Known for its prolific research capabilities and collaboration with over 285 high-technology companies in Huntsville’s aerospace, defense, biotechnology, energy, climate and health sectors, the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) has just taken its place as an “R1” ranked doctoral-granting university in the Carnegie Classification of Institutes of Higher Education rankings.
R1 is a “very high research activity” status, meaning they apply the most resources and scientists to research at their institutions. In 2021, UAH performed $125 million in externally funded research, which is considered a large amount relative to its size.
“Attaining R-1 status is the result of the outstanding work of so many people at this great institution, including our research centers, faculty, students and administration,” said Dr. Chuck Karr, interim UAH president. “I also want to recognize the support we receive from our Huntsville partners in government and industry, as well as the support of our delegations.”
The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education developed a classification of colleges and universities in 1970 to support its program of research and policy analysis. It has been the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education for 45 years. Performed every three years, the last time UAH was ranked R1 was in 2014.
UAH has consistently ranked among the top 20 universities in research funded by NASA and by the Department of Defense, but its research capabilities are also recognized by the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Energy, and the National Institutes of Health.
UAH governmental research partners include the U.S. Army, the Missile and Space Intelligence Center, the Missile Defense Agency, NASA, the FBI, and the National Weather Service among others.
“UAH has always and will continue to place emphasis on research and the discovery of new knowledge, and on incorporating our students into these efforts,” said Dr. Karr.
Dr. John Christy, UAH interim vice president for research and economic development, said the Carnegie ranking indicates the confidence UAH’s research partners have in the university.
“Being rated at the highest level of research activity acknowledges the nationally-ranked status of UAH’s research enterprise,” Dr. Christy said. “This in turn attracts the brightest and most curious minds, both in our students and our researchers, to become part of our team. It alerts those who need new knowledge and discoveries that we have the expertise to provide answers.”
Dr. Bob Lindquist, who is currently serving as the interim UAH provost but was the vice president for research and economic activity as UAH prepared for the new rankings, said the new status recognizes the campus-wide nature of UAH research that involves faculty, researchers and students.
“The R1 rating recognizes the work of the existing faculty and researchers, but very importantly, it helps UAH recruit the very best faculty and researchers in their fields,” Lindquist said. “Top researchers want to be at an R1 institution.”
Those faculty and researchers will be mentoring UAH’s students, who will in turn benefit by being led by the best, he says.
“We’ve always had an excellent track record as far as research expenditures, but this is a recognition of all the excellent work that’s been done, and it recognizes the university as a whole,” Lindquist continued. “It was a campus-wide effort that was needed to achieve this classification.”
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