SJSU Research Expenditures Top $83.4 Million

SJSU’s research expenditures for FY2023 hit an all-time high of $83.4 million. Photo by Javier Duarte.
As we ring in the new year, San José State is celebrating a recent accomplishment from the previous one: According to the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) survey released in November 2024, SJSU’s research expenditures for FY23 topped $83.4 million, a 16% increase over the previous year.
This accomplishment comes as SJSU invests heavily in its research and its students, committing to its longstanding tradition of undergraduate research and providing students with a springboard into the future as they help tackle crucial projects and ask questions that will guide further innovation.
“Engaging in research is one of the best ways for students to learn to be active practitioners in their field rather than just relying on book knowledge,” says Marc d’Alarcao, interim vice president for the Division of Research and Innovation, interim president of the Board of Directors of the SJSU Research Foundation, and dean of the College of Graduate Studies. “This type of hands-on education is one of the reasons employers love to hire SJSU graduates. Also, doing research allows students to contribute directly to the generation of new knowledge and the innovative ideas that improve our communities and stimulate the economy.”
Many incredible projects are part of SJSU’s funded research portfolio. Below is a sampling of a few.
- $2.5 million from the NSF for S-STEM: Empowering Low-Income Students to Succeed in Engineering and Computer Science, awarded to Jorjeta Jetcheva, assistant professor of computer engineering.
This grant funds the Summer Tech Academy, a four-week academy held at SJSU for low-income, rising high school seniors, focusing on enrichment activities dedicated to various STEM topics including math, physics, programming and artificial intelligence. “Many of these students do not have sufficient information about or access to resources to prepare them for the rigors of a college STEM education, role models in STEM careers, a peer support network, or the financial means to focus on their studies without needing to work,” Jetcheva explains. “We plan to address all of these challenges in order to provide our low-income students with real opportunities to succeed both personally and professionally.”
- $3.4 million from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information for Broaden and Build the Northern CA Health Care Workforce, awarded to Joe Grzywacz, associate dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences.
“Broaden and Build” will “create low-risk/high-yield pathways for first-generation students to enter into a diverse range of health professions,” Grzywacz explains. Outreach will primarily target high school students, but the program is also open to anyone looking to start an undergraduate degree with a potential interest in health care careers, especially those serving rural or other under-resourced communities. “Our goal is to create a pipeline to the health professions,” he adds. “A lot of our students recognize that they want to help people, but they tend to think about it in the very specific clinical realms of nursing. This grant was really set up to help people get started so that they have the opportunity to earn and explore different alternatives before they commit to one wholeheartedly.”
- $500,000 from the NSF for “Improving computer forensic curricula through hands-on hardware and software training and practical experience processing evidence from active criminal cases,” awarded to Bryce Westlake, associate professor of justice studies, and Younghee Park, associate professor of computer engineering.
“Digital devices such as cellphones and security cameras often contain valuable information for investigations,” Westlake explains. “However, there is a lack of educational programs to effectively train future professionals to properly acquire evidence from digital devices. This research focuses on implementing and evaluating a digital forensics curriculum (consisting of theoretical and practical training) to determine the appropriate blend of courses in criminal justice, forensic science and computer sciences, as well as the practical training required for student success during their education and post-graduation when they enter the workforce.”
- $770,000 from the Department of Defense for “Enhancing research and education in high resolution active remote sensing technology and landscape modeling,” awarded to Elizabeth Madden, assistant professor of geology, and Kimberly Blisniuk, associate professor of geology.
“We will use this funding from the DoD to acquire high-resolution laser scanning equipment that will allow faculty to teach undergraduate and graduate students how to monitor the landscape and create digital maps,” explains Madden. “This research is leading us to a better understanding of the hazards facing us here and how the landscape changes over time. The student training will promote the competitiveness of SJSU graduates to pursue technical careers involving Earth surface characterization, navigation, geospatial data analysis and computer modeling.” She adds, “What I would like people to understand most about our work is how relevant the geosciences are to our everyday lives here in the Bay Area, within this landscape that is both beautiful and prone to earthquakes, landslides and wildfires.”
Learn more about research and innovation at SJSU and how you can contribute.
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