After two decades of steady growth, Penn State's research expenditures in fiscal year 2013-2014 fell by 4 percent to $813.1 million, according to Vice President for Research Neil Sharkey. That total included $492.4 million in federal funds, $38.6 million less than the previous year. The drop is reflective of a significant decline in federal investment in research and development since the economic downturn of 2008, Sharkey said.