During the 2024-2025 fiscal year, researchers at the University of Notre Dame sustained the institution’s legacy of impact for studying and tackling the world’s toughest challenges. From addressing ethical questions raised by artificial intelligence and biocomputing, to investing in the shared future of South Bend and the broader Michiana region, Notre Dame researchers continue to be a force for good in the world.
“I would like to express deep gratitude for the faculty, students, and staff who, day after day, dedicate themselves to the research enterprise at the University of Notre Dame,” said Jeffrey F. Rhoads, the John and Catherine Martin Family Vice President for Research and professor in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering.
“The making of a better world is furthered by the people who are unwaveringly dedicated to their work, even in the face of great uncertainty. While proposals, awards, and total dollar amounts are a necessary metric for tracking our progress, they are only a small part of the larger story,” Rhoads said. “The true measure of our success is the profound impact our work has, transforming lives for the better, both here in our local community and in communities around the globe.”
Described below are some highlighted federal awards to each of the University’s Colleges and Schools:
Using heart cells to enhance biocomputing
Researchers in the College of Engineering and College of Arts & Letters received a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to explore how the natural qualities of heart muscle cells can be leveraged to build a new generation of biocomputing systems. The interdisciplinary project will pursue and evaluate a low-energy biocomputing system that can process many tasks simultaneously, with potential applications in biorobotics and medical treatments for muscle disorders. Learn more about this research here.
Strengthening global disease surveillance
Researchers in the College of Science received funding from the Department of Defense to launch the Phase IV development of the Remote Emerging Disease Intelligence-NETwork (REDI-NET). The network is a collaborative consortium of disease surveillance systems, which aims to detect, predict, and contain circulating pathogens that put human or animal health at risk. Learn more about REDI-NET here.
Championing affordability and energy efficiency in housing
A grant from the NSF will fund researchers in the School of Architecture in addressing the dual challenges of affordable housing shortages and energy inefficiency by developing a data-driven tool to quickly identify improvements that can be made to existing housing units. In collaboration with colleagues in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering, the researchers will develop a dashboard which leverages machine learning to aid homeowners, policymakers, and public health officials in pinpointing cost-effective interventions.
Broadening the outputs of LLMs
Researchers in the Mendoza College of Business will collaborate with machine learning experts at other institutions on a project funded by the NSF. The research will address the gap between content and context in the training data of large language models (LLMs) by expanding data collection and curation and developing new methods to fine-tune the models. Learn more about this project here.
The University also received a number of important awards from foundations and industry partners. Speaking about these awards, Rhoads said, “In a year of ongoing uncertainty for researchers in higher education, we remain deeply appreciative of the support of the agencies, foundations, industry partners, and others who have joined forces with our scholars in order to support our shared vision of advancing the common good.”
Some key highlights are featured below:
Investing in the shared future of Michiana
Funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. will support new and existing University investments in advancing education, both on and off campus, as well as youth development programs and economic development in the area. On campus, faculty in the Institute for Social Concerns and the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good will integrate character development into undergraduate programs with the support of a grant from Wake Forest University through its Lilly Endowment–funded Educating Character Initiative. Off campus, the Institute for Educational Initiatives will continue to support teacher and student success in Advanced Placement courses. Other grants will expand the Robinson Community Learning Center’s Talk With Your Baby program and strengthen faith-based service opportunities for youth and young adults at the McGrath Institute for Church Life. The Endowment has also funded support for a new tech and talent district encompassing the former South Bend Tribune building in downtown South Bend.
Innovating for the next generation of aircraft engines
In partnership with aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, researchers at ND Power and Propulsion are working to optimize propulsion technology for the next generation of aircraft.
Developing the love ethic
A grant from the John Templeton Foundation will advance the development of a love-based ethical framework grounded in the rich tradition of virtue ethics. Through the Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., Center for Virtue Ethics, researchers, social innovators, and institutional collaborators will work together to build a durable, wide-reaching network that will further the study of the love ethic through fellowships, intensive workshops, and a robust slate of public engagement events. Learn more about the love ethic framework here.
Building peace in Afghanistan
Researchers at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies received additional funding from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund to support the Afghanistan Program for Peace and Development (AfPAD) and its Dialogue and Visioning Initiative. The program collaborates with stakeholders in Afghanistan and beyond to facilitate dialogue, pursue research, and produce policy briefings aimed at fostering an inclusive political process and building a lasting peace in the country.
Notre Dame’s world-class faculty and students are pursuing globally significant, solutions-oriented projects in line with the broader Catholic mission of the University to drive insights, innovation, and impact as a powerful means for doing good in the world. Notre Dame Research advances this mission by growing, strengthening, promoting, translating, and safeguarding research, scholarship, and creative endeavor at the University of Notre Dame.
Rhoads concluded, “I am proud to be surrounded by colleagues who remain committed to this crucial endeavor, and whose important work will carry on the University’s legacy for many years to come.”
To explore more about the University’s research funding and awards, including historical trends and current activity, please visit NDR Facts & Figures.
Contact
Erin Fennessy / Writing Program Manager
Notre Dame Research / University of Notre Dame
efenness@nd.edu / +1 574-631-8183
research.nd.edu / @UNDResearch / linkedin.com/company/undresearch
About Notre Dame Research
The University of Notre Dame is a private research and teaching university inspired by its Catholic mission. Located in South Bend, Indiana, its researchers are advancing human understanding through research, scholarship, education, and creative endeavor in order to be a repository for knowledge and a powerful means for doing good in the world. For more information, please visit NDR's website or NDR's LinkedIn.