Engineering Offers the Latest in Research Centers, Facilities, and Institutes

 Home to or affiliated with more than a dozen research centers and state-of-the-art experimental facilities, The Henry Samueli School of Engineering generates the latest in scientific research

The Henry Samueli School of Engineering at UC Irvine is at the forefront of engineering education and technological research and development. Home to five academic departments, more than a dozen research centers and state-of-the-art experimental facilities, the School generates the latest in scientific research.

The Samueli School is equipped with excellent experimental facilities and a state-of-the-art computational infrastructure, soon to occupy nearly 295,000 assignable square feet.. It offers numerous research centers, institutes and facilities, including the Center for Pervasive Communications and Computing, the Integrated Nanosystems Research Facility, the National Fuel Cell Research Center, the UCI Combustion Lab, the Center for Embedded Computer Systems, the Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing, the Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics, and the Mico/Nano Fluidics Fundamentals Focus Center.

The school’s faculty is also active in the Institute of Transportation Studies, the Networked Systems Center, the Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, the Urban Water Research Center, and the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. In addition, the school is an integral part of the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2), one of four Institutes for Science and Innovation within the University of California.

Advanced Power and Energy Program (APEP) - provides education, research and development, beta testing, and demonstration to bring new energy technologies to market. Research is supported by the National Fuel Cell Research Center, the UCI Combustion Laboratory and the Beta Testing and Demonstration Laboratories (DTTF)

  • The National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC) - the first of its kind in the nation, this center provides a forum for fuel cell technology research, development and industry-scale demonstration

  • UCI Combustion Laboratory - supports research and development of continuous combustion technology, including gas turbines, boilers, furnaces and related technologies

Beckman Laser Institute (BLI) - a 37,000 sq. ft. facility dedicated exclusively to developing the full potential of lasers and related photonic systems for biomedical applications

California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2) - a two campus multidisciplinary research institute that integrates UCI and UCSD faculty expertise with industry insight. Calit2 seeks innovative information technology approaches that will benefit society and ignite economic development in a wide range of areas, including the environment, transportation, emergency management, health care, global economics, education and entertainment

Center for Advanced Monitoring and Damage Inspection (CAMDI) - a center that develops innovative sensor technology and advanced analysis tools for detecting damage and assessing the integrity of protective armors.

Center for Embedded Computer Systems - focuses on the emerging theory and technology of embedded systems. The center emphasizes research and development of automotive, medical and communications applications.

Center for Engineering Science in Design - home to the Engineering Design in Industry Program, student competition projects such as the AIAA Design/Build/Fly, SAE Formula Hybrid, Parker Chainless Challenge, SAE Aero Design West, ASCE Steel Bridge, and other major projects including the UCI Rocket and UCI Satellite.  Central to the mission of the center is the development of tools, techniques and pedagogy that advance engineering as a team activity in service to society

Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing - developed to improve hydrologic prediction through development and refinement of hydrologic models and use of advanced observations, particularly from remote sensing sources.

Center for Pervasive Communications and Computing - supported by a gift from Broadcom Corp. and Conexant Systems Inc., this center conducts research and development in broadband communications technology

Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center - one of only 39 facilities nationwide to attain this special status and recognition, and the only such facility in Orange County; affiliated with UC Irvine's School of Medicine and designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute

Integrated Nanosystems Research Facility (INRF) - a world class facility dedicated to the research and development of technology for integrated micro and nanosystems through research, education and outreach

Institute of Transportation Studies - established to foster research, education and training in the field of transportation. Research encompasses transportation networks, traffic engineering and intelligent transportation

Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics (LFD) - a national research resource center for biomedical fluorescence spectroscopy, which provides a state-of-the-art laboratory for fluorescence measurements with technical assistance to visiting scientists: local, national, and international

LifeChips - dedicated to promoting the union of technology arts and life sciences through research and education at the micro and nano scales

Micro/Nano Fluidics Fundamentals Focus Center (MF3) - composed of academic, government and commercial institutions across the country dedicated to the development of the basic science and technology of micro/nanoscale fluidics and their advancement toward applications in a number of commercial and military arenas

Networked Systems Center - fosters and supports large-scale collaborative research projects in networked systems. Focus areas encompass the physical layer up to the applications layer, including performance analysis, multimedia, real-time systems, middleware and security

Urban Water Research Center- currently brings together faculty from social ecology, engineering and physical sciences to advance understanding of the urban water environment and to help promote health, improve efficient use of water resources, and protect the environment; includes research contributed by civil and environmental engineering, earth system sciences, ecology and evolutionary biology, environmental health, science, and policy, environmental toxicology, and planning, policy, and design