RESEARCH CENTERS
CENTER FOR BIOMEDICAL Research
Dr. Yinfa Ma
Director, Associate dean of research, curators' teaching professor of chemistry
A multidisciplinary research center with a mission to research and develop advanced biomaterials, devices and therapeutics for applications in the biomedical industry.
- Research areas
- Mission
Research areas
The center’s key research and development areas include:
- Bioactive glass science and engineering
- Bioactive glass and bioactive ceramic scaffolds for regenerating bone
- Nanofibrous bioactive glass for healing soft tissue wounds
- Biomarkers for early detection of cancer
- Nanostructured biocompatible phosphate devices for drug and growth factor delivery
Mission
Research and develop advanced biomaterials, devices and therapeutics for applications in the biomedical industry.
Center for Infrastructure Engineering Systems
Dr. Kamal Khayat
Director, Vernon and Maralee Jones professor of civil engineering
Providing leadership in research and education aimed at solving the problems affecting the nation’s aging infrastructure.
- Research areas
- Mission
Research areas
The center’s key research and development areas include:
- Advanced, sustainable materials for infrastructure construction and rehabilitation
- Rehabilitation of bridges and buildings by applying new materials, such as self-consolidating, fiber-reinforced composite materials
- Advanced design methods to resist extreme events, such as earthquakes
- Novel, non-destructive techniques to assess damage and structural health monitoring of infrastructure
Mission
Provide an umbrella organization that attracts and fosters appropriate R&D campus entities and faculty and supports their activities in order to enhance their ability to effectively provide solutions to infrastructure problems.
Center for research in energy and environment
Dr. Philip Whitefield
Director, Interim vice provost for academic affairs and professor of chemistry
Integrating biological and physical systems involving emerging contaminants in natural and engineered systems.
- Research areas
- Mission
Research areas
Emerging contaminants include chemicals that are becoming of greater concern due to their impact on humans and the environment. They include pollutants from municipal, agricultural and industrial wastewater sources, as well as pharmaceutical and personal care products, to name a few.
Mission
Establish the infrastructure and coordinated faculty base to conduct wide range of externally-funded research initiatives designed to protect public health from emerging contaminants.
Intelligent Systems Center
Dr. Ming Leu
Director, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering
Addressing technology needs and issues for developing intelligent systems for manufacturing and power application.
- Research areas
- Mission
Research areas
The center’s research focus areas include:
- Intelligent manufacturing processes, equipment and systems
- Intelligent cyber-physical systems
- Advanced simulation, sensing, control and communications
- Computational intelligence and embedded systems
- Smart grids and information management
Mission
Provide a research environment in which faculty in different disciplines can cooperate and conduct research on sponsored projects with emphasis on system intelligence.
Materials Research Center
Dr. William G. Fahrenholtz
Director, professor of materials science and engineering
Fundamental and applied research in materials engineering and science with a history of cooperative research and development programs with industry.
- Research areas
- Mission
Research areas
The center’s research focuses on six classes of materials:
- Ceramics
- Metals
- Polymers
- Glass
- Composites
- Coatings
Mission
Promote and foster interdisciplinary research related to materials science and engineering as well providing and maintaining common use equipment in Straumanis Hall, especially those in the Advanced Materials Characterization Lab (AMCL), that supports campus, university, and state wide efforts.
Rock Mechanics and Explosives Research Center
Dr. Norbert Maerz
Director, professor of geological engineering
Specializing in science and engineering that deals with rock, including energy production, mining, geology, geophysics, nuclear and related fields.
- Research areas
- Mission
Research areas
The center’s research focus areas include:
- Rock properties and geomechanics
- Explosions and material fragmentation
- Mining support engineering
Mission
Provides research leadership in a broad range of scientific and engineering fields with emphasis on activities centered on or related to the mineral resource lease. The Center serves the mining and petroleum industries, the nuclear industry, geological science and engineering and the related wider industrial manufacturing community. A particular emphasis is to foster innovative and responsive research in rock physics and all fields of science and engineering that deal with rock, including energy production, mining, geology, geophysics, nuclear and related fields.