News
NIH Director; SBIR; Antisemitism Report
BU IN DC
Dean Adnan A. Hyder and a team of faculty and staff from the School of Public Health attended the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health’s annual meeting from March 18th to 20th.
Kevin Outterson of CARB-X met with Congressional offices and Department of Health and Human Services officials to discuss antimicrobial resistance on March 16th.
Helen Tager-Flusberg of the College of Arts & Sciences co-led an Independent Autism Coordinating Committee meeting on March 19th.
Senior Vice President for University Relations Kamrhan Farwell and Vice Presidents Amy Hook and Kristen Smarr participated in the Association of American Universities Public Affairs Network Annual Meeting from March 15th to March 17th.
HOUSE COMMITTEE QUESTIONS NIH DIRECTOR ON AWARD AVAILABILITY, PERSONNEL
On Tuesday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing featuring National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya. Bhattacharya assured Members of Congress that NIH would spend the funds appropriated by lawmakers, following reports that the White House lifted its pause on agency spending. The Director also shared that he is currently interviewing candidates to fill 16 vacant institute and center director positions and that NIH is hiring new employees to fill some of the openings caused by last year's 22% staff reduction. He also discussed his idea for directing more NIH funds to institutions located in the middle of the country by separating the agency's facilities support from research support, enabling universities to entice researchers to conduct their science in a new location.
CONGRESS APPROVES SBIR RENEWAL
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act (S. 3971) by a vote of 345 to 41 on Tuesday. The legislation renews the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, which provide funding to small businesses to commercialize research, through September 30, 2031. Federal agencies have not issued SBIR or STTR awards since the programs expired in the fall of 2025. The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the bill, coauthored by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), earlier this month. The President is expected to sign the measure soon, paving the way for SBIR and STTR activities to resume.
BUZZ BITS...
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is requesting community feedback on its strategic plan for fiscal years 2027 to 2031. The NIH will host a webinar on Wednesday, April 8th at 2:30pm to gather input from the research community, stakeholders, and the public on the framework that will inform the development of the strategic plan.
- On Monday, the House Education and the Workforce Committee issued a Republican staff report entitled “How Campuses Become Hotbeds: The Rise of Radical Antisemitism on College Campuses.” The document recommends that colleges prohibit masking at campus protests, scan job applicants' social media presence for evidence of antisemitism, and exercise greater control over campuses abroad.
- The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party held a hearing titled "From the Science Lab to the Medicine Cabinet: How China is Cornering the Market on Our Medicines" on Wednesday. The hearing focused on ways to streamline clinical trials and the benefits of diversifying and on-shoring the production and manufacturing of key materials and pharmaceutical ingredients to ensure medical supply chain resiliency.
A Note To Our Readers: Dr. Jourdan Ewoldt has joined the BU Federal Relations team as our new Associate Director of Research Collaborations. We are pleased to welcome her to BU!
BU Names New Provost, a Renowned Scholar and Scientist from Duke
Colin Duckett, who assumes the role July 1, says he was drawn to BU by President Gilliam’s “ambitious vision”.
Foreign Influence; MA Priorities; College Sports
BU IN DC
Timothy Longman and Tsitsi Musasike of the Pardee School of Global Studies attended an alumni and student reception on March 9th. Musasike and Nick D'India accompanied Pardee graduate students as they spent the week in Washington, DC, learning about careers in the nation's capital.
Kurt Cavender and Cheryl Lai of the BU Center for the Humanities urged policymakers to support humanities research and education during Humanities Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill on March 10th.
Raul Fernandez of the Wheelock College of Education & Human Development attended the 2026 Brown's Promise Annual Convening from March 4th to 6th.
MA UNIVERSITIES ADVOCATE FOR RESEARCH, STUDENT AID
Boston University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Tufts University sent a memorandum urging lawmakers to invest in student aid and research as they craft spending bills this year. The annual memo outlines the institutions’ shared federal budget priorities, which include funding for Pell Grants, Federal Work-Study, the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Department of Energy, and National Endowment for the Humanities, among others. The document thanks lawmakers for sustaining student aid and research in fiscal year 2026 and asks them to ensure that "all funds appropriated by Congress are being spent as intended."
SENATE COMMITTEE EXAMINES FOREIGN INFLUENCE AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a hearing on Thursday to examine foreign influence at American universities. Witnesses were in agreement about the importance of striking a balance between welcoming the best and brightest scholars to the United States and protecting national security. Citing research security concerns, Republican Senators called for additional vetting of international scholars -- particularly those from China -- and updates to the federal policy that requires colleges to report gifts from foreign entities. Several Democratic Senators argued that the Trump Administration's proposed cuts to research funding and changes to immigration policies threatened American competitiveness and innovation.
WHITE HOUSE, SENATE FOCUS ON COLLEGE ATHLETICS
The White House and a Senate committee each recently held roundtable discussions on college sports. During a forum with college administrators and former athletic coaches last Friday, President Donald J. Trump said he plans to issue an executive order addressing issues such as name, image, and likeness rights. The President previously issued a "Saving College Sports" executive order in July 2025. On Tuesday, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) also convened a roundtable featuring former college athletes and current university officials. Cassidy is seeking feedback from stakeholders on how Congress can address issues affecting student-athletes, including compensation and benefits, eligibility, and the academic experience. The deadline for submitting comments is April 10th.
AI & Climate, Leadership Qualities, Tariffs
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT
Can AI Help Predict the Earth’s Climate a Decade from Now?
For BU’s Elizabeth A. Barnes, integrating AI and Earth sciences is the next step toward solving some of the biggest, most complex challenges we face.
ON THE CHARLES RIVER
Noted Astronomer Merav Opher On The Qualities of a Good Leader
The director of the SHIELD NASA DRIVE Science Center, a multi-institutional effort headquartered at BU studying the heliosphere and heliospheric processes, talks about her pioneering research and the elements of good leadership.
FACULTY EXPERTS
What Might the Fallout Be from the Supreme Court Ruling on Tariffs?
BU scholars in business and Constitutional law provide context about what happened—and what’s next.
THOUGHT LEADERS
In Case You Missed It...
BU political scientist Katherine Levine Einstein joins NPR's Planet Money to share how politics is stacked against the Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY) movement... BU Center for Innovation in Social Science Director Deborah Carr discusses technology and understanding Generation Alpha with Parents Magazine... Anthropologist Merry White talks with Fodor's Travel about why your food isn't spicy enough when you travel... Endocrinologist Elizabeth Pearce comments on people's concerns about spraying perfume on their neckin Good Housekeeping... BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development Professor Beth Warren was elected to the National Academy of Education, an organization that advances high-quality education research to improve educational practice and policy.
NASA; Book Promotion; DOE Early Career
BU IN DC
Anthony Jack of the Wheelock College of Education & Human Development addressed the American Council on Education (ACE) annual meeting on February 27th.
Mary Churchill of the Wheelock College of Education & Human Developmentattended the ACE Women's Network Leadership Conference on February 27th and 28th.
Leslie Dietiker of the Wheelock College of Education & Human Development attended the LEARN Coalition spring meeting on March 3rd.
Christine Slaughter from the College of Arts & Sciences spoke at a Peopling Politics symposium on March 5th.
BUZZ BITS...
- The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee unanimously advanced bills to renew NASA and the weather research activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Wednesday. The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee previously passed similar bills and the two chambers will need to negotiate final versions before they can be sent to the President.
- On Friday, the Department of Education released a report on the future of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the research arm of the agency. The report recommends IES "focus on the most urgent education challenges that are informed by state and district leaders" and "prioritize multi-state awards to help scale the most promising interventions, resources, and policies." The Department's press release indicates it will review the recommendations and consider its next steps.
- Dr. Lindsey Criswell's appointment as director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases at the National Institutes of Health was not renewed. Criswell had served in the role since February 2021.
EVENT NEWS YOU CAN USE
Are you ready to learn how to amplify a book launch and build a positive media presence? Join Kevin Anselmo from Experiential Communications on March 12th at 12 p.m. for a dynamic, remote 90-minute workshop where you’ll discover how to navigate both promoting an upcoming book and enhancing awareness of a book already in print. The event is part of the Strategic Communications series cosponsored by BU Public Relations | Social Media and the Office of Research. From podcasting to working with the media to building an online persona, these events allow BU’s research community to hone their communication skills and promote their work.
GRANT NEWS YOU CAN USE
The Department of Energy has released the 2026 solicitation for its Early Career Research Program, which provides grants of up to $875,000 over five years to exceptional scholars within ten years of earning their doctorate. The DOE supports research in fields such as computing, biological and environmental sciences, physics, and energy. Recent awardees include Boston University faculty with appointments in Chemistry, Physics, and Astronomy. Mandatory pre-applications are due no later than March 24th.
DARPA BTO: Insights from Director Michael Koeris
Dr. Michael Koeris presented a virtual workshop highlighting the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Biological Technologies Office's (BTO) current research thrusts on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
Some 30 Terriers Embark on Alternative Service Breaks
BU students travel to locations across the country to conduct immersive and ethics-driven community work.
Can AI Help Predict the Earth’s Climate a Decade from Now?
For BU’s Elizabeth A. Barnes, integrating AI and Earth sciences is the next step toward solving some of the biggest, most complex challenges we face.
Video: Leaders Among Us—President Gilliam in Conversation with Maisha Kazi (CAS’26)
Menino Scholar and editor of Off the Cuff talks about what it takes to be a good manager.