September 13, 2024
Providence College receives National Science Foundation grant to form research collaborative
Providence College will share in a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation and partner with four colleges and universities to expand research capacity across the state as part of the new Rhode Island Research Administration Collaborative.
The collaborative includes Roger Williams University, Rhode Island College, Rhode Island School of Design, and Salve Regina University. All primarily undergraduate institutions like PC, they will work together over the next three years to strengthen their sponsored-research offices, broaden the pipeline of future professionals, and develop projects addressing statewide needs.
PC’s share of the grant is $565,558. Led by principal investigator Kris A. Monahan, Ph.D., senior director of sponsored projects and research compliance, the college will work to enhance interdisciplinary and collaborative research capacity across the collaborative as it launches its Center for Innovation and Interdisciplinary Studies. The new center will facilitate multifaceted teaching and research to better position the collaborative to compete for federal and private research grants.
“We are especially grateful to U.S. Senator Jack Reed for his ongoing support of Providence College and of Rhode Island higher education in general,” said College President Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P. ’78, ’82G.
“Senator Reed has been particularly attuned to the ongoing research efforts at higher education institutions in our state, and his support for this federal National Science Foundation funding was instrumental in securing the award. Providence College is excited to participate in this interdisciplinary research collaborative. We view this effort as key in furthering the research infrastructure not only here at PC, but in partnership with our colleagues at institutions across the state.”
The Rhode Island Research and Administration Collaborative will launch operations this fall and will be led by Roger Williams University. The partnering institutions will aim to strengthen financial and administrative support for university sponsored-research offices, broaden the pipeline of future professionals, provde professional development for small non-profits, develop projects and research to address statewide needs, and facilitate the ability to bring academic research to the market.
The collaborative will establish a research administration learning community that shares evidence-based practices and resources and will seek to identify collaborative research proposals among the partner institutions.
“This is a big win for Rhode Island and a testament to the innovative research being done by this consortium of Ocean State colleges and universities,” said Reed, who supported the NSF grant proposal. “Rhode Island’s research ecosystem and capabilities will be strengthened by this federal investment. RIRAC will support interdisciplinary collaboration and cutting-edge research among students and faculty from various colleges and universities that will lead to future breakthroughs in a variety of fields. Importantly, this project will also inform NSF about new and diverse ways to work with smaller and primarily undergraduate institutes of higher education.”
