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ATLANTA — As Georgia State University’s newest vice president for Research and Economic Development, Donald Hamelberg (Ph.D. ’01) has a lengthy to-do list. He helps lead a community of hundreds of researchers and a program that’s invested more than $1.88 billion in research in the last decade. He also oversees the research enterprise at Georgia State and keeps a thoughtful eye on the big picture: where the university’s research is now and where it should go next.
So, what does research at Georgia State look like in today’s changing environment? How will it continue to impact students, businesses and innovation in this region and beyond? Here, Hamelberg shares his vision for the university’s robust research community.
Question: Can you give us a snapshot of Georgia State research today? What’s happening right now?
Hamelberg: One word I’d use to capture our research as a whole is “impactful.” At Georgia State, our research runs the gamut, from producing incredible books and scholarship in the humanities to having a drug candidate in a Phase 3 trial. Georgia State is one of only a few universities in Georgia with an R1 designation from Carnegie, meaning we meet the standards for “very high research activity.” In our case, that’s happening even without a medical or engineering school, which is rare.
As far as numbers go, the latest data from the National Science Foundation show Georgia State hit over $237 million in research spending in a single year. In fact, we lead the state in research spending on political science and in government and in sociology, demography and population studies, and we’re near the top in computer and information sciences, psychology and the social sciences.
Q: What makes Georgia State different than the other R1 research universities in the region?
Hamelberg: First is our location. We’re right in downtown Atlanta, just a few blocks from the state Capitol, and we’re surrounded by major businesses and organizations. That gives our students and researchers incredible access to industry and government leaders. Second, it’s our student body. We’ve got about 52,000 students, and we’re one of the most diverse universities in the country. That means we bring together a huge range of perspectives in our research and learning environment. And finally, we’re nationally recognized for our student success programs, which focus on meeting students where they are and helping them succeed, no matter their background. When you combine all that, you get a real urban research powerhouse.
Q: How does research show up in the classroom? How do students benefit?
Hamelberg: There’s a line I’ll paraphrase from the University System of Georgia’s mission statement: “We create knowledge through research, share it through teaching, and apply it through service and innovation.” That really captures how we approach things at GSU.
Our faculty are doing cutting-edge research, and they bring that knowledge into the classroom. That means students aren’t just learning from textbooks, they’re learning from people who are actively shaping their fields. And they’re gaining critical-thinking and problem-solving skills that will serve them well in any career. In addition, the impact research has on future education is profound. The research happening now is the work that will be in textbooks and taught in classrooms 10 or 20 years from now for the next generation of students to learn and build on.
I know that’s why research and innovation is one of our four strategic pillars. It’s central to how we serve our students.
Q: What about beyond the walls of the university? What does Georgia State research do for business? The economy?
Hamelberg: Georgia State University is a big economic driver in the region. As a whole, the institution contributes about $3.2 billion annually in economic impact to the metro Atlanta area. In addition, I really see the investment we make in producing knowledge and inventions at Georgia State as a pre-payment for future innovation and jobs. The work we invest in today lays the foundation for tomorrow’s progress, whether that’s in healthcare, technology or public policy. Plus, a strong research community attracts businesses, creates jobs and helps build a skilled workforce. The long-term return on investing in research really benefits the entire region.
Q: The funding environment for research is changing fast. How is Georgia State navigating that?
Hamelberg: Well, we pride ourselves for being nimble. Yes, it’s definitely a changing environment, but we’ve always looked for new opportunities. There are so many emerging fields to explore. We’re constantly looking at new kinds of partnerships, especially with industry, and finding ways to align our strengths with emerging opportunities. When we strategically connect to business and academic partners, we can bring more of those discoveries and more of that knowledge into the real world.
Q: Do you have advice for researchers looking to expand or change their grants portfolio?
Hamelberg: Definitely. Inside Georgia State’s Office of Research, we have a research development team whose core function is to connect people with grant opportunities and tools. We want to support research directly as well, so we just rolled out an update to our internal grants program, and we are beginning a new set of grants though the ARISE program, which is the next iteration of the Project RISE initiative that was such a success.
As a researcher myself, I’m also keeping an eye on how federal funding is evolving. For example, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy just launched an action plan that emphasizes research on AI. That work can happen in a huge number of fields — from drug design to policy to public health to the humanities — as well as in areas like computer science and business. As a result, all the federal funding agencies are aligning some of their funding priorities with the AI action plan, and we are ready to support our researchers as they explore how these emerging opportunities can support their research programs.
Q: Looking ahead, what do you see for the future of Georgia State research?
Hamelberg: My vision is for us to continue to be adaptable and make sure that research is integrated in all aspects of the student experience. Our commitment to innovation and doing impactful work that will transform our communities is paramount. So, I’m optimistic. What’s interesting about the current environment is that we’re working harder than ever to show how research connects to the bigger picture and contributes to society — something we’ve just assumed everybody recognized. More importantly, we’re showcasing how research isn’t just about individual breakthroughs at one university. When we collaborate and share knowledge, everyone benefits. I believe that embracing that spirit of community progress will help drive Georgia State forward and really allow us to continue making an impact where it counts.