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Georgia Tech Research Institute

Type	Nonprofit
Founded	Atlanta, Georgia (1934)
Founder(s)	W. Harry Vaughan
Headquarters	Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Key people	Stephen E. Cross, Director, GTRI[1] George P. "Bud" Peterson, President, Georgia Tech
Industry	Research and development Engineering Science Economics Public policy Defense
Revenue	US$200 million (2009)
Employees	1400 (October 2009)
Parent	Georgia Institute of Technology
Website	www.gtri.gatech.edu

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the nonprofit applied research arm of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. GTRI employs around 1,400 people, and is involved in approximately $200 million in research annually for more than 200 clients in industry and government.

GTRI's research spans a variety of disciplines, including national defense, homeland security, public health, education, mobile and wireless technologies, and economic development. Major customers for GTRI research include United States Department of Defense agencies, the state of Georgia, non-defense federal agencies, and private industry. Overall, contracts and grants from Department of Defense agencies account for approximately 80% of GTRI’s total expenditures.^[2]

History

Establishment

First GTRI director, W. Harry Vaughan (left), visiting GTRI Director Don Grace in 1984.

In its first decades of its existence, Georgia Tech slowly grew from a trade school into a university. However, there was little state initiative to see the school grow drastically until 1919.^[3] That year, coinciding with federal debate about the establishment of Engineering Experiment Stations in a move similar to the Hatch Act of 1887's establishment of Agricultural experiment stations, the Georgia General Assembly passed an act titled "Establishing State Engineering Experiment Station at the Georgia School of Technology."^[3][4] This station was established with the goal of the "encouragement of industries and commerce" within the state. Unfortunately, the federal effort failed and the state did not finance the organization, so the new organization existed only on paper.^[3][4]

In 1929, some Georgia Tech faculty members belonging to Sigma Xi started a Research Club at Tech that met once a month.^[5] One of the monthly subjects, proposed by W. Harry Vaughan, was a collection of issues related to Tech, such as library development, and the development of a state engineering station. This group investigated the forty existing engineering experiments at universities around the country, and the report was compiled by Harold Bunger, Montgomery Knight, and Vaughan in December 1929. Their report noted that several similar organizations had been opened across the country at other engineering schools and were successful in local economic development.^[5]

In 1933, S. V. Sanford, president of the University of Georgia, proposed that a "technical research activity" be established at Tech in order to boost the state's struggling economy in the midst of the Great Depression. President Marion L. Brittain and Dean William Vernon Skiles asked for and examined the Research Club's 1929 report, and moved to create such an organization. $5,000 in funds ($79,576.06 today) were allocated directly from the Georgia Board of Regents and the station started operation on July 1, 1934.^[3][5] The State of Georgia provided the Engineering Experiment Station with a budget allocation, and Georgia Tech provided infrastructure and personnel to the unit. Professors who worked with the station could receive a $250 (annual) stipend ($3,978.8 today) for doing so.

Early years

The Thomas Hinman Research Building, built in 1939 and expanded in the 1950s.

Vaughan was selected as its acting director in April 1934, and hired 13 part-time faculty and a few graduate assistants.^[5][3] EES's initial areas of focus were textiles, ceramics, and helicopter engineering.^[6] The early work of the station was conducted in the basement of the Old Shop Building next to Tech Tower, and Vaughan's office was in the Aeronautical Engineering Building.^[5] The station's name was technically the State Engineering Experiment Station, but it was generally referred to as EES (Engineering Experiment Station) or simply "the research station".

By 1938, the Engineering Experiment Station was producing useful technology, and the station needed a method to conduct contract work outside of the state budget.^[3] Consequently, the Industrial Development Council (IDC) was formed. The new organization was created as a non-profit contract organization for the EES, allowing the EES to receive federal contracts while retaining their relationship with Georgia Tech and the State of Georgia. It was created by the Chancellor of the University System and the president of Georgia Power Company, and the Engineering Experiment Station's director was a member of the council.^[3] The IDC later became the Georgia Tech Research Corporation, which currently serves as the sole contract organization for all Georgia Tech faculty and departments.^[3] In addition, the contract organization manages the intellectual property that results from research.

Examples of projects undertaken under Vaughan's directorship include Montgomery Knight's helicopter research, the Georgia Economic Survey, $6,000 in aeronautical research for the Guggenheim Foundation, and textile research that created cotton roving and spinning processes that were three to five times faster than contemporary practices.^[7] Vaughan was instrumental in securing a permanent building for the station, initially known as the Research Building; several years later it was expanded and named the Thomas Hinman Research Building.^[5][7] After Vaughan left for the Tennessee Valley Authority in 1940,^[7] Henry Bunger (head of the Chemistry Department) took over as acting director. However, Bunger died shortly thereafter in the summer of 1941, and physics professor Gerald A. Rosselot assumed the directorship.^[5][8]

Recent history

World War II resulted in a dramatic increase of sponsored research, with the 1943-1944 budget being the first in which industry and government contracts exceeded the station's other income (most notably, its state appropriation).^[5] Director Vaughan had initially prepared the faculty for fewer incoming contracts as state had cut the station's appropriation by 40 percent, but increased support from industry and government eventually counteracted low state support.^[5] The electronics and communications research that Director Rosselot attracted is still a mainstay of GTRI research.^[8] Two of the larger projects were a study on the propagation of electromagnetic waves, and United States Navy-sponsored radar research.^[8]

In 1948, the Industrial Development Council was renamed to the Georgia Tech Research Institute. In 1984, the Georgia Tech Research Institute became the Georgia Tech Research Corporation, and the Engineering Experiment Station became the Georgia Tech Research Institute.^[9] Since it was established, GTRI has expanded its engineering focus to include science, economics, policy, and other areas that leverage GTRI's partnership with Georgia Tech.

From 1992 to 1997, retired Vice Admiral Richard H. Truly was GTRI's director, who helped GTRI survive a recession and the end of the Cold War despite its dependence on United States Department of Defense (DOD) contracts.^[10] During his tenure the percentage of GTRI's budget from the DOD did experience a small from (from 76 percent to 70 percent) which was balanced by increased research in other fields.^[10] In 1997, GTRI passed $100 million in research contracts, with 546 awards for $103,061,780.^[10]

Truly was replaced by Edward K. Reedy, who served from 1998 to 2003.^[11] Reedy encouraged funding researchers who had ideas that needed support, and introduced a new cost accounting standard for recovering indirect expenditures. At the end of his tenure GTRI had $115 million in research contracts, a new high.^[12] Much new funding came as an indirect result of the September 11 attacks and the resulting War on Terrorism as the DOD increased related research.^[11] Stephen E. Cross was selected as the newest director in late 2003.^[13]

Organization

The Centennial Research Building, GTRI's headquarters.

The Baker Building

GTRI is composed of seven laboratories organized by technical focus, which are further subdivided into divisions. Labs frequently collaborate with one another and outside groups based on the unique requirements of each project. GTRI performs research for clients at the local, regional, national, and international level, and employees are encouraged to present their work at conferences and consortia. At a given time, laboratories may work with 200 or more agencies simultaneously.

GTRI operates independently under the auspices of the Georgia Tech Applied Research Corporation (GTARC).^[14] GTRI’s project directors are responsible for direction of all aspects of projects, including marketing, contract development, research, and fulfillment. Most projects are conducted on a cost-reimbursable basis and must comply with negotiated Federal Acquisition Regulations specific to the operation of university research organizations.

University affiliation

GTRI enriches the Georgia Tech research environment for faculty and students by conducting externally sponsored, applications-oriented research programs that benefit the state, region, and nation. These programs, led by GTRI research faculty, contribute to national defense, civilian needs, and industrial competitiveness, and provide students with career experience through graduate research assistantships, cooperative education programs, and undergraduate assistantships.

GTRI's contributions to the Georgia Tech community include collaborative research with academic faculty, courses originated by GTRI faculty, and joint service efforts. Collaboration is strong between the faculties of GTRI and the academic schools and departments. Many GTRI researchers hold appointments as adjunct faculty members in Georgia Tech academic departments, serve on thesis advisory committees, and teach both academic and continuing education courses.

GTRI reaches out to the academic side of Georgia Tech for collaboration on many research activities, building interdisciplinary teams that take advantage of the broad experience and expertise of Georgia Tech’s top-ranked programs.

Laboratories

GTRI conducts its research programs through seven laboratories that focus on specific subjects:

• Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems Laboratory (ATAS)

ATAS develops advanced systems concepts and performs research related to aerospace systems, power and energy systems, threat systems, intelligent autonomous systems, and systems engineering methodologies.

• Electronic Systems Laboratory (ELSYS)

ELSYS focuses on systems engineering solutions in electronic defense; modeling, simulation and analysis; countermeasures technique development; sensors performance analysis; electronic warfare systems integration; standardized test procedures; flight test support; laboratory support stations and test systems; missile warning system improvements; technology insertion and human factors.

• Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory (EOSL)

EOSL has technology thrusts in the areas of electro-optical modeling and analysis, microelectronic and nanotechnology development, remote sensing, acoustics, and mechanical systems.

• Huntsville Research Laboratory (HRL)

This laboratory, in Huntsville, Alabama, primarily supports the United States Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (USA AMRDEC) in its aviation and missile R&D efforts.

• Information Technology & Telecommunications Laboratory (ITTL)

ITTL conducts a broad range of research in areas of computer science, information technology, communications, networking, and the development of commercial products from university research.

• Sensors and Electromagnetic Applications Laboratory (SEAL)

SEAL researchers investigate radar systems, electromagnetic environmental effects, radar system performance modeling and simulations, and antenna technology.

• Signature Technology Laboratory (STL)

STL conducts research and development in electromagnetic materials and structures, electromagnetic apertures and scattering, optical and infrared physics and phenomenology, and secure information systems.

Interdisciplinary research centers

Many interdisciplinary research centers report through GTRI:^[15]

Locations

Primary campuses

GTRI is headquartered on the Georgia Tech campus in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, where five of its seven research laboratories are located. Two GTRI laboratories operate at a major off-campus research facility approximately fifteen miles north of Atlanta in Cobb County adjacent to the Dobbins Air Reserve Base. Additionally, GTRI operates a laboratory in Huntsville, Alabama. On-site research and business services also take place at a number of GTRI offices around the nation with locations in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, Virginia, Ohio, and Texas. GTRI opened an international office in Athlone, Ireland in June 2006.^[31][32]

Field offices

GTRI has several field offices that help with nearby on-site needs. These are in Albuquerque, New Mexico,^[33] Dallas, Texas,^[34] Dayton, Ohio,^[35] Shalimar, Florida (near Eglin Air Force Base),^[36] Huntsville, Alabama,^[37] Jacksonville, Florida,^[38] Orlando, Florida,^[39] Panama City, Florida,^[40] Quantico, Virginia,^[41] San Diego, California,^[42] Tucson, Arizona,^[43] Warner Robins, Georgia (near Robins Air Force Base),^[44] and Arlington, Virginia/Washington, DC.^[45]

References

External links

• GTRI official website
• Laboratories
  • Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems (ATAS) Laboratory
  • Electronic Systems Laboratory (ELSYS)
  • Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory (EOSL)
  • Huntsville Research Laboratory (HRL)
  • Information Technology and Telecommunications Laboratory (ITTL)
  • Sensors and Electromagnetic Applications Laboratory (SEAL)
  • Signature Technology Laboratory (STL)

Coordinates: 33°46′52″N 84°24′02″W / 33.781093°N 84.400421°W / 33.781093; -84.400421