Show-Me State Times

Saint Louis University has officially joined the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), a consortium that includes over 160 colleges and universities aimed at advancing priorities in science, education, security, and health. The university's acceptance as a sponsoring institution, spearheaded by the School of Science and Engineering, was confirmed during ORAU's annual meeting in March, alongside three other institutions.

The consortium connects to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a major center for research and development in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, known for housing some of the world's most advanced supercomputers. Saint Louis University's participation in ORAU offers its researchers enhanced access to resources and collaborative opportunities.

Membership in ORAU is contingent on being among the nation's leading research universities, as determined by rankings such as the top Carnegie categories or NSF’s R&D expenditure table. Saint Louis University fulfilled these criteria in 2024 and was recognized with the esteemed "R1" designation in the 2025 Research Activity Designations from the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

ORAU aims to promote scientific research in conjunction with its member institutions. The organization's functions encompass providing scientific and technical staffing support, overseeing scientific and technical peer reviews, and conducting evaluations to guide research investments and programs.

Beyond the research focus, universities within ORAU are also required to offer a range of doctoral degrees in STEM disciplines for at least five years before joining. Saint Louis University meets this requirement with 15 out of its 49 doctoral programs dedicated to STEM fields.

Since its inception in 1946, Oak Ridge Associated Universities has collaborated with the U.S. Department of Energy and other federal entities to pursue national goals in science, education, workforce development, public health, and worker safety.