Science, Our Endless Frontier

The big questions of today require more than the sum total of our knowledge and ingenuity—they demand data, and lots of it. By harnessing powerful tools and algorithms, researchers can decode scientific complexities faster and at greater scales than ever before. A new, data-driven frontier has emerged, empowering scientists to transform our understanding of the world.

And with 37 interdisciplinary research centers and institutes, 15 of which are housed in the College of Science, Northeastern stands at the edge of the frontier. Come be a part of the next era of discovery.

Network Science Institute
The NSI works to discover and inspire fundamentally new ways to measure, model, predict and visualize meaningful interactions and interconnectivity of social, physical and technological systems.
Chemical Imaging of Living Systems Institute
The Institute develops imaging tools to highlight chemical processes - enabling clinicians to better diagnose and treat disease.
Coastal Sustainability Institute at the Marine Science Center
The MSC's research topics relate to understanding how the projected impacts of climate change will affect marine habitants, and how urban communities along the coast can best prepare for these impacts.
The Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis
The Institute was established in 1973 as a center for advanced interdisciplinary research in the chemical analysis sciences at Northeastern University, in the educational hub of Boston, Massachusetts. Today, with over 50 scientists and an $8 million endowment, the Institute is recognized internationally as one of the premier centers for cutting-edge research and advanced training in analytical chemistry for biomedical applications.
Electronic Materials Research Institute
The Electronic Materials Research Institute (eMRI) at Northeastern University has access to extensive facilities, unique laboratories, and special instrumentation for materials research in the areas of nanotechnology and biotechnology. Faculty include: Srinivas Sridhar, Don Heiman, Latika Menon, Paul Champion, Sergey Kravchenko, Nathan Israeloff, Mark Williams, Mary Jo Ondrechen, Sanjeev Mukerjee, Max Diem, Robert Hanson, Graham Jones, David Budil, William Hancock, Patricia Mabrouk, Barry Karger and William Reiff
Antimicrobial Discovery Center (ADC)
The Center translates basic discoveries into novel antimicrobial therapies to combat Biowarfare and conventional pathogen threats. The rise of multidrug resistant pathogens and the threat of genetically engineered bioweapons represent an urgent need for antimicrobial therapies. The Center is funded by grants from the NIH, NSF, and DOE.
Center for Cognitive and Brain Health (CCBH)
The Center investigates the effects of lifestyle choices and health behaviors (e.g., physical activity, diet) and their physiological sequelae (e.g., fitness, adiposity) on brain and cognition. From a neuroimaging perspective, the researchers’ interests lie in understanding how health influences brain and behavior as it relates to increased health and effective functioning for individuals across the lifespan.
The Center for Complex Network Research (CCNR)
The Center’s objective is simple: think networks. Research focuses on how networks emerge/evolve, how they look, and how they impact our understanding of complex systems. CCNR’s research has developed to unexpected areas, including the topology of the World Wide Web; complex networks inside the cell, and the Internet’s Achilles’ Heel.
Center for Drug Discovery (CDD)
The Center for Drug Discovery is dedicated to the discovery of novel medications and the development of approaches and technologies aimed at improving the discovery of new therapeutic drugs. Faculty include: Raymond Booth, Sergiy Tyukhtenko and Jeff Agar
Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Complex Systems (CIRCS)
CIRCS fosters collaborations between researchers from different scientific and engineering disciplines who share a common interest in elucidating fundamental aspects of the structure and function of complex physical and biological systems across multiple levels of organization using a combination of quantitative state-of-the-art experimental and theoretical research tools.
Marine Science Center
An internationally recognized research institution that focuses on the ocean environment, marine life and ecology, and discovering biotechnological and medical potentials in the sea. Projects include building underwater robots and creating genetically engineered seaweed to clean wastewater from agriculture facilities.
Northeastern University Center for Renewable Energy Technology (NUCRET)
This center aims to be at the frontier of science and technology of clean energy conversion and storage. The range of efforts includes materials science, advanced in situ spectroscopy, micro-fabrication methods and manufacturing technology. Faculty include: Sanjeev Mukerjee and Serge Pann
Center for Translational NeuroImaging (CTNI)
The Center for Translational NeuroImaging endeavors to provide services to the academic community interested in  animal modeling and drug testing to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of CNS diseases. The Center is also committed to training the next generation of imaging scientists to meet the needs of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
Biopharmaceutical Analysis Training Lab (BATL)
Directed by Dr. Jared Auclair, BATL is a state-of-the-art facility offering a unique hands-on training opportunity to the pharmaceutical industry in form of affordable, practical and comprehensive courses. Experienced faculty and staff provide in-depth knowledge applicable to the lab environment.
Ocean Genome Legacy Center (OGL)
The Ocean Genome Legacy Center at Northeastern University's Marine Science Center is a non-profit research organization and biological specimen repository dedicated to exploring and preserving the wealth of information contained in the genomes of endangered, rare, unusual, and ecologically critical marine organisms. Its mission is to acquire, authenticate, study, preserve, develop, and distribute genetic materials, biological specimens, and information to the research community.

Sort By Research Area

Barnett Institute of Chemical & Biological Analysis
Behavioral Neuroscience
Biochemistry
Bioinformatics
Biology
Biotechnology
Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Linguistics
Marine and Environmental Sciences
Mathematics
Network Science Program
Physics
Psychology
1 Total Labs and Research Groups
Linguistics and Law Lab
Linguistics

The Linguistics & Law Lab is working at the border between law and linguistics to improve justice through linguistic research.

Faculty
Healthy Aging
Our diverse group of researchers with expertise in aging answer important questions about the well-being of the global aging population by combining personalized molecular genetics, biobehavioral sciences, computational modeling, health data analytics, bioengineered robotic devices, and lifestyle interventions that collectively target "health-span".
Mathematical Modeling
Mathematical models can bridge the gap between theory and empirical data with far-reaching implications, solving complex problems across disciplines. Through their diverse expertise, Northeastern faculty tackle a wide array of challenges, from understanding the dynamics of biological systems to modeling the behavior of materials at the nanoscale.
Mechanobiology
Comprising interdisciplinary experts from fields such as biology, engineering, physics, and materials science, Northeastern researchers delve into the fundamental mechanisms by which mechanical forces influence and regulate biological processes at various scales.
Mental Health
Understanding and improving mental health is a multi-scale, multi-partner endeavor. By engaging with interdisciplinary research at all levels – across departments, colleges, institutions, cities, and regions – we are tackling some of the most important societal challenges.
Metabolism
Utilizing cutting-edge techniques, including neuroimaging and metabolic profiling, our researchers aim to decipher the complex interplay between metabolism, brain function, and mental health outcomes. Their research spans a wide range of critical areas, from investigating the impact of nutrition on mood and cognitive function to uncovering the role of metabolic dysregulation in psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia
Plant-Human Interface
From researching biophilic urban planning to plant-based therapies, Northeastern faculty are at the forefront of exploring the intricate relationship between humans and the plant world, combining expertise in botany, environmental science, psychology, and sustainable design.
Quantum
Quantum research spans a wide spectrum of phenomena, from quantum computing and sensing to the development of novel quantum materials. Utilizing cutting-edge experimental setups and theoretical and computational models, we are investigating the practical applications of quantum principles and their potential to revolutionize material science, medicine, and our understanding of the universe.

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