SMU has achieved Carnegie Research One (R1) classification, joining the ranks of the nation’s top public and private research institutions.
The designation, awarded by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education to universities with the highest levels of research activity, represents the attainment of one of the University’s highest goals and signals its commitment to the pursuit of research with impact for our region, nation and the world. Attaining R1 status enables SMU to attract more top-tier faculty, invites greater collaboration with other institutions and agencies, increases research opportunities for students and elevates engagement with community and industry partners.
“SMU is ambitious for ourselves and for North Texas, which is why we have made tremendous strides in research excellence over the past decade,” SMU President R. Gerald Turner said. “Achieving R1 status is only the latest step forward as we join all our ACC peer institutions designated as top-tier research universities.”
The combination of SMU’s strengths in supercomputing and data science, the growth in externally funded research, and the outstanding graduate education provided through the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies have bolstered the University’s trajectory toward R1 status, driving impactful ideas on the Hilltop and beyond.
The investments of generous donors have also advanced the University as a leading center of research, including during the $1.5 billion SMU Ignited campaign that launched in 2021. Over the last 30 years, individual and corporate donors have more than tripled the number of endowed faculty positions, invested in research programs and collaborations that have helped produce an eightfold increase in expenditures, and expanded fellowships for outstanding graduate students who conduct research.
“Becoming an R1 institution is a game-changer for the talent we can recruit, develop and retain; for the research and innovation that we produce; and for our students who choose to come here,” said Elizabeth G. Loboa, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “This accomplishment continues our institution’s incredible ascent as we focus on shaping world changers.”
The University’s strategic investments in key research areas – including high-performance computing, cybersecurity, data science, artificial intelligence, biosciences, national security, urban research, technology-enhanced learning, and digital manufacturing – have fueled a dynamic research ecosystem across campus that enabled SMU to achieve R1 and are core to the University’s intention to remain R1.
“R1 status is going to open new doors for us, whether it’s receiving more federal funding or fostering new relationships with other R1 universities,” said Suku Nair, vice provost for research and chief innovation officer. “I give full credit to our world-class faculty and students who push the envelope on groundbreaking research every day.”
Powering Data-Driven Research and Collaboration
As part of SMU’s pursuit of R1 status, University leaders recognized that computational research supported by sophisticated supercomputing would be the best path toward training students for their future careers and solving major challenges in Dallas and North Texas.
The O’Donnell Data Science and Research Computing Institute was launched in 2020 to perform multidisciplinary research and serve as a gateway to SMU’s high-performance computing environment. Partnering with accelerated computing company NVIDIA through the investment of $11.5 million in an NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD – a computing cluster delivering lightning-speed capabilities in artificial intelligence and machine learning – allowed faculty, students and research partners to integrate sophisticated AI technology across a wide array of research disciplines.
To expand opportunities for collaboration, SMU connected its high-performance computing system to Pegasus Park and extended big data capabilities within the biotech ecosystem. The University also leads a federally funded initiative to collaborate on semiconductor innovation and workforce development.
“We are forging new pathways to increase our relationships with local industry, other top-tier universities, and community on a broader scale,” Nair said. “Initiatives such as the SMU-led Texoma Tech Hub and SMU Institute for Computational Biosciences at Pegasus Park will foster and strengthen our partnerships and fuel our trajectory for years to come.”
Elevating Dallas as an Innovation Hub
As Dallas’ R1 university, SMU will attract even more top research talent to the region. More than two-thirds of SMU graduates stay in North Texas for their first job, becoming the workforce behind groundbreaking discoveries or skilled professionals with leadership training.
“Dallas is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country,” Nair said. “With R1 status, SMU research is poised to be the creative engine driving that explosive growth.”
Additionally, SMU research partnerships with Dallas-area companies have the potential to boost the city’s economy, improve the workforce, and help solve major challenges.
“The best universities conduct research at scale, and SMU is well on its way to performing at comparable levels,” Loboa said. “SMU means business when it comes to engaging the full research and innovation lifecycle – and there’s no better laboratory than DFW to make this vision a reality.”
To learn more about research at SMU, visit https://www.smu.edu/research.
Original osurce can be found here.