Message From VP Twilley

Over the past few months, we have been tracking and responding to many federal actions. This week, we also learned LSU President William F. Tate IV will be the new president of Rutgers University and that Matt Lee, vice president for agriculture and dean of the LSU College of Agriculture, will step in as interim on July 1.

This is where we are in research at LSU— 

As of now, LSU A&M has had 16 sponsored projects terminated. With support from LSU leadership, and when allowed by the funding agency, we continue to submit appeals.  

The most recent updates on indirect costs include the National Science Foundation temporarily pausing its implementation of a 15% indirect cost rate cap until a scheduled hearing on June 13. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense has announced plans to cap indirect cost rates at 15% for all new grants to universities.

I remain optimistic that LSU’s research enterprise will remain strong, particularly because LSU A&M’s total award amount as of April is $180 million, an increase of $36 million compared to this time last year. We look forward to working with LSU leadership to build on the successes of LSU’s Scholarship First Agenda and increase LSU’s impact on Louisiana and the world.

We remain engaged with our peers, national associations, and policymakers to advocate for research and for LSU. We will continue to share details as they become available. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please reach out to research@lsu.edu.

-LSU Vice President of Research & Economic Development Robert Twilley