Engineering Research at UConn - Discovery, Impact, Innovation
Research Impact Summary Snapshot - By the Numbers
- $80M+ in annual research expenditures
- 334 active sponsored awards across federal, industry, and foundation partners
- Top 3% of U.S. research universities (Carnegie R1)
- 52 faculty ranked in the world’s top 2% of scientists
- Extensive Federal research portfolio across DoD, DOE, NIH, NSF
The University of Connecticut College of Engineering conducts nationally competitive research — advancing discovery, empowering industry partnerships, and solving critical global challenges in energy, health, infrastructure, AI, and defense.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
UConn Engineering has been highly successful in creating a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship that permeates our educational and research programs. These activities transform our faculty's and students' intellectual capital into drivers for economic growth through patents, technology licensing, and startup companies.
DISCOVER INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The UConn College of Engineering (COE) fosters a dynamic innovation ecosystem that transforms research breakthroughs into real-world solutions. Through technology licensing, patenting support, and faculty-led startups, COE research catalyzes economic impact, supports Connecticut’s innovation landscape, and strengthens national competitiveness.
Our Strengths
The UConn College of Engineering research strengths span six interrelated domains aligned with national priorities and industry needs: advanced materials and manufacturing; clean and sustainable energy systems; biomedical engineering and biotechnology; cybersecurity, AI, and advanced computing; infrastructure and transportation systems; and systems engineering and decision sciences. The College of Engineering’s research enterprise is deeply integrated with workforce development and technology transfer.
More than 250 companies collaborate annually with engineering faculty, supporting sponsored research, senior design projects, internships, and workforce upskilling. Approximately 67% of College of Engineering graduates remain in Connecticut, reinforcing the College’s role as a talent engine for the state’s advanced manufacturing, aerospace, energy, and biomedical sectors. Research excellence is further reflected in faculty distinction: 52 engineering faculty are ranked among the world’s top 2% of scientists, and nine faculty are Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors, underscoring sustained impact in discovery, invention, and commercialization.
Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
UConn engineers develop next‑generation materials and innovative manufacturing processes that enable stronger, lighter, and more resilient systems for industry and defense. Our work spans additive manufacturing of advanced alloys, smart materials for extreme environments, and digital‑twin‑enabled production systems. Partnerships with federal agencies and leading companies accelerate technology transition from lab to deployment.
Bioengineering & Health
Our researchers integrate engineering, biology, and medicine to create transformative health technologies—from smart biomaterials and tissue engineering to wearable diagnostics and neural interfaces. UConn faculty lead major federally and foundation‑funded initiatives to improve disease detection, drug delivery, and patient outcomes across diverse clinical domains.
Smart & Resilient Infrastructure
UConn advances the future of transportation, civil infrastructure, and community resilience through data‑driven engineering and novel materials. Faculty lead regional and national programs in transportation safety, structural health monitoring, climate resilience, and aging‑infrastructure mitigation, supporting federal, state, and industry partners in building safer and more sustainable systems.
AI, Machine Learning & Quantum Technologies
Across engineering disciplines, UConn applies advanced computation—from physics‑informed AI and multimodal health analytics to quantum materials and devices. Faculty collaborate with national partners to push the boundaries of intelligent decision systems, secure communications, and next‑generation computing architectures, positioning Connecticut as a growing hub for AI and quantum innovation.
Defense Innovation
With deep expertise in undersea systems, autonomous decision tools, secure manufacturing, and mission‑critical technologies, UConn is a strategic research partner for the U.S. Navy and Department of Defense. Our applied research ecosystem delivers rapid solutions, workforce pipelines, and technology transition pathways that strengthen national security and industrial competitiveness.
Energy & Sustainability
UConn engineers lead advances in clean energy, climate resilience, and sustainable resource systems. Work includes fuel cells, grid modernization, microplastic remediation, resilient energy systems, and low‑emission water and wastewater technologies. Collaborations with federal agencies and regional utilities help communities and industries transition to a more sustainable energy future.
Centers & Institutes
The UConn College of Engineering Research Centers & Institutes are mission-driven engines that catalyze interdisciplinary discovery, industry engagement, and translation. They convene faculty, students, and partners around problem-focused research in domains such as clean energy, cybersecurity, biomedical systems, advanced materials, and defense technologies.
Faculty Expertise Search
Explore our faculty expertise across seven departments and 150+ research areas to find collaborators, advisors, or specialists in emerging technologies.
Research
UConn is designated by the Carnegie Foundation as an "R1" research university. This is the highest classification given for research and a distinction held by only 3 percent of all U.S. institutions of higher education. UConn Engineering’s annual research expenditures exceed $75M per year with approximately 70 percent of the total coming from federal agencies, such as the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy, and Department of Defense.
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