About USFRI
Overview
Over the past 20 years, USF has transitioned into a major research institution and was designated a "Preeminent State Research University" by the Florida Board of Governors in June of 2018, one of only three in the state. In 2023, USF joined the prestigious Assocation of American Universities (AAU), becoming the first public university in Florida to join the AAU since 1985 and one of only two institutions from the State University System of Florida to serve as an AAU member.
The Tampa campus is one of the nation’s top public research university campuses and one of only 80 public research university campuses classified by the Carnegie Foundation as both a Doctoral University with “Very High Research Activity” and as a “Community Engaged” institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
USF is among the top 15 U.S. public universities for granted U.S. patents according to the National Academy of Inventors (2023), and has ranked in the top 15 among American public universities for 10 consecutive years.
The USF Research Park, located on the Tampa campus, provides an important, centrally located community environment for a growing number of startups, early stage companies, researchers and community partners.
The University of South Florida has three campuses, in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee. Faculty on each campus are involved in interdisciplinary research collaborations and have access to extensive community partnerships, working together to create geographically distributed centers of research excellence.
There are many research resources available for all faculty at the University of South Florida. You’ll find information and links here: New Faculty Orientation presentation (PDF).
Undergraduates at the university are encouraged to take advantage of a wide range of research opportunities. The Office of High Impact Practices and Undergraduate Research (HIPUR) provides support to students engaged in undergraduate research and teaches students about the expectations and privileges associated with undergraduate research.
Graduate students have the opportunity to work alongside internationally renowned faculty and researchers in a variety of settings. Together they work to create solutions to society's most pressing problems.
At USF, research and innovation comes from a creative and ongoing collaboration between faculty and student researchers, administrative staff, business and academic partners, and the community. The result is an ever-stronger global research university that opens minds, creates knowledge, brings innovation into the marketplace and changes lives.
Updated: 9/1/2023