COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina is planning to invest $10 million in the creation of five new interdisciplinary research institutes that will focus on STEM education in rural areas, the development of more powerful semiconductor chips, clean water, and in the areas of infectious disease and cardiovascular disease.
Funding for these new enterprises comes from USC's Research Institutes Funding Program and each research institute will receive $500,000 per year over four years. The institutes have the potential to bring in more funding through federal grants and commercialization of research solutions.
“These projects truly represent what a flagship research university does best: bring together experts from multiple disciplines to take on some of the biggest scientific and societal challenges of our time. I congratulate all the researchers involved and thank them for their dedication to our critical mission,” USC President Michael Amiridis said.
The new research institutes include:
Institute for Rural Education and Development. Directed by Matthew Irvin, College of Education, the institute will seek better ways to teach science, engineering and math (STEM) to rural students across South Carolina. Researchers will focus on early grades with an emphasis on developing a holistic approach to teaching STEM. Also participating: College of Arts and Sciences, School of Medicine Columbia
Institute for Extreme Semiconductor Chips. Led by Asif Khan, College of Engineering and Computing, the institute will work to develop more powerful and efficient electronic and optical microchips which can be used for the electric grid, electric vehicles, aircraft and advanced health care applications. The development of homegrown computer chips also has been identified as an important national security priority. Also participating: Arnold School of Public Health, Darla Moore School of Business
Institute for Clean Water, directed by Tammi Richardson, College of Arts and Sciences, will focus on new ways to monitor water quality to ensure safe drinking water and to protect South Carolina’s waterways for use by humans and wildlife alike. Also participating: College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management; College of Engineering and Computing
Institute for Infectious Disease Translational Research. Led by Melissa Nolan, Arnold School of Public Health, the institute will study emerging diseases that have the potential to develop into major public health threats, especially those spread by insects and those transferred from mother to child. Also participating: College of Arts and Sciences, School of Medicine Columbia, College of Engineering and Computing
Institute for Cardiovascular Disease Research. Directed by Clinton Webb, School of Medicine, Columbia, the institute will study the ways in which chronic stress leads to a host of physical ailments, including heart and kidney disease. The research could eventually lead to the development of new treatments for heart disease. Also participating: College of Engineering and Computing
