Assessment of Science and Engineering Infrastructure at Three Universities in Kansas: Identification of Weaknesses and Barriers to Research.

Abstract

We assessed the level of science and engineering (S&E) research productivity to provide a baseline for future evaluation and to determine how Kansas's science and engineering faculty com­pete for external funds, particularly NSF funds. Kansas is not currently funded by EPSCoR and we have not previously assessed the level of S&E research productivity in the context of EPSCoR requirements. We cannot, therefore, address all areas of infra­structure in great detail. The following areas will be addressed:

Human Resource Development including number of active S&E faculty, postdoctoral associates, graduate students, and support personnel;

Institutional Research Priorities including available facilities and salaries;

Knowledge Transfer including linkages among state insti­tutions and major research institutions and industry;

Research Support including ratio of federal to state and local research spending and the level of state and local support of S&E research; and

Level of S&E Research Productivity including grants received