Scientific Environment at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), Nebraska’s comprehensive research institution, is recognized by the Carnegie Foundation within its “Research Universities (very high research activity)” category and is a member of the Big Ten Academic Alliance. As a land-grant university, a wide array of academic, research, and outreach programs are available at UNL, including those in agriculture, architecture, business, education, engineering, fine and performing arts, humanities, human resources and family sciences, journalism and mass communications, law, life and physical sciences, and natural resources. UNL offers 43 doctoral programs, 70 master’s programs, and 182 undergraduate majors. In 2015-2016, UNL graduated 315 students with doctoral degrees, 870 students with master’s degrees, and 3,855 undergraduates with bachelor’s degrees. In Fall 2015, UNL’s total enrollment was 25,260 students, including 20,182 undergraduate students, 4,576 graduate students, and 502 professional students.
UNL’s externally-funded research, education, and training programs include a number of interdisciplinary research centers supported by multi-million dollar awards from major federal agencies. These include a Materials Research Science and Engineering Center and Center for Root and Rhizobiome Innovation funded by the National Science Foundation, the Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases through Dietary Molecules and Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication funded by the National Institutes of Health, and the National Drought Mitigation Center funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In 2015, UNL’s research expenditures exceeded $284 million and UNL faculty are managing an impressive number of large grants, including a multi-institutional grant from the Department of Energy to improve sorghum productivity and advance sustainable ethanol production; the Early Learning Network, a multi-institutional research and policy effort to improve children’s learning outcomes funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences; a research program investigating e-coli in beef cattle funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and large-scale biodefense and virology initiatives. In addition, UNL is a participant in the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) – a long-term collaboration between the University of Nebraska and US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) – and the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute. NSRI’s overarching goal is to support USSTRATCOM missions related to national security, particularly in the areas of nuclear detection and forensics, detection of chemical and biological weapons, passive defense against weapons of mass destruction, consequence management, and space, cyber and telecommunications law. The University of Nebraska’s Water for Food Global Institute is working to address the most urgent political, environmental, and social and economic challenges of the 21st century related to food and water security.
As a complement to education and research projects, UNL faculty collaborate with K-12 schools, museums, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR) affiliates, the National 4-H network and individual 4-H clubs in more than 20 states, and other individuals from around the world to reach the most diverse audiences possible, making UNL a global leader in broadening knowledge in the sciences and humanities.
Following these paragraphs describing the overall institutional environment, investigators should discuss the specific resources, programs, and activities within their respective units (e.g., college, department, center) or at UNL that will support the proposed work’s likelihood of success. Examples of such resources include: specialized research instrumentation or relevant core facilities; complementary expertise; formal and informal mentoring activities; and unique computing assets. In addition, early career investigators should provide specific detail regarding institutional investment in and support for their longer-term professional success.