2022 Annual Research Report

Stronger Together

Our collective ideas produce results at OSU

Oregon State University research, innovation, scholarship and creative activities have transformed us into world leaders, dedicated to uncovering groundbreaking and holistic solutions to global issues. OSU’s research expertise runs broad and deep, with a dedication to collaboration, discovery and practical problem-solving that transcends disciplinary boundaries.

During the 2022 fiscal year, awards and research revenue totaled a record $471.5 million — a 22% increase from 2021. These results represent the fourth time in six years that Oregon State research funding exceeded $400 million.

But OSU's impact is measured in more than dollars. Last year was the most successful year ever for startups, with NuScale Power trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Inpria selling for $514 million and Agility Robotics raising $150 million in new investments. This showcases Oregon State faculty and student entrepreneurs’ mission to drive innovation forward.

This year, new goals include securing funding for a range of OSU research programs and resources, focusing on increasing our impact and more. The Oregon State Research Office is committed to supporting university researchers and students to create positive change for Oregon and the world.

Irem Y. Tumer | Vice President for Research

Irem Tumer

Breakthrough Research

Strengthening early childhood education

Strengthening the early childhood education workforce

Through a $14.4 million grant from the Oregon Department of Education Early Learning Division, the Early Learning Systems Initiative will provide culturally responsive support and training to meet the needs of children from marginalized populations and children exposed to trauma.

Combating disease through protein engineering

Combating disease through protein engineering

Oregon State received a $5.6 million grant to study genetic code expansion, which allows for the creation of novel proteins with the potential to fight Lou Gehrig’s disease, Parkinson’s, HIV and other diseases.

Workplace gender threats

Understanding workplace gender threats

Oregon State researchers are working to determine the triggers of gender threats in the workplace. Men are more likely than women to perceive these threats, which can lead to being less helpful or less willing to collaborate, as well as lying, cheating or stealing at work.

Scrubbing emissions to make useful chemicals

Scrubbing emissions to make useful chemicals

A novel compound using propylene oxide — developed through a collaboration led by an Oregon State researcher — can be used as a catalyst to produce valuable cyclic carbonates while scrubbing carbon dioxide from factory smokestacks. Cyclic carbonates can be used as precursors for making eyeglass lenses, digital discs, pharmaceuticals and electrolytes for lithium batteries.

Uncovering the effects of climate change

Uncovering the effects of climate change

Under a five-year, $25 million award through the National Science Foundation, Oregon State will lead the Center for the Oldest Ice Exploration — known as COLDEX. Researchers will learn more about how the Earth’s climate has changed over the past several million years and how to advance efforts to address climate change.

Building resilient coastal communities

Building resilient coastal communities

Through a $7.2 million award, Oregon State will co-lead a National Science Foundation-funded research hub, Cascadia CoPes, to increase resiliency among coastal communities and prepare them for earthquakes, erosion and flooding.

Faculty Excellence

Distinguished Professors

Since 1988, Oregon State has awarded the designation Distinguished Professor to faculty nominated by their peers. Recognizing exceptional records in scholarship and creative work, teaching and mentoring, and public engagement and service, the title Distinguished Professor is the highest faculty honor granted by the university.

 

Michael FreitagMichael Freitag | Biochemistry and Biophysics
Kathryn HigleyKathryn Higley | Nuclear Science and Engineering
Brent SteelBrent Steel | Public Policy

Authors and Editors

The Authors and Editors Series celebrates literary and scholarly books published by Oregon State faculty each year. Selected authors and editors are featured in a series of readings, lectures, discussions and receptions, hosted by the Office of the Provost in partnership with the OSU Center for the Humanities.

 

Book cover for Transformative ApproachesNana Osei-Kofi, Bradley Boovy, Kali Furman | Transformative Approaches to Social Justice Education: Equity and Access in the College Classroom.
Tekla Bude Sonic Bodies book coverTekla Bude | Sonic Bodies: Text, Music, and Silence in Late Medieval England. 
Book cover for As the Condor SoarsSusan Haig, Daniel Roby | As The Condor Soars: Conserving and Restoring Oregon’s Birds.

Our Impact by the Numbers

$471.5 Million

in total research awards and revenues (FY22)

>1,950

proposals submitted on average per year

62%

in federal funding relative to all research awards and revenues (FY22)

70

NSF Career Awards

>$3 Billion

in Oregon State research awards and revenues since 2015

71

Fulbright Fellows

Leading Change

Effects of climate change

Supporting leaders in climate change

Oregon State is one of just three institutions worldwide selected to host a United Nations-sponsored, five-year international training program for climate leaders in national governments. The program will aid developing countries and bring scientists and policy specialists together to meet goals established in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.

Cleaning debris in yard to reduce wildfire risk

Adapting wildfire plans to reach everyone

A survey of Central Oregon homeowners on wildfire preparedness uncovered a correlation between their cultural worldviews and their willingness to plan ahead. Research suggests a variety of approaches are needed to convince different types of people.

Klamath river

Envisioning a post-dam Klamath River

Oregon State researchers are partnering with the Yurok Tribe to study the impacts on water quality, resource use and fish habitats after four Klamath River dams are dismantled. The study will use both ecological science and Indigenous knowledge to help make equitable decisions about managing the Klamath ecosystem.

Innovations to Market

OSU startup Inpria sells for $514 million

Inpria sells for $514 million

Inpria manufactures a suite of extreme ultraviolet lithography metal oxide photoresists that enable EUV patterning at exceptionally small pitches and feature sizes. Inpria photoresists support manufacturing of the latest microchips, which require smaller features to continue advancing computing power while increasing energy efficiency for smartphones, computers and other electronics.

Nuscale modular reactor

NuScale Power joins Wall Street

NuScale Power raised $380 million when it began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in May 2022. Its flexible reactor design combines well-established nuclear technology principles with integrated components, simplified systems and passive safety features. Offering high reliability and safety, the NuScale reactor is suitable for locations closer to where electricity or process heat are needed.

Cassie the robot

Agility Robotics raises $150 million

Agility Robotics develops and manufactures robots designed to work alongside people in logistics and warehouse applications, augmenting the productivity, efficiency and wellness of the human workforce. The Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund joined this most recent funding round, which will help the company accelerate research and development and scale up robot production.

Large Facility Spotlight

Oregon State University is forging the future of science by designing and delivering the next generation of academic research ships to advance coastal ocean science. Three Regional Class Research Vessels are now under construction in Houma, Louisiana, one for each major U.S. coast. Once completed, the first of the three ships, the Taani, will be operated by Oregon State and based in Newport, where it will support scientists and students along the West Coast. The other two ships will be based on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The project is Oregon State’s single largest research-funded effort, supported by more than $390 million in grants from the National Science Foundation.

3D rendering of OSU research ship

Spearheading Coastal Ocean Research

"Oregon State University will operate the research vessel Taani under a cooperative agreement sponsored by the National Science Foundation. As a vessel within the U.S. Academic Research fleet, the Taani will serve as a cost-effective platform for essential ocean research operations along the U.S. West Coast. The ship will enable multidisciplinary ocean observations, sampling and processes studies for diverse projects designed by scientists from OSU and beyond, and these projects will be supported by a mixture of federal and state agencies. Vessel capabilities for transmitting information to shore will greatly expand the education and outreach functions of its basic science and solutions-motivated missions. It will also serve as a platform for training future ocean scientists, engineers and educators."

Clare Reimers | Lead Principal Investigator and Distinguished Professor of Ocean Ecology and Biogeochemistry

Research Advancement

Aerial rendering of CIC building

Rendering of CIC building

Research and Innovation

The Research Office is strengthening its commitment to advancing research and innovation by providing greater administrative support for new research awards, including assistance at each stage of the proposal writing process. The new Office for Research Advancement is organizing numerous campus conversations, learning series and universitywide events about research and funding opportunities, best practices and more. Also, the new Research Advancement Academy will help faculty fellows develop skills and processes for leading large, transdisciplinary, team-based proposals.

 

Capital projects:

Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang Collaborative Innovation Complex

The complex will increase OSU’s support for the semiconductor and technology industry in Oregon. Harnessing one of the nation’s most powerful supercomputers, this transdisciplinary research and teaching center will bring faculty and students together to solve critical global challenges.

Patricia Valian Reser Center for the Creative Arts

A gateway for culture and creativity, the center will promote arts-based collaboration with research across the university — exploring the relationships between the performing and visual arts, humanities, science and technology.