Research Centers, Institutes & Facilities
The Henry Samueli School of Engineering is at the forefront of engineering education and innovative technological advancements and development. Home to or affiliated with more than a dozen research centers and experimental facilities, the
Advanced Power and Energy Program (APEP) provides education, research and development, beta testing, and demonstration to bring new energy, transportation, smart grid and sustainable community design technologies to market. Research is supported by the National Fuel Cell Research Center, the UC Irvine Combustion Laboratory, the Beta Testing and Demonstration Laboratories and the Pacific Rim Consortium on Combustion, Energy and the Environment.
- The National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC), commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy and the California Energy Commission to provide national leadership in the development and deployment of stationary and mobile fuel cell power generation technologies, provides a forum for fuel cell technology research, fuel cell development and market deployment and the formation of strategic
- UCI Combustion Laboratory is addressing the challenges associated with the combustion of alternative and fossil fuels by developing and applying advanced experimental capabilities including specialized test rigs, laser and conventional diagnostics; numerical tools; and statistically designed testing, to problems of practical relevance.
Center for Advanced Monitoring and Damage Inspection (CAMDI) is developing technology to detect damage and assess the integrity of U.S. military soldiers’ protective armor and research results will be incorporated into the design of next-generation armor. The Center is developing new sensors and other evaluation tools that will identify minuscule damage in the armor before its safety is compromised.
Center for Embedded Computer Systems (CECS) focuses on the emerging theory and technology of embedded systems. The center emphasizes research and development of automotive, medical and communications applications.
Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing (CHRS) was established 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 (CPCC) has a goal to facilitate research in emerging communications technologies that will dramatically change the way people access and use information. The need for ubiquitous communications to anywhere at any time results in many challenges in different areas of communications, information theory, signal processing, systems, circuits and networking. CPCC conducts fundamental research in these areas with the goal of pushing the technological limits as far as possible.
The Edwards Lifesciences Center for Advanced Cardiovascular Technology, founded in 2007 with a $5 million endowed gift from Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, supports a multidisciplinary center that focuses on heart and vascular diseases and advanced cardiovascular device technology, with strong collaboration among students, faculty and experts in the cardiovascular field.
Engineering Analytical Research Facility (EARF) is a research facility established in collaboration with Beckman Coulter, Inc. It includes state-of-the-art analytical equipment dedicated to helping researchers develop breakthrough discoveries in genomics, proteomics, cell analysis and drug discovery, and expand the boundaries of technology for diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Integrated Nanosystems Research Facility (INRF), a world-class facility dedicated to the research and development of technology for integrated micro- and nanosystems through multidisciplinary research, education and outreach.
Institute of Transportation Studies has the fundamental goal of stimulating interdisciplinary research on contemporary transportation issues. ITS research involves faculty and students from the Samueli School, the School of Social Sciences, the School of Social Ecology, The Paul Merage School of Business, the School of Law, the Program in Public Health and the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences. ITS is also part of the University of California Transportation Center (UCTC), one of 10 federally designated centers for transportation research and education, and a member of the Council of University Transportation Centers.
Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics (LFD), a national research resource center for biomedical fluorescence spectroscopy, provides a state-of-the-art laboratory for fluorescence measurements with technical assistance to local, national and international visiting scientists.
Micro/Nano Fluidics Fundamentals Focus Center (MF3) brings together 20 leading micro-and nano-fluidics professors from 12 universities nationwide to advance the basic science and applications of a field seen as key to creating a vast array of new technologies. With scientists representing the disciplines of biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and chemistry, MF3 research is expected to apply to many areas including health care, electronics, and environmental and food monitoring.
