Research & Innovation

The University of Nevada, Reno is a Carnegie® R1 research university committed to the pursuit of knowledge that addresses the important issues of our time, promotes innovation and drives Nevada's economic prosperity.

Addressing grand challenges

Over the past decade, the research enterprise at the University of Nevada, Reno has grown substantially thanks to our commitment to building an inclusive, diverse and collaborative research environment. Research & Innovation is focused on providing faculty, staff, student and industry support that enables the University’s vision of producing impactful discoveries and fostering innovation and commercialization.

– Mridul Gautam, Vice President for Research & Innovation

Faculty Research Hub

Find tools, support services and information for conducting research, scholarly and creative activity.

Innovation Hub

Find resources and assistance for industry and startups looking to utilize equipment, expertise or incubation space.

 

Transformational global impact

The University of Nevada, Reno is making a difference in Reno-Tahoe, across Nevada and beyond. Our faculty's research is helping reshape what we know about everything from anthropology to dryland agriculture, water resources and robotics.

Close-up of a butterfly on a small flower

Fewer butterflies seen across the warming, drying American West

Studying insect declines
Lab worker testing COVID disinfectant technology

Titanium and ultraviolet light make a powerful combination against SARS-CoV-2

Developing virus disinfectants
Night-time photo of two people in firefighting gear with a hillside burning during the Perry Fire

Ecologists help firefighters protect Nevada’s lands

Reducing wildland fire risks
Researcher inspecting the northern end of the Walker Lane fault

How the burgeoning Walker Lane may split the American West

Finding faults
Kari Barber standing outdoors in a high desert landscape overlooking the city of Reno Nevada and the Sierra Nevada mountains beyond.

Meet our researchers who go where knowledge leads

Kari Barber, M.F.A., is an associate professor of electronic media who is helping people see the world differently through her documentary films and teaching the importance of appreciation, understanding and inclusion of outside perspectives in documentary filmmaking.

Read more about our world changing researchers

Powered by numbers

The University of Nevada, Reno is leveraging research and entrepreneurial activities to prepare skilled workers, develop the next generation of technology leaders and expand economic growth statewide. As a Carnegie® R1 institution, the University is classified among America’s top 130 comprehensive, doctoral research universities.

R&D expenditures

$160 million in 2020 contributing research-based advancements, generating jobs and infrastructure for Nevada

Highly productive faculty

Ranked 64th among public institutions with $236,000 in R&D expenditures per faculty

Investment in facilities

Nearly $500 million invested in advanced labs, residence halls and facilities since 2011, using only $71 million in state funds

An asset to Nevada

The University has a statewide economic impact of more than $1.34 billion annually

 

World-class research facilities & infrastructure

The University is home to dozens of state-of-the-art laboratories and facilities and more than 60 research centers that anchor our pioneering work in areas ranging from engineering research to sustainability in Lake Tahoe and the Great Basin region. Learn more about how our industry-leading infrastructure supports our research.

Earthquake engineering
The largest, most versatile large-scale structures earthquake/seismic engineering facility in the U.S.
Cyberinfrastructure
High-performance computing contributes to deeper discovery across a range of disciplines.
Institute for Neuroscience
Multi-disciplinary research that drives collaborative approaches to understanding the brain.
Innevation Center
Collaborative space in downtown Reno empowering Nevada’s next generation of leaders.
Shared centers and cores
Shared resources offer faculty, scientists, students and industry access to services, training and high-end instrumentation.
Museums and collections
Diverse museums, galleries and attractions are dedicated to furthering the cultural education of Northern Nevada.
ScholarWorks
Digital repository that collects, preserves and distributes intellectual output for preservation and scholarly communication.
Agricultural station
Addressing environmental and natural resource concerns and supporting agricultural industry through research.
University Libraries
Offering a breadth of resources and learning environments with some of the most technologically advanced library facilities in the country.
Whittell Forest & Wildlife Area
A living lab of forested mountain land in the Sierra Nevada, dedicated for research, instruction and community outreach.
Zebra Pulsed Power Lab
Unique capabilities, found nowhere else in the nation, to study matter under extreme conditions similar to star interiors.
Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology
Addressing needs for geologic information such as earthquake hazards, mapping and mineral resources.
 

Student-driven discovery & innovation

Students are critical to our research enterprise. Through collaboration and opportunities, students are exploring and engaging, and helping to foster innovation and drive meaningful discoveries. Find out how we're creating a research-focused, experiential learning environment at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Beyond the classroom walls

Experiential learning is a central theme of education at the University of Nevada, Reno. There are many opportunities for students of all disciplines to expand their college experience and gain an edge in their career field or in the pursuit of a graduate degree. Funded opportunities range from international travel experiences to community-based projects that contribute to solutions for local issues. Around 150 students participate in the Nevada Undergraduate Research Symposium every spring to showcase their work.

Get involved in undergraduate student research

Graduate education redefining exploration

With a full breadth of master's and Ph.D. opportunities and acclaimed faculty and facilities, students will find room to pursue educational and research pursuits in an accommodating environment that places a premium on academic excellence. The Graduate School prepares students for bright futures with support, training and professional development resources.

The Graduate School

Reimagining the Innovation Ecosystem

In today’s globally connected, knowledge-based economy, a key driver of prosperity is the pace of innovation. We are capitalizing on this insight with our Innovation Ecosystem to facilitate commercialization, regional collaboration and faculty competitiveness in a unique way. It’s connecting the University with industry and entrepreneurs, tangibly contributing to economic development and the creation of jobs, and supporting the creation of student and faculty startup businesses.

$108+ million raised by Innevation Ecosystem startups
People working at tables in the Innevation Center
180+ companies engaged in the Innovation Ecosystem
Close-up of orange-gloved hands lifting a tray out of a chiller piece of lab equipment
490+ jobs created through the Innovation Ecosystem
Two people working in the Black Rock Press with one holding out a paper sign that says "NEVADA"
29+ companies with University-based operations
A person working at an experimental set-up in a hood with protective gloves and a second person observing in the background

A legacy of discovery

Our groundbreaking research and impact on society.

Mackay science building

Washoe the Chimp
In a revolutionary experiment raising chimpanzees, Washoe was the first chimp to learn American Sign Language.

Steven Hayes

Psychotherapy development
Relational Frame Theory, an extension to the popular Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, is helping people worldwide deal with life-limiting conditions.

James Church sitting at his desk in his campus office

Measuring water content in snow
An invention from over a century ago greatly advanced the development of snow science and continues to be impactful today.

Thomas Kozel facing a research subject in a med school lab

Essential for the World Health Organization
Rapid diagnostics are saving lives from infectious diseases in third-world countries.

Contact Research & Innovation

Phone: (775) 327-2363
Location: Ross Hall, room 201
Address: 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557-0403

Visit the Research & Innovation contact page