University of Southern Mississippi Research

The University of Southern Mississippi continues to meet head-on the intellectual and human issues of the day. The challenges are formidable, and university professors and students are tackling the issues through relevant research that translates into real-world applications and learning opportunities.

At The University of Southern Mississippi, researchers are creating new knowledge that directly impacts society by

• Developing critical infrastructure to springboard the University’s ocean science and engineering programs and ongoing work to elevate Mississippi’s Blue Economy 
• Offering solutions for the safety and security for sports stadiums and arenas that have been identified as potential targets of terrorism
• Facilitating advanced development of The Mississippi Polymer Institute and The Accelerator at the University’s Innovation and Commercialization Park
• Developing Gulf Coast Research Laboratory for management, conservation and repopulation of marine species commonly used as food resources throughout the world
• Implementing educational programs designed to deal with nutrition, obesity, cancer and autism in Mississippi
• Creating in our polymer science and engineering program new polymer materials used in everyday products such as wearable electronics, plastics upcycling, buildings materials and sports equipment
• Collaborating with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United States Navy, among other federal partners, to facilitate testing and evaluation of underwater autonomous vehicles and to support other key initiatives
• Gathering statistical data to improve weather forecasting models in the Gulf of Mexico
• Enhancing economic development resources in the region through the Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship based in Hattiesburg and the forthcoming Gulf Blue Accelerator Program based in Gulfport
• Operating the forthcoming National Science Foundation funded Regional Class Research Vessel Gilbert R. Mason
• Expanding the University’s partnerships across business and industry to advance the application and commercialization of new technology, from uncrewed systems to precision aquaculture to ocean-friendly plastics;

Bolstered by nearly $120 million in external funding during the 2021 fiscal year, support for USM research has increased substantially during the past decade and annually sustains a variety of robust research projects.  

From the humanities to the sciences, faculty members are awarded highly competitive funding from prestigious federal agencies including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Endowment for the Arts.

USM is one of 146 universities included in the “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity” category by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The category includes universities engaged in the highest level of research activity.