News
NEH Chair; Early Career Webinar; DOE Lighthouse Challenges
BU IN DC
Dean Elise Morgan of the College of Engineering participated in the 2026 Engineering Deans Council Public Policy Colloquium and met with Congressional offices between February 9th and February 11th.
BUZZ BITS...
- Last week, President Donald J. Trump nominated Michael McDonald to be the chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). McDonald is the agency's general counsel and has served as its acting chair since March 2025. His nomination will now await approval by the U.S. Senate.
- The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced this week that Dr. Joydip Kundu is leading the NSF Geosciences Directorate (GEO). He had been GEO's deputy assistant director since July and previously served as deputy assistant director for the Computer and Information Science and Engineering Directorate. Dr. Jennifer Mercer, formerly of the Office of Polar Programs, and Dr. Anne Johansen, previously of the Division of Atmosphere and Geospace Sciences, will serve as deputy directorate heads.
- On Tuesday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing on "The Science of Reading." The discussion focused on how federal funding can promote evidence-based literacy instruction, the importance of research supported by the Institute of Education Sciences, and the need for strong professional development and standards for graduates of teacher preparation programs.
EVENT NEWS YOU CAN USE
Seeking federal or foundation funding? Join Research Development, Foundation Relations, Federal Relations, and Washington-D.C.-based consulting firm Lewis-Burke Associates on Wednesday, February 18th at 3 p.m. for a webinar hosted by the Office of Research outlining key resources available to early-career BU faculty in today’s evolving funding landscape. This session will provide an overview of funding-related resources at Boston University and feature a panel discussion with BU faculty from different disciplinary backgrounds who have successfully secured external early-career funding. Panelists will share practical insights on identifying appropriate funders, timing applications strategically, and crafting compelling, funder-aligned narratives.
ENERGY DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES LIGHTHOUSE CHALLENGES
The Department of Energy (DOE) announced 26 "Lighthouse Grand Challenge" topics for research stakeholders to address in order to advance scientific discovery, deploy energy technologies, and tackle national security challenges using artificial intelligence. The topics include scaling the biotechnology revolution; accelerating materials discovery, production, and qualification for strategic deterrence; and predicting U.S. water availability for energy. Within the next few months, DOE will issue a solicitation inviting multi-institutional teams of DOE national labs, research universities, and industry partners to propose solutions in these 26 topic areas.
Massachusetts Tech Leaders Visit BU
Commonwealth’s STEM Advisory Council met with ENG’s Robotics & Autonomous Systems Teaching and Innovation Center and Innovate@BU students to learn about student robotics projects.
Bringing Cleaner Air to Boston Homes—One Stove at a Time
Boston University researchers have been partnering with the city to replace gas stoves with electric induction alternatives and measure the effect on air quality.
Round of Applause: BU Wheelock Professor Beth Warren Elected to National Academy of Education
Joins society that does high-quality education research.
Exercise, Eat Well, Don’t Smoke: 10 Ways the Framingham Heart Study Has Revolutionized Healthcare
Findings from heart health study led by Boston University for more than 50 years have helped save lives around the world.
Federal Reserve Governor, and Alum, Stephen Miran, in Visit to BU, Says Inflation Is Under Control
Economist explained his dissent from other governors in a WBUR CitySpace podcast interview Monday.
North Star Vision, Football Lessons, CTE and Dementia
ON THE CHARLES RIVER
President Melissa Gilliam Outlines Bold “North Star” Vision for Boston University’s Future
During her first Presidential Address, Gilliam called for BU to become a “global destination of discovery, education, and human connection” through convergent research and external partnerships.
FACULTY EXPERTS
The Patriots Went from Worst to First. Can Businesses and Organizations Turn Around Too?
Boston University professors teaching about team culture and sports psychology share their insights on replicating the Patriots’ success off the field.
Learn how to turn things around
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT
CTE Can Cause Dementia, According to New Boston University Study
BU CTE Center researchers, with funding from the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs, found that the advanced stage of the progressive brain disease increases the odds of dementia fourfold.
THOUGHT LEADERS
In Case You Missed It...
Jessica Silbey and Woodrow Hartzog of the BU School of Law share their concerns about AI and the threat to democracy with the San Francisco Examiner... Joshua Goodman of the BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development talks to NPR about whether snow days are bad for students... BU sociologist Japonica Brown-Saracino looks at the many forms of gentrification... Scientific American features Janet Freilich of BU School of Law, who details how states are filling in the gaps in federal public health data... Benjamin Sovacool of the BU Institute for Global Sustainability was selected to lead a major new United Nations report on climate change.
NIH Director; DOE Advisory Committee; NASA Policy
BU IN DC
President Melissa Gilliam participated in the Association of American Universities Summit on Research Universities and the Public Good on February 2nd.
Dolores Acevedo-Garcia of the School of Social Work served as a panelist at the Brookings Institution's "Pathways to Reduce Child Poverty: Impacts of Federal Tax Credits" briefing on February 5th.
SENATORS PRESS NIH DIRECTOR ON GRANTS, PERSONNEL
Members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee questioned National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya about the agency's support for scientists in non-coastal states, the Trump Administration's cancellation of NIH grants supporting clinical trials, federal funding for "gain of function" research, and his views on the safety of vaccines during a hearing on the future of NIH on Wednesday. In response to a question regarding the many vacancies on NIH institute and center advisory councils, Bhattacharya said he is working to quickly identify new members and "there will be no delay" in approving grant awards. He also said that he is making progress on filling at least two of the agency's 15 open institute director positions.
BUZZ BITS...
- President Donald J. Trump signed into law the spending bills that fund activities at the National Institutes of Health, Department of Education, and Department of Defense until September 30, 2026, thereby ending the partial government shutdown. The spending package rejected the Administration's proposed cuts to science activities and maintained funding for Pell Grant awards to low-income students.
- On Tuesday, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced the members of a newly established DOE Office of Science Advisory Committee. The Committee replaces the Office's previous six advisory committees and will be chaired by Dr. Persis Drell, the former provost of Stanford University and director of the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.
- The Department of Defense (DOD) announced last week that it intends to merge the Defense Science Board and Defense Innovation Board into a new DOD Science, Technology and Innovation Board (STIB). The STIB will provide scientific and technical advice to the agency, but "is not considered official and cannot meet or take any action until its charter has been filed with the appropriate federal entities and published in the Federal Register." It will be led by Dr. Milan Nikolich, who previously oversaw DOD technology matters during the first Trump Administration.
HOUSE COMMITTEES ADVANCE NASA POLICY BILL, DISCUSS COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY
- On Wednesday, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee approved the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026, a policy bill that provides direction for the space agency in fields such as human exploration, earth and space science, aeronautics, heliophysics, space technology, and STEM engagement. The Senate is expected to introduce its own version of a NASA policy bill this spring. The two chambers will need to negotiate and approve a final measure before it becomes law.
- The House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a hearing titled "Runaway College Spending Meets the Working Families Tax Cuts" on Wednesday. Members of the Subcommittee were united in sharing concerns with the cost of college and affordability, but disagreed about the impact of the graduate and professional student loan limits enacted in last year's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Accreditation; Language and Being Human; USDA
BUZZ BITS....
- Last Friday, President Donald J. Trump signed into law the spending bills that fund research activities at the National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Energy, and National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities for fiscal year 2026. The new law rejects the Trump Administration's proposed spending cuts for these agencies, maintaining their budgets at a similar level to last year.
- The Department of Education (ED) announced this week that it has initiated the process to update the federal rules governing higher education accreditation through a negotiated rulemaking that will include an opportunity for public comment. ED's goals are to "simplify the Secretary’s recognition of emerging and existing accreditors; examine the extent to which accreditation contributes to rising higher education costs and credential inflation; safeguard against undue influence from related private trade associations; [and] eliminate standards or policies that discriminate on the basis of immutable characteristics."
- ED is inviting public comment on a proposal to restrict federal student aid options for certain degree programs following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which set maximum loan limits at $20,500 a year for graduate students and $50,000 a year for professional students. The proposal includes a new and narrow definition of "professional degree" program that only covers 11 fields of study. Comments are due within 30 days.
EVENT NEWS YOU CAN USE
On Wednesday, February 11th, the Office of Research will convene "Research on Tap: On Language and Being Human" at 4:00pm in the Kilachand Center Colloquium Room. The event, co-hosted by Wheelock College of Education & Human Development Professors Naomi Caselli and Christina Dobbs, will bring together BU faculty from across the university to explore how language influences how we communicate, learn, connect, advocate, and find meaning. "Research on Tap" events feature 10-12 BU scholars presenting a maximum of four slides and delivering a four-minute “elevator pitch” of their work, followed by refreshments and lively discussion that enable investigators to meet potential research collaborators.
GRANT NEWS YOU CAN USE
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) recently released the annual AFRI Education and Workforce Development (EWD) program solicitation. The program supports training opportunities for all levels of students and educators, from K-12 to postdoctoral scholars. A new Program Area Priority called the "Education and Workforce Development Workshop Grants” is available this year. It provides funding for applicants to host workshops that grow agricultural literacy, train agricultural workers, develop pathways for experiential learning, and advance career development for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Applicants across all Program Area Priorities are encouraged to develop projects that integrate foundational knowledge and skills in artificial intelligence.