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National Science Foundation (NSF) Higher Education Research & Development (HERD) Survey Information

Last Modified: Oct. 13, 2025

The NSF HERD survey is the primary source of information on research and development (R&D) expenditures at higher education institutions in the United States and outlying areas. Over 900 universities and colleges complete the survey every year. UAB’s participation in this survey is very important because it helps the NSF produce the most accurate statistics possible on U.S. higher education R&D expenditures. Data for the HERD Survey is submitted via the NSF designated HERD website each Fiscal Year. The data is submitted by the Office of Research to NSF in January each year.

R&D Examples

    • A researcher is studying the properties of human blood to determine what affects coagulation.
    • A researcher is studying the properties of molecules under various heat and cold conditions.
    • A researcher is investigating the effect of different types of manipulatives on the way first graders learn mathematical strategy by changing manipulatives and then measuring what students have learned through standardized instruments.
    • A researcher is conducting research on how a new chicken pox vaccine affects blood coagulation.
    • A researcher is investigating the properties of particular substances under various heat and cold conditions with the objective of finding longer-lasting components for highway pavement.
    • A researcher is studying the implementation of a specific math curriculum to determine what teachers needed to know to implement the curriculum successfully.
    • A researcher is conducting clinical trials to test a newly developed chicken pox vaccine for young children.
    • A researcher is working with state transportation officials to conduct tests of a newly developed highway pavement under various types of heat and cold conditions.
    • A researcher is developing and testing software and support tools, based on fieldwork, to improve mathematics cognition for student special education.

R&D Disciplines

For examples of specific R&D disciplines, please see the listing below.

  • A. Computer and Information Sciences
    • Artificial intelligence
    • Computer and information technology administration and management
    • Computer science
    • Computer software and media applications
    • Computer systems analysis
    • Computer systems networking and telecommunications
    • Data processing
    • Information sciences, studies
    • Information technology
  • B. Engineering
      • Aerodynamics
      • Aerospace engineering
      • Space technology
      • Biological and biosystems engineering
      • Biomaterials engineering
      • Biomedical technology
      • Medical engineering
      • Biochemical engineering
      • Chemical and biomolecular engineering
      • Engineering chemistry
      • Paper science
      • Petroleum refining process
      • Polymer, plastics engineering
      • Architectural engineering
      • Construction engineering
      • Engineering management, administration
      • Environmental, environmental health engineering
      • Geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering
      • Sanitary engineering
      • Structural engineering
      • Surveying engineering
      • Transportation and highway engineering
      • Water resources engineering
      • Communications engineering
      • Computer engineering
      • Computer hardware engineering
      • Computer software engineering
      • Electrical and electronics engineering
      • Laser and optical engineering
      • Power
      • Telecommunications engineering
      • Industrial engineering
      • Manufacturing engineering
      • Operations research
      • Systems engineering
      • Electromechanical engineering
      • Mechatronics, robotics, and automation engineering
      • Ceramic sciences and engineering
      • Geophysical, geological engineering
      • Materials engineering
      • Metallurgical engineering
      • Mining and mineral engineering
      • Textile sciences and engineering
      • Welding
      • Agricultural engineering
      • Engineering design
      • Engineering mechanics, physics, and science
      • Engineering physics
      • Engineering science
      • Forest engineering
      • Nanotechnology
      • Naval architecture and marine engineering
      • Nuclear engineering
      • Ocean engineering
      • Petroleum engineering
      • Other engineering fields that cannot be classified using the fields listed above.
  • C. Geosciences, Atmospheric Sciences, and Ocean Sciences
      • Aeronomy
      • Atmospheric chemistry and climatology
      • Atmospheric physics and dynamics
      • Extraterrestrial atmospheres
      • Meteorology
      • Solar
      • Weather modification
      • Earth and planetary sciences
      • Geochemistry
      • Geodesy and gravity
      • Geology
      • Geomagnetism
      • Geophysics and seismology
      • Hydrology and water resources
      • Minerology and petrology
      • Paleomagnetism
      • Paleontology
      • Physical geography
      • Stratigraphy and sedimentation
      • Surveying
      • Biological oceanography
      • Geological oceanography
      • Marine biology
      • Marine oceanography
      • Marine sciences
      • Oceanography, chemical and physical
      • Other fields that cannot be classified using the fields listed above
  • D. Life Sciences
      • Agricultural business and management
      • Agricultural chemistry
      • Agricultural engineering—report in Engineering
      • Agricultural production operations
      • Animal sciences
      • Applied horticulture and horticultural business services
      • Aquaculture
      • Food science and technology
      • International agriculture
      • Plant sciences
      • Soil sciences
      • Veterinary biomedical and clinical sciences
      • Veterinary medicine
      • Wood science
      • Allergies and immunology
      • Biochemistry, biophysics, and molecular biology
      • Biogeography
      • Biology and biomedical sciences, general
      • Biomathematics, bioinformatics, and computational biology
      • Biotechnology
      • Botany and plant biology
      • Cell, cellular biology, and anatomical sciences
      • Epidemiology, ecology and population biology
      • Food, nutrition, and wellness studies
      • Genetics
      • Microbiological sciences and immunology
      • Molecular medicine
      • Neurobiology and neuroscience
      • Pharmacology and toxicology
      • Physiology, pathology and related sciences
      • Zoology, animal biology
      • Advanced, graduate dentistry and oral sciences
      • Allied health and medical assisting services
      • Bioethics, medical ethics
      • Clinical medicine research
      • Clinical/medical laboratory science/research and allied professions
      • Communication disorders sciences and services
      • Dentistry
      • Dietetics and clinical nutrition services
      • Health and medical administrative services
      • Health, medical preparatory programs
      • Gerontology, health sciences
      • Kinesiology and exercise science
      • Medical clinical science, graduate medical studies
      • Medical illustration and informatics
      • Medicine
      • Mental health
      • Nursing
      • Optometry
      • Osteopathic medicine, osteopathy
      • Pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, and administration
      • Podiatric medicine, podiatry
      • Public health
      • Radiological science
      • Registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing
      • Rehabilitation and therapeutic professions
      • Zoology
      • Fishing and fisheries sciences and management
      • Forestry
      • Natural resources conservation and research
      • Natural resources management and policy
      • Renewable natural resources
      • Wildlife and wildlands science and management
      • Other life sciences that cannot be classified using the fields listed above
  • E. Mathematics and Statistics
    • Applied mathematics
    • Mathematics
    • Statistics
  • F. Physical Sciences
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Planetary astronomy and science
      • (except Biochemistry — report in Biological and Biomedical Sciences [D2])
      • Analytical chemistry
      • Chemical physics
      • Environmental chemistry
      • Forensic chemistry
      • Inorganic chemistry
      • Organic chemistry
      • Organo-metallic chemistry
      • Physical chemistry
      • Polymer chemistry
      • Theoretical chemistry
      • Materials chemistry
      • Materials science
      • Acoustics
      • Atomic, molecular physics
      • Condensed matter and materials physics
      • Elementary particle physics
      • Mathematical physics
      • Nuclear physics
      • Optics, optical sciences
      • Plasma, high-temperature physics
      • Theoretical physics
      • Other physical sciences that cannot be classified using the fields listed above
  • G. Psychology
    • Clinical psychology
    • Counseling and applied psychology
    • Human development
    • Research and experimental psychology
  • H. Social Sciences
      • Cultural anthropology
      • Medical anthropology
      • Physical and biological anthropology
      • Agricultural economics
      • Applied economics
      • Business development
      • Development economics and international development
      • Econometrics and quantitative economics
      • Industrial economics
      • International economics
      • Labor economics
      • Managerial economics
      • Natural resource economics
      • Public finance and fiscal policy
      • Comparative government
      • Government
      • Legal systems
      • Political economy
      • Political science
      • Political theory
      • Comparative and historical sociology
      • Complex organizations
      • Cultural and social structure
      • Demography and population studies
      • Group interactions
      • Rural sociology
      • Social problems and welfare theory
      • Sociology
      • Archeology
      • Area, ethnic, cultural, gender, and group studies
      • Cartography
      • Criminal science and corrections
      • Criminology
      • Geography
      • Gerontology, social sciences
      • History and philosophy of science and technology
      • International relations and national security studies
      • Linguistics
      • Public policy analysis
      • Regional studies
      • Urban studies, affairs
  • I. Other Sciences

    Use this category for R&D that involves at least one S&E field (categories A–H) if it is impossible to report multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary R&D expenditures in specific fields.

  • J. Non-Science & Engineering (S&E) Fields of R&D
      • Business administration
      • Business management
      • Business, managerial economics
      • Management information systems and services
      • Marketing management and research
      • Communication and media studies
      • Communications technologies
      • Journalism
      • Radio, television, and digital communication
      • Education administration and supervision
      • Education research
      • Teacher education, specific levels and methods
      • Teaching fields
      • English language and literature, letters
      • Foreign languages and literatures
      • History
      • Humanities, general
      • Liberal arts and sciences
      • Philosophy and religious studies
      • Theology and religious vocations
      • Law
      • Legal studies
      • (no specific examples)
      • Drama, theatre arts and stagecraft
      • Film, video, and photographic arts
      • Fine and studio arts
      • Music
      • Architecture
      • City, urban, community and regional planning
      • Family, consumer sciences and human sciences
      • Landscape architecture
      • Library science
      • Military technology and applied science
      • Parks, sports, recreation, leisure and fitness
      • Public administration and public affairs
      • Other non-S&E fields that cannot be classified using the fields listed above

      Also, use this category for R&D that involves multiple non-S&E fields if it is impossible to report multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary R&D expenditures in specific fields.

R&D Functions

  • Professionals engaged in the conception or creation of new knowledge, products, processes, methods and systems and also in the management of the projects concerned. Include R&D managers in this category.

  • Persons whose main tasks require technical knowledge and experience in one or more fields of science or engineering, but who contribute to R&D by performing technical tasks such as computer programming, data analysis, ensuring accurate testing, operating lab equipment, and preparing and processing samples under the supervision of researchers.

  • Not directly involved with the conduct of a research project but support the researchers and technicians. These employees might include clerical staff, financial and personnel administrators, report writers, patent agents, safety trainers, equipment specialists, and other related employees.

Researcher versus R&D technician

Researchers contribute more to the creative aspects of R&D whereas technicians provide technical support. For example, a researcher would design an experiment, and a technician would run the experiment and assist in analyzing results.