Mississippi
MSU receives $8 million NSF grant to boost Mississippi science, technology capabilities
Contact: James Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi’s leading research university is receiving $8 million from the National Science Foundation to lead transformative science and technology capacity-building efforts across the state.
The four-year NSF award to Mississippi State, announced last week, establishes the Mississippi Research Alliance as a central hub for the state’s research ecosystem, leveraging existing strengths, expanding networks, and creating new opportunities to advance research and development. The funding is part of NSF’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research program—Collaborations for Optimizing Research Ecosystems Research Infrastructure Improvement Program, or E-CORE RII.
“Our state has some of the best research institutions and most talented researchers, but they have often been disconnected from one another. This grant will centralize the efforts of four Mississippi universities, resulting in a better statewide research ecosystem. I fought to increase the funding stream that made this grant possible, and I am glad Mississippi State University is leading the way on this effort,” Sen. Roger Wicker said.
In addition to MSU, collaborating institutions include Mississippi Valley State University, the University of Mississippi, and the University of Southern Mississippi. The grant funds a new portal for shared research instrumentation and a statewide directory of researchers to assist with forming interdisciplinary team networks. Funding also supports faculty startup packages, instrumentation purchases and voucher grants, seed grants for collaborative activities, instrumentation voucher grants, and travel awards for networking and training.
Katie Echols, executive director for research initiatives and innovation in MSU’s Office of Research and Economic Development, is the state of Mississippi’s EPSCoR director and the grant’s principal investigator. CO-PI’s include MSU’s Tonia Lane, director of the Institute for Imaging and Analytical Technologies; MVSU’s Victor Bii, bioinformatics assistant professor and program coordinator; UM’s Nathan Hammer, chemistry and biochemistry professor; and USM’s Alex Flynt, associate professor of biological, environmental and earth sciences.
“The Mississippi Research Alliance is going to have a transformative impact on our state by enhancing and connecting our entire research ecosystem,” said MSU Vice President for Research and Economic Development Julie Jordan. “By linking the exceptional talent and cutting-edge resources across the state, we are fostering networks of innovation that will lead to groundbreaking discoveries and advancements, touching the lives of all Mississippians. I thank our state’s congressional delegation for supporting this investment in Mississippi’s future.”
NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan said, “The NSF EPSCoR program is critical to ensure that we are creating opportunities and investing in innovation in every part of the United States. These new E-CORE and E-RISE awards will positively impact our nation by advancing the breadth of STEM research, research infrastructure and workforce development, while catalyzing opportunities for research and education in EPSCoR jurisdictions and beyond.”
The newly formed alliance will be guided by university representatives, industry leaders, government officials, K-16 educators, non-profit groups and other stakeholders. The NSF has the option to renew the award for an additional four years and $8 million following the initial award cycle.
For more on research at MSU, visit www.research.msstate.edu.
Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.
Jeff Lebby talks Mississippi State football practice, upcoming scrimmage
Watch part of Mississippi State football coach Jeff Lebby’s press conference after Wednesday’s preseason practice.
The 2024 college football season is shaping up to be a challenging one for Mississippi State football.
Under first-year coach Jeff Lebby, the Bulldogs face six teams ranked in the top 25 of the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. Lebby takes over for Zach Arnett, who served as the head coach last season and was fired with two games remaining as the Bulldogs went 5-7. Arnett was originally named the coach after Mike Leach died on Dec. 13, 2022, following complications related to a heart condition.
REQUIRED READING: Where Mississippi State football coach Jeff Lebby saw improvement in preseason scrimmage
The Bulldogs open the season on Saturday against Eastern Kentucky and open SEC play against Florida on Sept. 21. Mississippi State closes the season out with the annual Egg Bowl against rival Ole Miss, which enters the season ranked inside the top 10.
MORE: Buy Mississippi State football tickets on StubHub
Here’s a look at the entire Mississippi State football schedule, including available start times and TV channels:
Mississippi State football schedule 2024: TV channels, dates, start times
All times Central.
- Saturday, Aug. 31: Mississippi State vs. Eastern Kentucky | 6 p.m. | ESPN+, SEC Network+
- Saturday, Sept. 7: Mississippi State at Arizona State | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
- Saturday, Sept. 14: Mississippi State vs. Toledo | 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 21: Mississippi State vs. Florida* | Noon
- Saturday, Sept. 28: Mississippi State at No. 4 Texas*
- Saturday, Oct. 5: Bye
- Saturday, Oct. 12: Mississippi State at No. 1 Georgia*
- Saturday, Oct. 19: Mississippi State vs. No. 20 Texas A&M*
- Saturday, Oct. 26: Mississippi State vs. Arkansas*
- Saturday, Nov. 2: Mississippi State vs. Massachusetts | 4:15 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
- Saturday, Nov. 9: Mississippi State at No. 15 Tennessee
- Saturday, Nov. 16: Bye
- Saturday, Nov. 23: Mississippi State vs. No. 11 Missouri
- Friday, Nov. 29: Mississippi State at No. 11 Ole Miss* | 2:30 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
* Denotes SEC game
Watch select Mississippi State games live with Fubo (free trial)
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STARKVILLE, Miss. – The start of a new season brings a fresh dose of enthusiasm and optimism to fan bases as they look at the upcoming schedule. That optimism is amplified when a fan’s team has undergone significant changes at nearly every level of a program.
That’s the case for Mississippi State fans. After a 5-7 season in 2023, a new era is ready to begin in Starkville with Jeff Lebby taking the helms as head coach for the first time in his career. Fans can expect an offense that resembles the Mike Leach days more than the run-heavy offense from a year ago, which explains the 11 new offensive starters the Bulldogs will field this season.
There’s hope the Bulldogs are able to quickly bounce back from last year’s bowless season and build a program that can compete for a SEC title and college football playoff berth. That quest begins Saturday when Mississippi State hosts Eastern Kentucky at 5 p.m. at Davis Wade Stadium.
Who: Eastern Kentucky (0-0) at Mississippi State (0-0)
When: 5 p.m., Saturday, August 31
Where: Starkville, Mississippi
TV: SEC Network+
Radio: MSU Sports Network (Sirius XM 108 or 204)
Series: This will be the first ever game between the Bulldogs and Colonels.
Last time out, MSU: There aren’t many Bulldogs who started in MSU’s last game that was a 17-7 loss to Ole Miss. Those players were Corey Ellington (12 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack), J.P. Purvis (5 tackles) and De’Monte Russell (1 tackle). In that game last November, Former MSU quarterback Will Rogers threw for 207 yards, doubling Rebels’ quarterback Jaxson Dart who had just 96 yards. Ole Miss’s rushing attack was enough to defeat MSU, gaining more than 200 yards and scoring one of the game’s two touchdowns.
Last time out, EKU: The Colonels didn’t advance to the FCS playoffs, but did end their season on a high note with a 36-24 victory against Stephen F. Austin.
The Runnin’ Utes will reportedly have a new chance to score a win against Mississippi State in a neutral-site game Nov. 16.
College basketball analyst Rocco Miller revealed that officials from both programs are close to a deal on the nonconference game in an X post Monday morning.
“Mississippi State and Utah are finalizing a deal to play a neutral-site game on Saturday, November 16th in the Memphis area (exact location TBA), according to sources,” Miller reported
247Sports later reported that the Utah-Mississippi State game would be played at either Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi, which serves as the home of the Memphis Grizzlies’ G League team, or FedEx Forum in Memphis, which is where the Grizzlies and the University of Memphis men’s basketball team play.
Mississippi State and Utah have played twice before — once at the Fort Meyers Invitational in 2022 and once in the 1995 NCAA Tournament — and the Bulldogs won both meetings, per 247Sports.
Utah’s full 2024-25 schedule could be released as soon as this week.
The Utah women’s basketball team’s nonconference schedule was released last week.
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