Research at CU Boulder encompasses thousands of scholarly, scientific and creative endeavors at any given time, resulting in new knowledge, technologies and creative work that advance the economy, culture and health of Colorado, the nation and the world.
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Aerospace Research
#1 public university recipient of NASA research awards
The University of Colorado Boulder has created an environment in which our aerospace engineering and Earth and space sciences faculty, students and industrial researchers work together to solve complex problems, envisioning and creating the future for space and Earth systems.
Biosciences Research
Translating science into healthier living
Biosciences at the University of Colorado Boulder aim to understand processes underlying behavior, function, disease and health at the molecular, cellular and whole-systems levels to develop interventions that improve human health.
Energy Research
Transforming energy through discovery and innovation
Energy research at the University of Colorado Boulder aims to advance basic and applied energy science, engineering and analysis through research, education and partnerships.
Latest Research News
New NASA grant to support quantum sensors in space
In a new, multi-university project, researchers from CU Boulder will help to design incredibly-sensitive quantum sensors that can detect changes in Earth's climate from space. Read more
New ‘magic beans’ produce ingredients for cancer treatments, vaccines and more
Tens of thousands of sharks are killed each year to harvest a key ingredient for vaccines, while old growth trees are slashed to obtain chemotherapy ingredients. Soybean farmer-turned molecular biologist Brian DeDecker has a better idea. Read more
New ‘gym-on-a-chip’ for worms may lead to new Parkinson’s treatments
The Acoustic Gym, designed by a team of biologists and engineers at CU Boulder, is about the size of a quarter and uses sound waves to generate small whirlpools—the perfect place for tiny worms to get in their laps. Read more
In-Depth Research Stories
Wildfire brings devastation, then rebirth
Researchers converge in the wake of Colorado’s Marshall Fire to advance understanding and approaches to disaster resiliency Read more
A ‘revolution’ in environmental data science
New national center at CU Boulder will tackle pressing socio-environmental challenges with big data analytics and more Read more
The future of autonomous airborne drones
Smead Aerospace will house a new NSF Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) on autonomous air mobility and sensing Read more
Grand Challenge
From storm-chasing drones to fire-tracking satellites, Grand Challenge projects are boosting our understanding of an evolving planet.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
CU Boulder provides opportunities for students, faculty, staff, industry partners and the community to engage in and be exposed to innovative and entrepreneurial experiences and mindsets.
Impact Through Research
Undergraduate Research
Explore your passions–no matter what your major. Our undergrad students work with faculty members to participate in ground-breaking research.
Graduate Programs
Graduate students are integral to our research endeavors. Each of our nine colleges and schools provides an array of research opportunities for graduate students. We encourage students interested in graduate studies to reach out to a department to learn about specific programs and research opportunities.
The Graduate School serves as the intellectual crossroads of the university, a place where we work to educate the next generation of teachers, scholars and researchers and to develop the fields of knowledge and research within which those leaders will pursue their work.
Research Institutes & Centers
With more than 900 researchers, students and supporting staff, CU Boulder's 12 research institutes account for more than half of all sponsored research dollars at the university, making a major contribution to the university's research and education missions as well as the local and area economy.
CU Boulder is home to over 75 research centers housed within academic departments or as subsets of the research institutes themselves. They can be found in all fields of the university, including humanities and the arts, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, business and law.