UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses (OVPCC) has awarded nearly $200,000 in seed funding to support 51 faculty-led research projects across 13 Penn State Commonwealth Campuses for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
The awards represent an investment in the breadth of research taking place across the Commonwealth Campuses, supporting faculty at different stages of their careers, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration, connecting Penn State expertise with community and industry needs, and creating research opportunities for undergraduate students.
“Supporting research excellence is critical for our success and means investing in the people and ideas that are advancing discovery across the commonwealth,” said Renata Engel, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor. “This funding gives faculty at our campuses resources to pursue promising lines of inquiry, strengthen their research programs, and build collaborations that can extend the impact of their work.”
OVPCC received 98 proposals from faculty across 16 Commonwealth Campuses, with additional collaboration from faculty in two University Park colleges and the College of Medicine. An independent panel of senior faculty from Commonwealth Campus colleges reviewed the proposals.
The 51 funded projects include 77 faculty members serving as principal investigators, co-principal investigators or mentors, including 71 Commonwealth Campus faculty. Collectively, the projects will support 66 students, including 50 through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program.
Funding was awarded through six programs designed to advance different dimensions of research across the Commonwealth Campuses:
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Research Experiences for Undergraduates: 24 awards supporting faculty-mentored undergraduate research.
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Excellence in Interdisciplinary Research: Eight awards supporting research that brings together expertise across disciplines.
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Community Impact and Engagement: Six awards connecting faculty research and expertise with community needs and partnerships.
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Mid-Career Faculty Research Advancement: Six awards supporting the continued development of faculty research programs.
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Early-Career Research Mentorship: Four awards supporting the research development of early-career faculty.
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Industry Engagement and Partnership: Three awards supporting research conducted in collaboration with industry.
The awards also extend the impact of OVPCC funding through external partnerships and additional resources. Eight community agencies and four industry partners are participating in funded projects, which also leverage $6,000 in industry cost-sharing and $23,400 in Federal Work-Study funding.
“The range of work being supported is significant, from artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity to health, environmental sustainability and community-based research,” Engel said. “Just as important are the ways our faculty are putting that expertise to work: advancing discovery, addressing real-world challenges, collaborating across disciplines, and creating opportunities for students to participate directly in research. Together, these projects demonstrate the research excellence and impact found across Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses.”