R2 to R1 Information
R2 to R1 Pathway
Improving the University’s Environment for Research

R2 to R1

At the University of South Alabama, enhancing our research and doctoral education for the betterment of our region and beyond isn’t just a goal — it’s the fuel that's igniting our advancement as the Flagship of the Gulf.

As one of Alabama’s youngest universities, South holds the prestigious Carnegie R2 designation, validating us as a high research activity doctoral university. That’s an incredible feat, and it means South is already in the top 7% of all U.S. universities in research activity.

But we are not stopping there.

In Fall 2022, President Jo Bonner and Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Andi Kent challenged a committee of faculty and staff to explore stepping up to the next level: the Carnegie R1 ranking, signifying very high research activity. In 2025, there were 187 R1-classified institutions in the U.S., representing approximately 3.7% of the total nearly 4,000 degree-granting institutions.

South is well on its way to achieving this coveted status. This isn’t just about a title; it is about who we are and what we do: A university that accepts challenges and pursues the not-yet-known to transform lives and address issues relevant to the Gulf Coast and the world.

 

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Research Funding

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Research Grants

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Centers

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New Research Consortia


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Forecasting Trends

 

 

  Latest News
USA scientist awarded national grant to uncover triggers for inflammatory reactions
USA scientist awarded national grant to uncover triggers for inflammatory reactions
Monday - October 20, 2025
With a goal of providing new insights aimed at helping patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases avoid and better treat first infusion reactions (FIR), University of South Alabama scientist Michael R. Elliott, Ph.D., recently received a two-year R21 grant for $431,147 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
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USA scientist awarded American Cancer Society grant  to advance colon cancer research
USA scientist awarded American Cancer Society grant to advance colon cancer research
Thursday - September 4, 2025
With support from a four-year, $946,000 grant from the American Cancer Society (ACS), researchers at the University of South Alabama will investigate how immune cells called macrophages are regulated in colon cancer -- work that could lead to new treatment strategies for one of the most lethal cancers worldwide.
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Grelet receives prestigious $1.8 million MERIT Award from NIH
Grelet receives prestigious $1.8 million MERIT Award from NIH
Wednesday - September 3, 2025
Simon Grelet, Ph.D., assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama, has received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) MERIT Award of $1.8 million for five years.
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