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Monday, February 26, 2001

Northwestern Faculty Told to Seek More Research Grants or Risk Losing Lab Space By SCOTT SMALLWOOD Northwestern University's president, Henry S. Bienen, has warned faculty members that unproductive professors may lose their research space. As the university expands its research facilities in a bid to become one of the top 20 universities nationwide in research spending, Mr. Bienen has made it clear that faculty members must compete more successfully for federal grants. "If you're not using our space well and productively and being competitive for research, don't think you have dibs on that space forever," he recently told the student newspaper, The Daily Northwestern. Mr. Bienen was unavailable on Friday for further comment. While Northwestern's share of federal grants has grown in recent years, it hasn't kept pace with the steep increases in federal research spending. For instance, in 2000, Northwestern's federal research awards increased 3.4 percent, but the overall federal support for basic and applied research increased 9.3 percent, according to the university's annual report on research. In the most recent rankings by the National Science Foundation, Northwestern ranked 33rd in total research expenditures. Mr. Bienen said he tried to send a message to the faculty in his State of the University speech earlier this month. He told the audience that there is "ample opportunity for substantial growth" in the amount of research spending at the university. "It is now critical for faculty and staff to increase our efforts to compete successfully for such funding," he said. Alan K. Cubbage, Northwestern's vice president for university relations, said the impetus for Mr. Bienen's remarks was the construction of three new research centers on campus, including ones dedicated to life sciences and nanotechnology. "The president has been very clear in that this is a major investment and that we need to use these buildings effectively," Mr. Cubbage said. "The way you do that is by getting outside support." But William L. Klein, a neurology professor, said he and his colleagues didn't need the president to send them a message about the importance of using lab space effectively. "I find that a little puzzling," he said. Andrew B. Wachtel, chairman of the general faculty committee, said most professors did not have a problem with the president's warning, but some "see this as a system ripe for abuse and making it more corporate." "If you get into a situation where it's only bottom-line minded, and you've outsourced the decision-making to outside funders, then that's a problem," he said. Of course, Mr. Wachtel, a professor of Slavic languages, would not be affected by policies geared toward research scientists. "My 165-square-foot office can't get any smaller," he joked. Easy-to-print version E-mail this article

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