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Research and Sponsored Programs Administration
Â鶹ÊÓƵ is a diverse research institution, and it is the mission of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs Administration (ORSPA) to support and promote the research and scholarly activities of faculty and staff while ensuring compliance and scholarly integrity.
ORSPA assists the Â鶹ÊÓƵ community in advancing research efforts, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration across campus, facilitating partnerships with external organizations, and providing essential administrative support that contributes to transforming the University, Southeast Texas, and beyond.
Guided by a commitment to elevate Â鶹ÊÓƵ to the forefront of research excellence in Texas through transformative innovation and pioneering scholarship, ORSPA provides strategic leadership and regulatory stewardship to foster discovery and institutional impact.
R2
Carnegie Research Institution
32
Number of Awards
$5.4M
Awarded Funds
$9.1M
Research Expenditures
Featured Researcher
Dr. Philip Cole, Executive Director of the Center for Midstream Management and Science (CMMS), has exemplified a distinguished career of research, teaching, and leadership spanning both fundamental physics and applied energy science. In 2026 he was bestowed with the Regents' Professor designation, one of the highest honors awarded by the Texas State University System, a recognition of a lifetime of scholarly achievement, innovation, and impact.
Throughout his career, Dr. Cole has pursued some of physics' most fundamental questions, including the nature and origin of mass and the structure of matter. His work has earned national and international recognition, including an NSF CAREER Award, a Fulbright Scholar Award to Germany, and the Fundamental Physics Innovation Award from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
Today, Dr. Cole leads CMMS, where he applies scientific principles to challenges facing the energy industry. His current work focuses on natural gas transportation, fluid flow, and hydrocarbon systems while fostering collaboration among academia, industry, and students to advance both research and workforce development.
Outside of research, he enjoys reading history, biographies, novels, and science fiction, studying German, and exploring science, technology, and current events. He also enjoys working outdoors on landscaping sharing stimulating conversations with colleagues over a stout mug of ale.
His advice to emerging researchers:
“Nothing worthwhile comes easy. If you have vast curiosity, deep passion, and a healthy dose of what the Germans call Sitzfleisch - the ability to stay focused and persevere - you will go far. Love what you do and do what you love, and good things will ultimately come out of it.”
To learn more about Dr. Cole and the Center for Midstream Management and Science, please visit the CMMS website.
Selected Research
