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HELPFUL RESOURCES

Vice President for Research

This office oversees research activities for the entire campus and coordinates related efforts with other Texas A&M University System components. It also administers several externally funded grant programs as well as competitive development funds.

Texas A&M Research Foundation

This nonprofit corporation provides a central location for information about government and extramural foundation funding sources, proposal preparation and processing assistance, and grant and contract negotiation.

Council of Principal Investigators

This elected group represents principal investigators from each Texas A&M college and A&M System agency and is committed to continuous research and graduate studies environment improvement.

Sigma Xi

This organization was founded to recognize, encourage, and promote scientific research at Texas A&M and to honor its community of science scholars. Members are nominated and elected on the basis of noteworthy achievement in pure and applied science.

Texas A&M System Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC)

On average, the OTC files a patent application every other day and executes one license agreement per week. In addition, it ranks among the top 10 nationwide in the number of licenses executed annually with small businesses.

Research

Through five departments and many interdisciplinary centers and institutes, the College of Science advances discovery and solves real-world problems while producing the next generation of scientific leaders and providing technical innovation and service to the world.

DOORWAYS TO DISCOVERY

With more than $689 million in research expenditures generated by Texas A&M faculty-researchers, the University ranks in the top tier of universities nationwide in total research expenditures. A&M faculty conduct nearly $582 million worth of sponsored research projects, assisted by more than 5,000 paid graduate students.¹

The College of Science alone is responsible for nearly $66 million² of that research, including $6.1 million in indirect cost return¹ that is reinvested in new and continuing projects.

Departments of Distinction

In Calendar Year 2010, the College's total research funding amounted to nearly $66 million.² Our departments are leaders in generating funding and proven results that enhance our international reputation for excellence.

• Biology holds a $5 million National Institutes of Health grant for biological clocks research, an area where we are world renowned.
• Chemistry is ranked 8th among public graduate programs and 9th overall (inorganic 6th overall) in the 2010 U.S. News & World Report
• Two-thirds of Mathematics faculty have National Science Foundation grants, fueling our rise to 13th nationally among public university departments in research funding
• Physics and Astronomy is a partner in the $700 million Giant Magellan Telescope.
• Statistics is T-12th overall and 3rd among public graduate programs (2010 U.S. News & World Report).

Phenomenal Faculty

The College of Science boasts two of A&M’s three Nobel laureates, four National Academy of Sciences members, half of A&M’s distinguished professors, and its only Searle Scholars. Many faculty are CAREER, NYI, and Sloan awardees. In 2008 we made our final hires under A&M’s five-year faculty reinvestment plan for one of the largest percent gains university-wide.

Exceptional Facilities

The college features vast opportunities and resources to help faculty and students excel in their academic and research efforts. The college and its departments are home to 14 centers and institutes as well as many specialized laboratories and active research groups dedicated to conducting and promoting targeted, interdisciplinary research and teaching.

Unique Undergraduate Opportunity

Our undergraduates are exposed to challenging research opportunities designed to enhance their academic experiences and better prepare them for advanced studies or careers in science. As seniors, many are mentored by faculty researchers as Undergraduate Research Fellows or Research Scholars—paid positions with some projects. Three departments also offer paid summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates programs funded by the National Science Foundation.