INSTITUTES AND CENTERS
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DESIGNED FOR IMPACT
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Antimicrobial Discovery CenterExplore ADC
The center translates basic discoveries into novel antimicrobial therapies to help resolve antimicrobial resistance, amid the rise of multidrug resistant pathogens and the threat of genetically engineered bioweapons.
DirectorKim Lewis / University Distinguished Professor of Biology
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Awareness and Localization of Explosives-Related ThreatsExplore ALERT
ALERT, a multi-university Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence, conducts transformational research focused on characterizing, detecting, mitigating, and responding to explosives-related threats.
DirectorMichael Silevitch / Robert D. Black Professor and College of Engineering Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological AnalysisExplore Barnett Institute
An internationally recognized center for advanced interdisciplinary research and training in analytical chemistry and biotechnology, the institute is a center of excellence in the development and application of technologies for biopharmaceutical characterization and proteomics and systems biology.
DirectorOlga Vitek / Professor
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Bernard M. Gordon Center for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging SystemsExplore Gordon-CenSSIS
The center, known as Gordon-CenSSIS, focuses on revolutionizing the detection of biomedical and environmental objects or conditions that are underground, underwater, or embedded within cells or inside the human body.
DirectorMichael Silevitch / Robert D. Black Professor and College of Engineering Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Brudnick Center on Violence and ConflictExplore Brudnick Center
The center focuses on better understanding the sources of inter-group tension and hatred, in order to promote cooperation between and among groups. Our faculty and students develop and evaluate practical interventions for the purpose of reducing harmful forms of violence and conflict throughout society.
DirectorGordana Rabrenovic / Associate Professor of Sociology
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Burnes Center for Social ChangeExplore Burnes Center
The center designs and implements practical solutions to society’s hardest problems, and develops innovative, participatory, and equitable approaches to solving public problems using new technology.
DirectorBeth Simone Noveck / Professor
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Center for Cognitive and Brain HealthExplore CBHLab
The center investigates the effects of lifestyle choices and health behaviors on brain activity and effective functioning for individuals across the lifespan–from infants and children to older adults.
DirectorArt Kramer / Professor of Pyschology
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Center for Community Health Education, Research and ServiceExplore CCHERS
The center is a community-based organization whose mission is to promote the development of academic community health centers that integrate education, research, and service; to influence and change health professions education; improve healthcare delivery; and to promote health systems change to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health.
Executive DirectorDonna Bright
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Center for Complex Network ResearchExplore CCNR
The center’s research focuses on how networks emerge, what they look like, how they evolve, and how they impact our understanding of complex systems.
DirectorAlbert-László Barabási / Robert Gray Dodge Professor of Network Science and University Distinguished Professor of Physics and Computer Science
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Center for DesignExplore Center for Design
The center is Northeastern’s platform for interdisciplinary design research. It’s a space for collaborative research activities and a hub for connecting the actors of the design ecosystem.
DirectorPaolo Ciuccarelli / Professor of Design
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Center for Drug DiscoveryExplore CDD
The center conducts multidisciplinary research aimed at the discovery of new therapeutic medications.
DirectorAlexandros Makriyannis / George D. Behrakis Endowed Chair in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
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Center for Emerging MarketsExplore Center for Emerging Markets
The center is a leading research hub on how local and foreign firms can leverage emerging markets for the global good.
DirectorRavi Ramamurti / Distinguished Professor of International Business and Strategy
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Center for Health Policy and Healthcare ResearchExplore Center for Health Policy and Healthcare Research
The center promotes interdisciplinary research and education on health policy and healthcare delivery. It frequently collaborates with health plans, hospitals, physician organizations, and other provider organizations within private industry to conduct innovative research studies that can promote the quality, efficiency, and accessibility of healthcare services.
DirectorGary Young / Professor of Strategic Management and Healthcare Systems
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Center for Health Policy and LawExplore Center for Health Policy and Law
The center supports students and researchers interested in public health law, health and human rights, health governance, healthcare financing, drug law, intellectual property, bioethics, healthcare delivery law, and the regulation of our healthcare systems.
DirectorWendy Parmet / Matthews Distinguished University Professor of Law
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Center for High-rate NanomanufacturingExplore CHN
The center develops tools and processes that will make it possible for businesses to quickly and efficiently manufacture products.
DirectorAhmed Busnaina / William Lincoln Smith Chair of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
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Center for Inclusive ComputingExplore CIC
The center’s mission is to substantially increase the representation of women majoring in computing across the United States.
Founding Executive DirectorCarla Brodley / Dean of Inclusive Computing and Professor of Computer Sciences
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Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Complex SystemsExplore CIRCS
The center’s researchers work on complex biological and material science problems. Its research includes designing computer models for use in the treatment of cardiac dynamics; finding ways to prevent the HIV virus from replicating in cells; developing new technology to analyze nucleic acids and proteins; studying the self-organized mitotic spindle formation in animal cells; and devising computational neuroscience models of memory and attention in the brain.
DirectorAlain Karma / Professor of Physics
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Center for International Affairs and World CulturesExplore Center for International Affairs and World Cultures
The center draws on Northeastern’s strengths in the study of international institutions and processes to enhance knowledge of world societies, politics, and cultures. Its work advances interdisciplinary scholarship, programs of study, and transnational linkages, and it coordinates the activities of area studies programs devoted to multiple geographic regions, while emphasizing four thematic concerns that span the globe.
DirectorMai’a Cross / Dean’s Professor of Political Science, International Affairs, and Diplomacy
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Center for Law, Innovation and CreativityExplore CLIC
Through its faculty, the center creates academic research and events that engage with the state of the art of innovation and intellectual property policy. The center studies everything from the legal impact of the latest technology gadgets and their consumer protection concerns to the state of the art in the humanities, sociology, and psychology of creativity and the arts.
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Center for Microwave Magnetic Materials and Integrated CircuitsExplore Center for Microwave Magnetic Materials and Integrated Circuits
The center combines multidisciplinary expertise to develop novel microwave magnetic materials and device solutions for use in microwave electronics and multifunctional integrated circuits. Its goal is to develop leading-edge technologies that operate well beyond current operational limits, especially in the area of radar and other high frequency electromagnetic devices.
DirectorVincent G. Harris / University Distinguished Professor and William Lincoln Smith Chair Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Center for Nano and Microcontamination ControlExplore CNMC
The center’s faculty are developing state-of-the-art cleaning techniques for computer microchips and creating micro-sensors that detect impurities in gases used in building semiconductors.
DirectorAhmed Busnaina / William Lincoln Smith Chair of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
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Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and NanomedicineExplore CPBN
The center works at the intersection of biotechnology and nanomedicine. It conducts intensive research in areas like intracellular drug delivery, experimental cancer immunotherapy, combination therapy of cancer, and novel imaging agents.
DirectorVladimir P. Torchilin / University Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
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Center for Public Interest Advocacy and CollaborationExplore the Center for Public Interest Advocacy and Collaboration
The center infuses the law school’s public interest mission into all facets of the student experience, and pilots programs and initiatives that address broader justice issues.
Faculty DirectorLucy Williams / Professor of Law
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Center for Research on Early Childhood Exposure and Development in Puerto RicoExplore CRECE
The center studies how mixtures of environmental exposures and other factors affect the health and development of infants and children living in the heavily-contaminated island of Puerto Rico.
DirectorAkram Alshawabkeh / George A. Snell Professor of Engineering and University Distinguished Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
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Center for the ArtsExplore Center for the Arts
The center is a generative hub for interdisciplinary research, exhibitions, and programming in and through the arts. It promotes interdisciplinary research and community with the arts as a catalyst, through an annual faculty fellowship as well as related programs and symposia.
DirectorJuliana Barton / Curator of Gallery360
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Center for the Study of Sport in SocietyExplore Center for the Study of Sport in Society
The center, known as Sport in Society, educates and supports emerging leaders and organizations within sport with the awareness, knowledge and skills to implement innovative and impactful solutions for social change.
Executive DirectorDan Lebowitz
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Center for Translational NeuroImagingExplore CTNI
The center provides services to the academic community interested in animal modeling and drug testing to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of central nervous system diseases. Researchers develop proprietary technology and applications in the fields of magnetic resonance imaging, single photon emission computed tomography, positron emission tomography, and x-ray computed tomography to enhance preclinical research programs.
DirectorCraig Ferris / Professor of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
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Center for Ultra-wide-area Resilient Electric Energy Transmission NetworksExplore CURENT
The center’s research focuses on building a more reliable, secure and efficient electric grid transmission system that uses renewable energy sources.
Northeastern DirectorAli Abur / Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Center on Crime and Community ResilienceExplore CCCR
The center supports multidisciplinary research in several strategic focus areas across the university and its Global Resilience Institute. It collaborates with the city of Boston to understand and address persistent public safety problems.
DirectorAnthony Braga / Elmer V.H. and Eileen M. Brooks Professor and Distinguished Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
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Center on Crime, Race, and JusticeExplore CCRJ
The center’s mission is to make the criminal justice system more equitable and just for all. Its work aims to provide evidence-based reforms to address these disparities in the system.
Co-DirectorsCarlos Cuevas / Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Natasha Frost / Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
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Coastal Sustainability InstituteExplore CSI
The institute is creating cleaner, safer, smarter coastal communities, using environmental sensing, predictive analytics, and other technology tools to reduce threats at the land-sea interface, including sea-level rise, collapsing fisheries, coastal pollution, and gaps in port security. The institute is based at Northeastern’s Marine Science Center on the Nahant, Massachusetts, coastline.
Executive DirectorGeoffrey C. Trussell / Professor and Chair, Marine and Environmental Sciences
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Cybersecurity and Privacy InstituteExplore Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute
Safeguarding critical technology is the mission of Northeastern’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute. Forging partnerships with experts in industry, government, and academia worldwide, the Institute’s faculty and students develop, protect, and enhance technologies on which the world relies—from mobile devices and “smart” IoT applications to tomorrow’s self-driving cars and delivery drones.
Executive DirectorDavid Choffnes / Associate Professor of Computer Sciences
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Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional PolicyExplore Dukakis Center
The center conducts interdisciplinary research, in collaboration with civic leaders and scholars both within and beyond Northeastern, to identify and implement real solutions to the critical challenges facing urban areas throughout Greater Boston, the state of Massachusetts, and the nation. One particular research focus area is on various aspects of smart growth, including sustainable and equitable public transportation.
DirectorTed Landsmark / Distinguished Professor of Public Policy and Urban Affairs
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Ethics InstituteExplore EI
The institute conducts original research in the areas of applied ethics, religious ethics, ethical theory, social and political philosophy, and formal methods in ethics and epistemology. It brings ethical analysis and evaluation to bear on social and environmental issues, as well as to promoting ethical reflection on decisions and challenges in contemporary life.
DirectorRonald Sandler / Professor of Philosophy and Religion
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George J. Kostas Research Institute for Homeland SecurityExplore KRI
The mission of the Kostas Research Institute for Homeland Security is to advance resilience in the face of 21st century risks. The institute will foster collaborative, use-inspired research aimed at expanding the capacity of communities, critical systems, and infrastructure to withstand, respond to, and recover from manmade and natural catastrophes.
DirectorThomas Vaneck / CEO of KRI, LLC
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Global Resilience InstituteExplore GRI
The Global Resilience Institute is committed to informing and advancing societal resilience around the world. Individuals, communities, nations, and the systems they depend upon, can thrive only if they have the means to better withstand, recover from and adapt to the inevitable shocks and disruptive events of the 21st century. Our university-wide Institute is partnering with other leading academic research institutions, nonprofits and the public and private sectors to devise and apply practical, interdisciplinary innovations and solutions to resilience challenges.
Co-DirectorsAuroop Ganguly / College of Engineering Distinguished Professor and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Daniel Aldrich / Professor of Political Science and Public Policy
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Institute for Chemical Imaging of Living SystemsExplore CILS
Researchers at the institute are pioneering new imaging technologies to reveal, in real time, chemical processes in the brain and body, leading to a deeper understand of how diseases unfold and faster, more precise diagnoses and treatments
DirectorJames Monaghan / Professor of Biology
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Institute for Experiential AIExplore IEA
The true promise of AI lies at the intersection of humans and intelligent machines, helping each achieve what neither could alone and to transform society for the better. Northeastern’s Institute for Experiential AI advances this human-centered approach, enabling us to design, implement, and scale AI to help people reach greater productivity and creativity at work, lead healthier lives, and build stronger communities.
Executive DirectorUsama Fayyad / Professor of the Practice of Computer Sciences
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Institute for Experiential RoboticsExplore IER
The institute focuses on the development of robots able to learn and adaptively execute autonomous behaviors from human partners and/or other robots. It identifies and studies use-driven research problems at the intersection of collective human-robot experience.
DirectorTaskin Padir / Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice ResearchExplore HESJR
The institute is devoted to research that improves the health and well-being of the residents of Boston and other urban communities. Researchers focus on exploring social determinants of health in urban settings, the promotion of health equality and the elimination of health disparities. The institute also examines the efficacy of programs and interventions to inform healthcare practices, policies, and training.
DirectorAlisa Lincoln / Professor of Health Sciences and Sociology
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Institute for Information AssuranceExplore IIA
An interdisciplinary effort between the Khoury College of Computer Sciences and the College of Engineering, the institute develops new methodologies to provide robust and reliable transmission of physically distributed information.
Executive DirectorAgnes Chan / Professor Emeritus
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Institute for Security and Public PolicyExplore ISPP
The institute develops a deeper understanding of the security threats that face America and other countries in the 21st century.
Co-directorsGlenn Pierce / Principal Research Scientist
Nikos Passas / Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
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Institute for the Wireless Internet of ThingsExplore WIoT
The institute pioneers research in wireless systems and networks to make the next generation of internet of things a continuum of connected devices able to interact in new ways with people and the environment—from connected cars and drones, to implantable medical devices and smart communities.
DirectorTommaso Melodia / William Lincoln Smith Chair Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Marine Science CenterExplore MSC
The center is located on Northeastern’s campus in Nahant, Massachusetts, a vibrant center of coastal sustainability research and innovation. Researchers focus on topics related to understanding how the projected impacts of climate change will affect marine habitats, and how urban communities along the coast can best prepare for these impacts.
DirectorGeoffrey Trussell / Chair and Doherty Professor of Marine and Environmental Sciences
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Mills InstituteExplore Mills Institute
The institute advances equity through transformative research, advocacy, and learning that opens doors to educational opportunities and leadership advancement. The institute’s research areas include: age as a factor of intersectional analysis, arts and social transformation, embracing technology, global cultures, queer histories, and reproductive justice.
Executive DirectorChristie Chung / Professor of Psychology
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Nanomedicine Innovation CenterExplore NIC
The institute’s research is focused on developing new materials and devices for nanotechnology, information technology, and biotechnology.
DirectorSrinivas Sridhar / University Distinguished Professor of Physics
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Network Science InstituteExplore NSI
The Institute is a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary lab space driven by the need to integrate models, theories and problem-solving approaches across disciplines in research and education.
DirectorAlessandro Vespignani / Sternberg Family Distinguished University Professor of Physics, Computer Science, and Health Science
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Northeastern University Center for Renewable Energy TechnologyExplore NUCRET
The center is at the frontier of science and technology of clean energy conversion and storage. Researchers focus on materials science, advanced in situ spectroscopy, micro-fabrication methods, and manufacturing technology.
DirectorSanjeev Mukerjee / Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
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NULab for Texts, Maps, and NetworksExplore NULab
The center is Northeastern’s hub for digital humanities and computational social science.
Founding Co-DirectorsElizabeth Dillon / Distinguished Professor of English
David Lazer / University Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Computer Sciences
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Public Health Advocacy InstituteExplore PHAI
The Institute seeks to increase the legal field’s understanding of public health and help ensure that legal decisions take into account public health goals.
PresidentRichard Daynard / University Distinguished Professor of Law
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Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination ThreatsExplore PROTECT Center
The center, known as PROTECT, studies exposure to environmental contamination in Puerto Rico and its contribution to adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth (less than 37 completed weeks of gestation).
Co-DirectorAkram Alshawabkeh / George A. Snell Professor of Engineering and University Distinguished Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
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Roux InstituteExplore Roux Institute
Northeastern’s Roux Institute is designed to spur innovation, build talent, and drive economic growth in Portland, the state of Maine, and the Northeast. Partnerships—with industry, academia, and government—set its research and education model apart.
Chief Administrative OfficerChris Mallett
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Social Science Environmental Health Research InstituteExplore SSEHRI
The institute conceptualizes, studies, and addresses environmental health problems such as toxic chemicals, climate change, air pollution, biodiversity, and environmental justice requires creative collaborations across disciplines.
Phil Brown / University Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Health Sciences
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Soft-Target Engineering to Neutralize the Threat RealityExplore SENTRY
The multi-institutional center, known as SENTRY and funded by the Department of Homeland Security, addresses the challenges of protecting soft targets and crowded places.
DirectorMichael Silevitch / Robert D. Black Professor and College of Engineering Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
It all starts with an idea
A new, innovative way that Northeastern seeds research teams exploring promising solutions, Impact Engines support pilot projects that focus on real-world challenges and engage researchers across disciplines. Impact Engines have the flexibility to morph into a center or institute.
Policies governing our institutes and centers
Read the Research Policy Oversight Committee’s guidelines on establishing and managing centers and institutes.
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