The overall total also includes $4.3 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding, which provided direct financial assistance to eligible students and support to the University for instructional costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other grants include more than $430,000 awarded to Dr. Robert Whyte for a stream and wetland mitigation projects at Boyer Run and Pennsylvania gamelands.
In all, 35 individuals engaged in grant writing through the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research this past fiscal year, including 27 faculty members.
“At the heart of grantsmanship is a desire to advance the University’s academic mission,” said Dr. Daniel E. Engstrom, interim provost/vice president for Academic Affairs.
“Grant-funded projects provide academic support and enrichment for our Cal U students, create opportunities for community service, help us to obtain specialized equipment and software, and support high-impact practices such as undergraduate research.
“Participating faculty and staff members also benefit from the research, outreach and professional development opportunities supported by external funding. In addition, a number of grant-funded projects reach beyond the campus gates to serve the broader community.”
The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research serves Cal U faculty and staff by providing comprehensive resources related to external funding for sponsored projects. The OSPR provides support in developing proposals for funding from federal, state and local grants, contracts, foundations and related associations. For more information call 724-938-1662 or email primm@calu.edu.