UNE retains R2 Research status, reinforcing leadership in scientific advancement

The University of New England has retained its status as one of the country’s leading research universities with the recent release of the 2025 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. 

UNE’s continued designation as a Research-2 (R2) institution under the classification system reaffirms its position as one of just 139 such colleges and universities across the U.S. with the marker of “High Research Spending and Doctorate Production.”

Since first earning this designation in 2018 — at the time, being the only institution in New England to rise from the “Master’s Colleges and Universities: Larger Programs” category — UNE has continued to expand its research enterprise and secure significant funding, including over $18.6 million in extramural funding across 35 research projects in fiscal year 2024 alone.

“The R2 designation recognizes UNE’s continued strategic investment in research and growth as a nationally renowned research institution,” said Karen Houseknecht, Ph.D., the University’s senior associate provost and vice president for Research at UNE. “The research happening at UNE is making a tangible impact in Maine and beyond, and the R2 designation reflects our ability to secure extramural funding and build partnerships that support both scientific discovery and workforce development.”

UNE’s commitment to fostering innovation is reflected in its student research engagement, with 46% of undergraduates collaborating with faculty on research projects — nearly double the national average. UNE is also an active member of the Maine IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence, a collaborative initiative that has helped early-career bioscience faculty secure competitive federal grants and provides resources for biomedical research and workforce training.

These achievements underscore UNE’s role as a key player in Maine’s research landscape, particularly within the state’s growing bioscience and biotechnology sectors. 

UNE’s Portland Laboratory for Biotechnology and Health Sciences (PLBHS), inaugurated in late 2023, exemplifies this momentum. The facility is designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, create strategic industry research partnerships, and contribute to workforce development in a field that is rapidly growing within the state. 

With more than 9,800 positions currently filled, the Bioscience Association of Maine reports that demand for Maine life sciences jobs has grown 31% in the last five years, far outpacing growth in all of Maine’s total industries (3%).

Researchers housed in the PLBHS, housed on UNE’s Portland Campus for the Health Sciences, are already making significant headway translating their discoveries into real-world applications.

This includes the licensing of a novel cancer biomarker test developed by UNE researcher Srinidi Mohan, Ph.D., marking an important milestone in clinical research advancements. And Eva Rose Balog, Ph.D., a protein biochemist and associate professor of chemistry, is one of two co-innovators on a newly patented, novel technology that offers a dynamic alternative to traditional methods of molecular detection.

PLBHS faculty Srinidi Mohan (left) and Eva Rose Balog from their recent profiles in the 2024 UNE Magazine “Research: For the Health of Our World.” Read the magazine

UNE’s research efforts extend beyond biomedical sciences and biotechnology to include marine and environmental sciences, business, public health, climate science, and the humanities. UNE’s marine research initiatives contribute to understanding coastal ecosystems, fisheries, and climate change resilience, supporting Maine’s environmental and economic sustainability. 

The College of Business, UNE’s newest college offering a growing roster of market-aligned degree programs, recently launched a strategic partnership with the Maine Mariners professional hockey team, allowing students to engage in applied industry research through the recently launched Center for Sport and Business Innovation.