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 Network Science Institute works to discover and inspire fundamentally new ways to measure, model, predict, and visualize meaningful interactions and interconnectivity of social, physical, and technological systems.
Institute for Chemical Imaging of Living Systems (CILS)
At the Institute for Chemical Imaging of Living Systems, we develop imaging tools to highlight chemical processes—enabling clinicians to better diagnose and treat disease. Our researchers collaborate across five following core disciplines to develop breakthrough imaging tools: Probe Development, Probe Delivery, Imaging Technologies, Animal Models, and Signal Processing.
Coastal Sustainability Institute (CSI)
The Coastal Sustainability Institute focuses on creating cleaner, safer, smarter coastal communities. We are committed to uncovering new ways to adapt to and mitigate threats at the land-sea interface, including sea-level rise and storm surge, collapsing fisheries, and coastal pollution.
The Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis
The Barnett Institute is a center of excellence in the development and application of technologies for biopharmaceutical characterization and proteomics and systems biology. Through its faculty, research scientists, and students, the Institute is improving possibilities every day for how we can address the challenging diseases and complex healthcare issues of the future.
Electronic Material Research Institute (eMRI)
The Electronic Materials Research Institute provides a collaborative, innovative environment including access to extensive facilities, unique laboratories, and special instrumentation for materials research in the areas of nanotechnology and biotechnology.
Quantum Materials and Sensing Institute
The Quantum Materials and Sensing Institute (QMSI) seeks to accelerate practical quantum materials and technologies from concept to commercialization. QMSI researchers reflect expertise in theory, materials synthesis and characterizations, electronics, optics, photonics, magnetics, magnonics, and their non-equilibrium physics, devices and applications, machine learning, and other advanced data science techniques.
Institute for Plant Human Interface
The mission of the Institute for Plant Human Interface (IPHI) is to deepen our understanding of plant biology and the plant-human interactions that significantly influence human health and sustainability on Earth. IPHI is committed to devising sustainable strategies that benefit both plants and humans, and to fostering the development of future scientists and engineers in this critical field.
Institute for Mechanobiology
The Institute for Mechanobiology accelerates mechanobiology discovery and technology to advance human medicine and health. Their research investigates the role of force and mechanics in biological systems, discovers the root causes of mechanobiological pathologies that negatively affect quality of life, designs interventions and sensors to alter mechanical inputs and biological outputs, and pursues mechanotherapeutics that restore function or slow the progression of diseases.
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.
The Brain Game Center for Mental Fitness and Well-Being
The Brain Game Center for Mental Fitness and Well-Being designs interactive experiences for diverse populations to transform how we think about mental fitness and well-being. Our team conducts groundbreaking research, rigorous testing, and widespread distribution of scientifically refined software to help numerous people address their cognitive needs and reach their cognitive goals.
Center for Theoretical Biological Physics
The Center for Theoretical Biological Physics (CTBP) uses methods from physics, mathematics, and chemistry to understand biological problems. Research within CTBP focuses on broadly defined areas, including the fundamentals of physical genetics, interacting active elements and biological functionality, integrated living systems, and the development of core methodology.
Center for Complex Particle Systems
The Center for Complex Particle Systems makes, measures, and models complex materials from molecular, nano, and microscale components combining order and disorder to establish simple chemical pathways to resource-conscious, multifunctional and intelligent materials for a sustainable and healthy future. By bridging the theory of graphs, physics of networks, science of particles, and examples of evolution, we create the foundations of their engineering and develop its diverse global practitioners.
Center for Advanced Epidemic Analytics and Predictive Modeling Technology
As a consortium of research institutions, healthcare systems and private companies, Epistorm develops innovative methodologies to integrate high-resolution mobility, airline travel, genomic and wastewater surveillance data—with mechanistic, statistical, and deep learning forecasting models to increase the accuracy of predictive analytics to help the U.S. make more informed decisions during future outbreaks of infectious diseases.
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
29 Total Labs and Research Groups
Biomimetic Underwater Robot Program
Marine and Environmental Sciences
Behavioral Neuroscience
Biology
Dr. Ayers’ research focus is on the neuroethology of motor systems in invertebrates and lower vertebrates and the application of this knowledge to the development of advanced robots.
Faculty
Bowen Lab
Marine and Environmental Sciences
Much of the research in the Bowen Lab is focused on how salt marsh microbial communities, and in particular those microbes that are important in the nitrogen cycle, respond to global change drivers.
Faculty
Center for STEM Education
Biology
Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Physics
Marine and Environmental Sciences
This university-wide center aspires to play a key role in shaping and implementing the K-20 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Education strategy at Northeastern University, and to impact STEM teaching and learning at all levels, both locally and nationally.
Coastal Sustainability Institute at the Marine Science Center
Marine and Environmental Sciences
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.
Faculty
Detrich Lab
Marine and Environmental Sciences
Biochemistry
One central strategy of the Detrich Lab’s work is the comparative approach to adaptational evolutionary biology – they use phylogenetically controlled contrasts to evaluate molecular causation in natural experiments, such as the evolution of proteins to function efficiently at cold temperature. Once they establish potential explanations for such phenomena, they exploit genetically tractable systems, such as the zebrafish, to test their hypotheses under controlled laboratory conditions.
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.
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
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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