A Major Mark of Distinction
Ohio University rates among top research institutions in the nation
October 6, 2022
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In January, Ohio University was named an R1 institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, placing OHIO in the top tier of research universities nationally.
Institutions holding the Carnegie R1 designation—141 in the nation and only five in Ohio—are recognized for “very high research activity” as measured by expenditures supporting research and development, conferral of research doctoral degrees and employment of Ph.D.-level personnel engaged in research.
“This distinction further increases the value of a degree from Ohio University, serves as an impressive recruiting tool and builds upon the extraordinary sense of pride felt by OHIO’s students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends,” President Hugh Sherman says. “This recognition also helps OHIO to attract additional outstanding faculty and more research dollars, which will ultimately lead to innovation and discovery to the benefit of our students and the global society.”
In addition to placing OHIO in a position to receive larger research grants, Carnegie R1 status has a significantly positive impact on the overall perception of the University.
“Designation as an R1 institution is a major mark of distinction for Ohio University,” Executive Vice President and Provost Elizabeth Sayrs says. “We are proud that OHIO’s long-standing commitment to excellence in advancing knowledge for the benefit of society at large is now recognized through the Carnegie Classification.”
This is a truly remarkable accomplishment that affirms OHIO’s status as a high-quality institution of higher learning and exemplifies the University's commitment to excellence in research and discovery as well as the broader student experience.
OHIO’s efforts to expand the frontiers of knowledge are deeply intertwined with the opportunities it provides to students at all levels through their academic programs. The success of those efforts is reflected in record-setting undergraduate participation in research experiences and in graduates of master’s and doctoral programs who have achieved international recognition, including a Nobel Prize.
The University is investing in new programs and initiatives to ensure that the institution remains at the forefront of discovery and innovative academic programs. Examples include hiring new faculty across multiple colleges in focused areas related to diabetes, pain, aging and health disparities while also creating new interdisciplinary degree programs in environmental science and sustainability and in data science and analytics. — Carly Keeler Leatherwood, BSJ ’96
Feature photo: As a first-year student, Emily Marino, BS ’22 (HTC), joined Dr. Ronan Carroll’s lab, researching the bacterial pathogen that causes staph infections. Marino’s work earned funding from OHIO, a 2021 Goldwater Scholarship and a 2022 Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant, allowing her to conduct research in Germany this year. Photo by Rich-Joseph Facun, BSVC ’01
From campus to communities and industries near and far, OHIO research and creative activity is advancing global knowledge and inventiveness, allowing Bobcats to transcend from learners to originators and positioning them to leave their mark on the world.
Dr. Bekka Brodie and OHIO Honors Program student and actuarial science major Claire Keiser examine mosquito pupae developing inside tires awaiting disposal at an Athens County site. Brodie brought Keiser, an aspiring statistician looking to broaden her studies from theoretical statistics to applied statistics, into her lab to develop models and predictions based on mosquito data collected by health departments across Ohio, several of which employ OHIO students to conduct their summer surveillance programs. Photo by Ben Wirtz Siegel, BSVC ’02
We track the number of undergraduates who do research and creative activity, and over the last 10 years, that number has tripled.
Matt Love, MFA ’18, immersive media production manager at the Game Research and Immersive Design (GRID) Lab, captures the sights and sounds at a local nature preserve that is part of the OHIO Museum Complex. The GRID Lab and researchers in the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine partnered with OhioHealth on a tranquil virtual reality simulation designed to relieve the stress levels of health care workers, the positive results of which were published in PLOS ONE journal and featured on CBS News. Photo by Carrie Love, MFA ’18
Whether behind or in front of the camera, OHIO students are creating visual experiences that benefit campus, community and their future careers while bridging the gap between theory and practice. Student filmmakers put their production skills, resourcefulness and teamwork to the test to produce the best short video—under an extreme deadline—during the 48-Hour Shootout. Photo by Laura Bilson, BSVC ’23
College of Fine Arts student Lexie Tillery puts her acting skills in action for a GRID Lab student-produced virtual reality training video for OHIO faculty, staff and graduate students. Photo by Laura Bilson, BSVC ’23
Professor of Biological Sciences Dr. Willem Roosenburg has been studying and spearheading conservation efforts for diamondback terrapins for decades. Each summer, he takes a research team of OHIO students to a Chesapeake Bay island—a living laboratory where they learn about and engage in ecosystem monitoring and restoration. Photo by Ben Wirtz Siegel, BSVC ’02
Ohio University houses more than 1,000 research lab spaces on the Athens Campus and resides in communities that offer place-based research experiences. Its University Libraries is a long-standing member of the Association of Research Libraries, the top 120-plus research libraries in North America.
University Libraries’ collection spans more than 3 million print and electronic volumes and world-renowned special collections, offering physical and digital access to unique primary research sources. Photo by Laura Bilson, BSVC ’23
![Researchers in Dr. Dustin Grooms’ lab, including [FROM LEFT] doctoral student Amber Schnittjer and research associate Byrnadeen Farraye.](https://www.ohio.edu/sites/ohio.edu.news/files/2024-02/20220503_CHSP_rjf_018-e1660062803503.jpg)
Researchers in Dr. Dustin Grooms’ lab, including [FROM LEFT] doctoral student Amber Schnittjer and research associate Byrnadeen Farraye, are using 3D motion capture to better understand how the body moves and how the brain activates those movements—all as a means of preventing non-contact injuries. Grooms, an associate professor of physical therapy, was awarded more than $1 million in National Institutes of Health funding for this research. Photo by Rich-Joseph Facun, BSVC ’01
Undergraduates in OHIO’s student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers tackle what may seem like an engineering impossibility: designing, building and racing a concrete canoe. The competition builds skills in design, innovation, fabrication, teamwork and project management, but it all starts with research. Photo by Ben Wirtz Siegel, BSVC ’02
OHIO’s capstone general education requirement immerses students in research, synthesizing the knowledge gained over the course of their studies and—often—an opportunity to contribute to life outside of campus.
Students in The Principles of Brewing Science capstone course integrate fundamental concepts of biochemistry, physiology, microbiology and plant biology—by designing craft beer recipes. Local brewer Jackie O’s decided to put “Sun Tea,” an English IPA Francesca Carney, BSCHE ’22, crafted for the course, into production. Photo by Ben Wirtz Siegel, BSVC ’02