|
|
University Research Centers
| Argonne/Northwestern Solar Energy Research Center |
 |
Director: Michael R. Wasielewski
Helping the world meet increasing energy needs through solar energy will be the goal of a new research center established by the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory and Northwestern University. The Argonne-Northwestern Solar Energy Research Center, or ANSER Center, will combine and expand the research interests of both institutions to address the grand scientific challenges posed by the need for economically viable solar energy use. |
| Buffett Center for International and Comparative Studies |
 |
Director: Hendrik Spruyt
Founded in 1998, CICS promotes collaborative scholarship across the university on crucial world problems. With more than 180 affiliated faculty members, CICS, now BCICS, is a hub of internationally focused research, education, and outreach at Northwestern. |
| Center for Applied Psychological and Family Studies |
 |
Director: William M. Pinsof
CAPFS's mission is to enhance the biopsychosocial health and well-being of individuals, families, and larger groups by educating and training mental health professionals and by conducting research to improve mental health services. |
| Center for Catalysis and Surface Science |
 |
Director: Peter C. Stair
For more than 60 years, Northwestern University has been at the forefront of catalysis research. In 1984 the University formally established the Center for Catalysis and Surface Science (CCSS) to consolidate research activities in catalysis and related surface science. Catalysis, the chemical reaction created by a catalyst, is an important tool in cleaning up pollution and conserving energy. |
| Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery |
 |
Directors: Raymond Bergan and Karl Scheidt
Formerly the Center for Drug Discovery and Chemical Biology, the Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery (CMIDD) evolved from the faculty-initiated Drug Discovery Program that was established in 1996 to facilitate interdisciplinary research and educational activities. Research at the center focuses on the interface between molecular and integrative basic sciences and the facilitation of the translation of preclinical discoveries into clinical applications. |
| Center for Functional Genomics |
 |
Director: Fred W. Turek
CFG has as its mission to unify basic research efforts at Northwestern University focused on understanding gene function. The CFG is home to two major initiatives to develop and share mouse genetic resources for the study of nervous system function and behavior. |
 |
Directors: Vicky Kalogera, Dave Meyer, and Fred Rasio
CIERA will pursue new astrophysics research directions, giving special emphasis to interdisciplinary connections with planetary science, computer science, applied math, chemistry, biology, electrical engineering, and materials science. |
| Center for Reproductive Science |
 |
Director: Kelly E. Mayo
CRS was formed in 1987, and it currently coordinates the research and training efforts of 42 faculty in 13 departments. Its research extends from basic research investigations into the molecular processes that occur in living organisms, through applied studies relevant to efficient animal husbandry, and into clinical practices that directly impact human health with respect to fertility and infertility. |
| Center for Sleep and Circadian Biology |
 |
Director: Fred W. Turek
CSCB integrates basic and clinical research on circadian rhythms and sleep into a unified program at Northwestern University. CSCB's twenty faculty members in Evanston and Chicago have built a large sleep research program to complement their work on biological rhythms in humans and animal subjects. |
| Center for Technology and Social Behavior |
 |
Director: Justine Cassell
CTSB supports researchers in their quest to understand the role that technology plays in our everyday social interactions and to facilitate the development of the next generation of technologies that will work towards supporting positive social ends. |
| Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence |
 |
Director: Chad A. Mirkin
The NU-CCNE supports multidisciplinary teams of nano-scientists, cancer biologists, engineers and clinicians who work collaboratively to develop nanomaterials and nanodevices for cancer therapeutics, drug delivery, imaging, diagnostics and monitoring applications. |
| Chemistry of Life Processes Institute |
 |
Director: Thomas V. O'Halloran
CLP research facilities will bring together in Silverman Hall the disciplines of chemistry, biology, engineering, and computational science. Previous significant developments by University chemistry and biology groups have attained widespread recognition for important biomedical and systems-level research. |
| Initiative for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern |
 |
Directors: David C. Dunand and Mark A. Ratner
Northwestern is tackling the twin issues of energy and sustainability (encompassing global issues such as water, materials, food and waste) by consolidating the University's existing strengths and fostering new efforts in these areas. The Initiative for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern (ISEN) aims to combine Northwestern's abilities in the areas of energy and sustainability with a program for helping to address and solve these major sustainability issues. The United States and the rest of the world must gain the fundamental scientific understanding to provide sustainably (and at reasonable cost) the energy required by the earth's people. Gaining this understanding is the core of the ISEN mission. |
| Institute for Bionanotechnology in Medicine |
 |
Director: Samuel I. Stupp
IBNAM, established in 2000, bridges the frontiers of medicine, engineering, and science. Advancements in biology and engineering, coupled with the emerging areas of nanoscience and nanotechnology, have the potential to profoundly enhance human health and revolutionize the way medicine is practiced. |
Institute for Sustainable Practices
 |
Co-directors: David Dana, Kimberley Gray
The Northwestern Institute for Sustainable Practices (NiSP) promotes interdisciplinary education and research into economically, environmentally, and socially sound policies and practices that help secure Earth's natural resources for use now and far into the future.
|
| International Institute for Nanotechnology |
 |
Director: Chad A. Mirkin
IIN was established as an umbrella organization for the multimillion dollar nanotechnology research efforts at Northwestern University and with collaborators around the world. The role of the institute is to support research in nanoscience and nanotechnology, house state-of-the-art nanomaterials characterization facilities, and bring together individual and group efforts aimed at developing new nanotechnologies. |
| Institute for Policy Research |
 |
Director: Fay Lomax Cook
IPR is an interdisciplinary public policy research institute that stimulates and supports social science research on significant public policy issues and disseminates the resulting findings to policy makers. IPR houses Cells to Society, a research project in which biomarkers are used to study the ways in which societial problems affect human health. |
| Materials Research Center |
 |
Director: Monica Olvera de la Cruz
The mission of the Center is to develop and support collaborative, interdisciplinary research and education in the science and engineering of materials that will benefit society. The Center also operates a number of shared facilities that are available to the Northwestern community as well as to other institutions. |
| Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center |
 |
Director: Chad A. Mirkin
NSEC for Integrated Nanopatterning and Detection Technologies is driven by a vision to develop innovative biological and chemical detection systems capable of revolutionizing a variety of fields. Genuine medical benefits are now emerging as direct products of the center's research, including detection techniques for markers associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and prostate cancer. |
| Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems |
 |
Directors: William L. Kath and Brian Uzzi
NICO is a hub and facilitator of path-breaking research in the area of complexity science that transcends the boundaries of established disciplines and finds applications in many fields. |
| Program of African Studies |
 |
The pioneering anthropologist Melville J. Herskovits founded Northwestern University's Program of African Studies (PAS) in 1948, one of the earliest centers of its kind in the United States. The Program serves as a vital base for the world-class Africanist faculty, students, and professionals attracted to Northwestern and its renowned Herskovits Library of Africana Studies. PAS has achieved international prominence for its production of innovative scholarship, training of African specialists, and development of new ways of thinking about the African World.
|
| Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center |
 |
Director: Dedre Gentner
SILC brings together scientists and educators from Temple University, Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Chicago Public Schools to understanding spatial learning and apply that knowledge to develop programs and technologies that will transform educational practice. |
See also: School-based centers
|
