AMES, Iowa - Iowa State University grew total external funding for fiscal year 2025 to $549.3 million, an increase of $4.7 million over the previous fiscal year.
Quick look
Iowa State University grew total external funding for fiscal year 2025 to $549.3 million, an increase of $4.7 million over the previous fiscal year. External support for research also topped $300 million for the third straight fiscal year.
Research notes
The Office of the Vice President for Research has analyzed Iowa State's external research funding. Read the report.
University researchers also attracted $329.9 million over the fiscal year that ended June 30. That's the second-highest research total, only behind the record-setting $346.2 million Iowa State researchers attracted the previous fiscal year. It's also the third consecutive fiscal year that external research funding has exceeded $300 million.
The research support over fiscal year '25 included record funding from three federal agencies: the Department of Energy for university projects and the Ames National Laboratory ($125.2 million), the National Science Foundation ($45.3 million), and the Department of Transportation ($10.1 million).
"Over the past six months, the federal research funding landscape evolved more rapidly - and more seismically - than most of us could have imagined," said Peter Dorhout, Iowa State's vice president for research. "But the faculty, graduate students and staff who comprise our Iowa State research community rose to meet the moment."
External funding supports initiatives across campus, including research projects, academic support, scholarships and facility improvements. The funding can include contracts, grants and cooperative agreements from federal, state and local governments. It also includes funds from individuals, corporations, nonprofits and other universities. While external funding supports research operating expenses, it does not support operating expenses related to the university's educational mission.
Genes, grids, music therapy and smart manufacturing
Here are four examples of the Iowa State research that won external funding during the past fiscal year:
- Hongqing (Michelle) Guo, an assistant professor of genetics, development and cell biology, is leading a five-year, $1.8 million project supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, a part of the National Institutes of Health. Guo's research group will use the funding to study a plant gene that helps plants balance growth and survival while under stress.
- Zhaoyu Wang, a professor of electrical and computer engineering who's affiliated with the university's Electric Power Research Center, is leading a four-year, $3 million project aiming to create a modern electric grid that's smart and flexible enough to efficiently distribute renewables such as wind and solar power. The project is supported by the Department of Energy.
- Elizabeth Stegemöller, the Helen LeBaron Hilton Endowed Chair in Family and Consumer Sciences, is leading a $20,000 pilot project supported by the American Music Therapy Association to study the effectiveness of virtually delivering sessions of group therapeutic singing, especially to rural residents. Group therapeutic singing can help people with Parkinson's disease improve their voices, breathing, motor skills and quality of life.
- Michael O'Donnell, the director of the university's Center for Industrial Research and Service, is leading a three-year, $1.9 million project to help small- and mid-sized manufacturers access smart manufacturing tools that increase productivity without driving up labor or energy costs. The project is supported by the Iowa Economic Development Authority through a grant from the Department of Energy.
Dorhout praised researchers across campus for attracting support for their research work:
"Their resolve, creativity, grit and imagination have been critical in helping us continue to achieve our strategic aspirations of being the most student-centric leading research university and a trusted partner for proactive and innovative solutions."
The history
The recent history of external funding totals:
- FY25, $549.3 million
- FY24, $544.6 million
- FY23, $530.5 million
- FY22, $601.7 million
- FY21, $559.1 million
- FY20, $494.7 million
- FY19, $469 million
- FY18, $509.2 million
- FY17, $503.6 million
- FY16, $425.8 million
- FY15, $424.9 million
- FY14, $368.4 million
- FY13, $326.4 million
- FY12, $360.2 million
- FY11, $342.3 million
- FY10, $388.2 million
