To strengthen innovation and research across the state, Mississippi has launched the Mississippi Emerging Research Institutions Council (MERIC). This new initiative brings together colleges and universities that are committed to research excellence but face unique challenges in gaining recognition, acquiring funding, and building infrastructure.
MERIC was created through a collaborative effort between the Mississippi Research Alliance (MRA) and researchers from a range of primarily undergraduate institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). These institutions—often referred to as Emerging Research Institutions (ERIs)—are key to building an expanded and collaborative research landscape in Mississippi.
The council’s goal is simple but powerful: to develop research capabilities that strengthen STEM pathways and broaden participation. MERIC is modeled after the long-standing Mississippi Research Consortium (MRC), which was founded in 1986 in response to the creation of the NSF EPSCoR Program.
MERIC is self-governed by representatives from Alcorn State University, Belhaven University, Delta State University, Millsaps College, Mississippi College, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi Valley State University, Rust College, Tougaloo College, and William Carey University. These leaders have worked together to create the council’s mission, bylaws, and share strategies for strengthening research engagement at their institutions.
This new initiative will play a critical role in strengthening Mississippi’s research ecosystem. The council will serve as a forum for exchanging ideas, sharing best practices, collectively addressing common challenges and thereby fostering engagement and collaboration.
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Participants from the MERIC Inaugural Meeting, Canton, MS, April 14, 2025