Research Centers

Engineering faculty participate in ground-breaking research at these interdisciplinary research centers.

Bio-Sciences

Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering (CSNE) »
An NSF-funded Engineering Research Center launched July 2011 to advance the integration of technologies with human neural systems. The center brings together leaders in robotics, neuroscience, computer science, and other disciplines. See also: launch announcement

Genetically Engineered Materials Science and Engineering Center (GEMSEC) »
Adapts techniques in molecular biology and genomics for developing new materials and systems.

National ESCA Surface Analysis Center for Biomedical Problems (NESAC/BIO) »
Develops and applies new surface analysis technologies for biomedical research.

National Simulation Resource Center Physiome Project (NSR) »
A collaborative effort to define the physiome via databasing and the development of integrated quantitative and descriptive modeling.

Resource Facility for Population Kinetics (RFPK) »
A computer resource facility in the Department of Bioengineering that emphasizes compartmental modeling and population kinetic analysis of biomedical and pharmaceutical data.

University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials Research Center (UWEB) »
Exploits specific biological recognition mechanisms to develop a new generation of biomaterials for medical implants that will heal in the body in a physiologically normal way.

Education and Learning

Center for Engineering Learning and Teaching (CELT) »
Combines two missions: to conduct internationally recognized research in engineering learning and to promote teaching effectiveness in UW engineering classrooms.

Center for the Advancement of Engineering Education (CAEE) »
A collaboration among scholars from five partner institutions to advance scholarship on engineering learning and teaching.

Center for Workforce Development (CWD) »
Seeks to enhance the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women and underrepresented minorities in higher education and the workforce through research, evaluation, and programmatic initiatives as well as conducting research on the social and ethical implications of nanotechnology.

Electronics and Computing

Center for Collaborative Technology »
An effort funded by Microsoft Research to develop the ConferenceXP platform and apply the technologies to a wide range of educational and collaborative scenarios.

Center for Design of Analog-Digital Integrated Circuits (CDADIC) »
One of the few research consortiums in the country that addresses problems associated with analog and mixed-signal research.

Intel Science and Technology Center for Pervasive Computing »
A collaboration among Intel and university researchers to explore new technologies (such as personal robotics and "Trustworthy Wireless") to support the ubiquitous computing environments of the future.

Laboratory for Usability Testing and Evaluation (LUTE Lab)
Supports research methods used in the human centered design process, including focus groups, interviews, card sorts, paper prototyping, usability testing, and eye tracking. The lab is available for research projects led by UW faculty and students, and to graduate and undergraduate students who are studying usability engineering. The LUTE lab can be rented by UW faculty and staff. (Website under redevelopment January 2013)

Turing Center »
Investigates problems at the crossroads of natural language processing, data mining, Web search, and the Semantic Web.

Energy

Advanced Materials for Energy (AME) Institute »
Promotes sustainable and scalable energy solutions for the Pacific Northwest and beyond; emphasizes development of advanced materials for high efficiency energy conversion and storage within devices.

Bioenergy Program »
Researches how to balance the technological, environmental, and social dimensions of a sustainable energy economy. (The full program name is Bioresource-based Energy for Sustainable Societies.)

Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center (NNMREC) »
A DOE-funded partnership between OSU and UW. UW will be responsible for tidal energy issues. The role of the center is to close key gaps in understanding of marine energy and to inform the public, regulators, research institutions, and device and site developers.

Plasma Science and Innovation Center »
Develops predictive capability for emerging concept experiments, allowing new experiments in fusion science and in other areas of plasma science without actual construction.

Materials and Structures

Center for Intelligent Materials and Systems (CIMS) »
A collaboration of botanists and engineers to advance the bio-inspired design of intelligent materials and systems.

Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials in Transport Aircraft Structures (AMTAS) »
Seeks solutions to problems associated with existing, near- and long-term applications of composites and advanced materials for large transport commercial aircraft.

Institute of Advanced Materials and Technology (i-AMT) »
Facilitates interdisciplinary research in photonics, electronics, and magnetic materials; materials for energy generation and storage; biomaterials for the bio-nano interface; and multifunctional composites.

National Institute of Materials Science (NIMS) »
U.S. office for NIMS, based in Japan, conducts interdisciplinary research, graduate student exchange, and collaboration with U.S. companies. Partners include Materials Science & Engineering department.

Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER) »
UW is a core institution in this Berkeley-based center conducting research in earthquake-related geohazard assessment, geotechnical and structural engineering, risk management, and public policy.

See also: Advanced Materials for Energy (AME) Institute under Energy

Molecular Engineering, Nanotechnology, and Microfabrication

Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute »
Will bring together faculty teams from across UW in the new Molecular Engineering & Sciences Building to catalyze translational research in the CleanTech and BioTech areas.

Microfabrication Facility »
A resource for industrial and academic researchers offering advanced microfabrication and characterization capabilities in 8,000 square feet of class 10,000 cleanroom space.

Center for Nanotechnology »
Research includes learning from nature at the nanoscale and developing novel tools for nanofabrication and studying cell operations at the nanoscale.

NanoTech User Facility »
Administered by the Center for Nanotechnology, this facility provides access to advanced characterization and nanofabrication equipment.

Transportation

Intelligent Transportation Systems »
A collaboration among the departments of Electrical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Human Centered Design & Engineering (formerly Technical Communication) to apply computer and communications technologies to solve transportation problems.

Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium (PacTrans) »
A Regional University Transportation Center (UTC) administered by the United States Department of Transportation; a hub for transportation research and education in the Pacific Northwest.

Washington State Transportation Center (TRAC) »
A collaboration among Washington State University, the University of Washington, and the Washington State Department of Transportation to coordinate both state and commercial transportation research efforts and to develop research opportunities nationally and locally.

Other Centers Involving Engineering Faculty

Center for Materials and Devices for Information Technology Research »
Established by the National Science Foundation in 1987 to fund interdisciplinary research and education activities and encourage technology transfer.

Center for Process Analytical Chemistry (CPAC) »
A consortium established at the UW in 1984 to develop and foster collaboration on new measurement approaches, including the miniaturization of traditional instrumentation and the development of new sensors and non-traditional instruments.

The Water Center »
The UW Water Center has closed due to state budget cuts and changes in program directions. Water Seminars will continue through the School of Forest Resources and the Water Center’s website remains online at least through June 2011. Read more »