Web Exclusive: Government shutdown disrupting university research

 

NOTRE DAME, Ind.—Researchers at the University of Notre Dame are feeling the effects of the partial federal government shutdown.

Liz Rulli, Associate Vice President for Research at Notre Dame, says that the delay and disruptions could negatively impact new research.

“We are unable to submit proposals for future funding. They can be submitted but no one is reviewing them because no one is at the agencies and we’re not getting new awards or incremental funding on existing awards. As well our researchers are not able to collaborate with their colleagues or scientists with the federal government,” Rulli said.

The university receives 50-60% of its research funding from the federal government. Rulli says that 30% of all research funding is impacted by the shutdown, specifically from agencies including the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Rulli says that working around the lack of government funding for research has been challenging but the university will continue to explore solutions if the shutdown continues on much longer.