Goal 2: Grow (Inter)disciplinary Research Excellence

College Vision for Research Excellence

The College will grow its reputation as a national leader for its innovative approach to delivering science-based solutions for Pennsylvania while also leading the nation in high-impact, interdisciplinary research that addresses grand challenges, locally to globally, leveraging our unique integration of fundamental and applied research with Extension translation.

Strategic Investment Priorities

Priority 2.1: Signature Interdisciplinary Research Initiatives

Objective

Concentrate resources in 3–4 high-impact research initiatives aligned with cross-cutting themes, national priorities, and Penn State strengths.

Why this matters

Interdisciplinary and diverse teams win large center/program grants, generate high-impact publications, and solve complex problems. Focused investment in this area—including identifying and recruiting high-impact faculty in areas of strategic priorities in the College—will help accelerate Penn State’s trajectory toward Top 15 research university status. Penn State and the College can thrive only if we are recognized as one of the very best universities in the world for interdisciplinary research excellence.

Interdisciplinary Research Initiatives

The Office for Research and Graduate Education has identified four research initiatives for investment.

1. Productive, Profitable, Resilient, and Regenerative Agricultural Systems: Integrating diverse production systems that enhance productivity and profitability while improving soil health, water quality and stewardship, and on-farm energy opportunities. See the research infrastructure initiative in Regenerative Agriculture.
2. One Health: Integrated Animal, Human, Plant, and Environmental Health: Leveraging the One Health Microbiome Center and our expertise at the intersection of ecosystems, plants, animals, humans and food, to advance understanding about zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and ecosystem health (aligns with Integrated Health network priority).
3. Sustainable Food & Fiber Systems and Nutrition Security: Farm-to-fork research linking production, new product/market development, supply chains, high-value products, consumer behavior, community vitality, and public health (aligns with Future Foods network priority).
4. Technology for Ag and Living Systems: Applying technology, including AI/ML as it applies to robotics and sensing/modeling/prediction, to Pennsylvania's diverse agriculture, food, and natural resource sectors and our variable landscapes and markets; emphasizing tech that delivers economic benefits and programs to help adopt technology through Extension and bridge innovation gaps through lasting partnerships.

Key Initiatives

• Establish seed grant program ($200K annually) for interdisciplinary teams preparing multi-PI proposals, leveraging SAFES Critical Issue Initiatives structure for agile team formation/sunsetting.
• Create/expand shared research infrastructure (e.g., PlantWorks, Regenerative Ag Research Center, phenotyping platforms, laser ablation tomography core, plant disease, soil and water analytics, chemical ecology core, geospatial lab) accessible across initiatives, building on college research support priorities.
• Target 8–10 large center grant submissions ($5M+) aligned with USDA, NSF, DOE, NIH programs over five years, utilizing competitive and strategic intelligence processes to identify and position for funding opportunities.

Responsible Units

Office for Research and Graduate Education, academic departments, Ag Sciences Global, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Institute of Energy and the Environment, Social Science Research Institute and Institute for Computational and Data Sciences, Division of Development and Alumni Relations.

Metrics and Targets

Priority 2.2: Research Infrastructure Modernization

Objective

Strategically invest in facilities upgrades to enable globally competitive and locally relevant research.

Why this matters

Aging labs, farms, and equipment limit research productivity and competitiveness for talent and funding. The College has estimated deferred maintenance costs of more than $11 million as well as aging swine and poultry facilities. Our greenhouse/headhouse facilities are >75 years old and need to be replaced. Strategic infrastructure investment delivers ROI through enhanced faculty recruitment and retention, leading to increased grant success and efficiency. The Office for Research and Graduate Education has prioritized research support and processes as critical infrastructure enabling faculty competitiveness.

Key Initiatives

• In partnership with Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and other units, submit a competitive proposal to build a Plant Innovation Complex and develop the PlantWorks initiative by securing funding from the federal Research Facilities Act. Match this funding with funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, philanthropy and university/college funds to acquire the $100-200 million needed for this initiative (Year 2).
• On our existing farmland at Rockview, establish a ~120-acre Regenerative Ag Research Center (Year 1). Conduct baseline detailed soil analysis and establish long-term animal/cropping systems research foundation (Year 1). Build a 30 x 60 Morton-style building to house equipment, host classes/programs, and ideally provide heated office and restroom facilities (Year 3-4). Total cost ~$1.5 million.
• Build a new swine unit with separate sow/farrowing and finish buildings. Integrate the waste stream from this facility into the existing methane digester. Create a separate visitor area to allow visitors to see modern swine production without compromising biosecurity. Fund >80% of this with stakeholder/philanthropy support (total cost ~$15 million).

Responsible Units

Office for Research and Graduate Education, Office for Undergraduate Education, academic departments, Division of Development and Alumni Relations.

Priority 2.3: Research Translation and Impact

Objective

Accelerate translation of research discoveries into agricultural practices, policy, IP, and commercialization through integrated Research-Extension teams and industry partnerships.

Why this matters

Land-grant research impact requires moving discoveries from lab to commercialization, from field to landscape. Stronger translation pathways increase societal benefit and attract industry investment. The Office for Research and Graduate Education has identified industry cooperation and research translation as a critical engagement priority.

Key Initiatives

• Leverage the existing Science to Practice seed grant program (supported through capacity funding) as a platform to attract philanthropic investment, expanding support to embed Extension educators on research teams to co-design translational pathways, ensuring smooth transition from discovery to delivery consistent with the Office for Research and Graduate Education's commitment to partnerships with Extension.
• Provide collaborative leadership in building the Keystone Ag Tech Alliance to position Pennsylvania as an agricultural testbed for innovation by strategically linking industry, government, and academic research to identify priorities and drive outcomes.
• Pursue an NSF Regional Innovation Engine (NSF ENGINE) grant to establish an integrated, region-scale translation ecosystem that leverages the infrastructure of land-grant institutions to drive economic development by rapidly moving need-driven research to commercialization across the diverse Northeast food and agricultural system.
• Identify, from our faculty ranks, an entrepreneur mentor for each academic department to support faculty entrepreneurship in collaboration with the E&I team, connect them with college and university resources and leverage the sizeable agricultural sciences alumni base with industry partners.

Responsible Units

Office for Research and Graduate Education, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Program, Penn State Extension, academic departments, Office of Technology Transfer, Corporate Engagement Center, Office of Entrepreneurship and Commercialization.

Metrics and Targets