ResearchResearch Centers
Our department has close collaborations with multiple research centers. The first three centers listed below are led by electrical and computer engineering faculty, while the others are Northwestern-wide initiatives. These multidisciplinary centers serve as a focal point for research, teaching, and outreach.
Center for Photonic Communication and Computing
The Center for Photonic Communication and Computing at Northwestern University conducts leading edge, fundamental science and engineering research for the development of advanced optical communication and computing systems. This center is directed by Prem Kumar.
Center for Quantum Devices
Since its founding in 1991, the Center for Quantum Devices at Northwestern University has evolved from only a mere vision into a concrete world-class research laboratory, with the mission to pursue academic excellence and high-level research in compound semiconductor science and nanotechnology. This center is directed by Manijeh Razeghi.
Center for Ultra-scale Computing and Information Security
The Center for Ultra-scale Computing and Information Security conducts highly innovative research in many synergistic areas of ultra-scale computing and information technologies, and it fosters and enables interdisciplinary research in computing technologies that scale to these levels. This center is directed by Alok Choudhary.
Center for Deep Learning
The Center for Deep Learning’s mission is to act as a resource for companies seeking to establish or improve access to artificial intelligence (AI) by providing technical capacity and expertise, allowing the center’s members to achieve proof of concept or deployment. This center is directed by Diego Klabjan.
Center for Engineering and Health
The Center for Engineering and Health, a member center of the Institute for Public Health and Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, looks to develop methodologies and tools to improve health delivery for better care at our affiliated hospitals and beyond. It is a joint venture of Feinberg and Northwestern Engineering. This center is directed by Sanjay Mehrotra and Karen Smilowitz.
Center for Engineering Sustainability and Resilience
The Center’s advisory board and affiliated faculty hold interdisciplinary backgrounds from Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Segal Design Institute, and Center for the Commercialization of Innovative Transportation Technology. The Center for Engineering Sustainability and Resilience is directed by Bill Miller and Jennifer Dunn.
Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA)
Researchers at the Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics aim to advance the field of astrophysics and expanding the understanding of the universe. The CIERA team uses observations and data science to make new discoveries, uses theory and computation to explain and predict what we see, and builds innovative new instruments to see farther and in more detail than ever before. CIERA is directed by Vicky Kalogera.
Center for Optimization and Statistical Learning
The Optimization Center’s members conduct research in theory and algorithms for optimization, develop models for novel application areas, and create optimization software and modeling tools. This center is directed by Jorge Nocedal.
Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts
The Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts pursues objects-based and objects-inspired scientific research to advance the role of science within art history, curatorial scholarship, archaeology, and conservation. The center is co-directed by Francesca Casadio, Aggelos Katsaggelos, and Erik Luijten.
Initiative at Northwestern for Quantum Information Research and Engineering (INQUIRE)
The information hub for quantum-related activities at Northwestern, the Initiative at Northwestern for Quantum Information Research and Engineering aims to solve fundamental scientific barriers that drive the next generation of quantum technologies for quantum communications, network, computing, and sensing applications. INQUIRE is led by Mark Hersam, Jens Koch, Prem Kumar, and Michael Wasielewski.
Institute for Augmented Intelligence in Medicine (I.AIM)
Housed within the Feinberg School of Medicine, the mission of the Institute for Augmented Intelligence in Medicine is to bridge computational methods with human expertise to advance medical science and improve human health. The institute is directed by Abel Kho.
International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN)
The International Institute for Nanotechnology brings together chemists, engineers, biologists, physicians and business experts from across the University searching for small answers to large, complex problems in areas as diverse as medicine, information technology, energy, homeland security, food and water safety, and transportation. IIN is directed by Chad Mirkin.
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC)
The Northwestern University Materials Research Science and Engineering Center advances world-class materials research, education, and outreach via active interdisciplinary collaborations within the center and with external partners in academia, industry, national laboratories, and museums, both domestically and abroad. MRSEC is directed by Mark Hersam.
Northwestern Argonne Institute of Science and Engineering (NAISE)
The Northwestern Argonne Institute of Science and Engineering brings together researchers at Northwestern University and Argonne National Laboratory to create powerful collaborations in fields such as energy, biological and environmental systems, data science and computation, materials, and national security. NAISE provides students and post-doctoral scholars with unique educational and training opportunities. The center is co-directed by Pete Beckman, Jennifer Dunn, and Peter Voorhees.
Northwestern University Transportation Center (NUTC)
The Northwestern University Transportation Center focuses on the movement of materials, people, energy, and information and aims to influence national and international transportation policy, management, operations, and technological developments. NUTC is directed by Hani Mahmassani.
Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics (QSIB)
With broad applications across medicine, rehabilitation, and sports, the Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics supports the entire ecosystem of translational science from fundamental materials development to device and component engineering to system prototyping—all under one roof. QSIB is directed by John Rogers.