Engineering and Computer Science research

Center for Intelligent Industrial Robotics at University of Idaho Coeur d'Alene.

We are in the top 4% of research institutions nationwide

University of Idaho is the state’s top research university, and U of I’s College of Engineering is uniquely positioned to drive research that matters. Half of our undergraduates participate in research, and our graduate programs continue to grow.

College of Engineering research activity contributes to University of Idaho’s R1 Carnegie Classification for very high research activity. With just 4% of all U.S. higher education institutions recognized with this designation, R1 is Carnegie’s top award for universities and the gold standard for research excellence.

Nationally competitive NSF EPSCoR research

Idaho is a U.S. National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) jurisdiction, enabling the College of Engineering to spearhead research initiatives that advance scientific discovery, innovation, education and knowledge-driven success.

Explore engineering research centers and institutions

Engage with nationally and internationally recognized faculty, collaborate with peers, and gain valuable mentorship within U of I’s College of Engineering research centers and groups. These opportunities allow you to deepen your expertise, strengthen your professional network and build a competitive resume while contributing to groundbreaking research.

These research centers conduct high-impact study in fields aligned to solve society’s toughest challenges, including cybersecurity, robotics, transportation and protecting Idaho’s billion-dollar resource — water.

Center for Ecohydraulics Research (CER)

CER collaborates locally and globally to protect waterways, offering research teams unique access to model mountain rivers in Idaho and beyond.

Center for Intelligent Industrial Robotics (CIIR)

CIIR integrates new robotics and artificial intelligence research and training labs across the state, equipping students with the skills needed to drive innovation in automation and manufacturing.

Visit the Center for Intelligent Industrial Robotics

A team from the University of Idaho robotics program recently built a wheeled robot that uses electricity to kill weeds in US Forest Service nursery seedling beds in Coeur d'Alene, ID. The robot travels rows via a programmed route while following data to differentiate between seedlings and weeds. It uses a moveable arm and electricity to “zap” weeds, killing them with a more than 95% efficiency, reducing labor costs and the use of petrol chemicals.

Center for Secure and Dependable Systems (CSDS)

CSDS unites various cybersecurity research efforts and serves as an educational focal point for the design, development, analysis and use of technologies that result in secure and dependable computing systems and critical infrastructure.

Here we Have Idaho magazine Engineering Cybersecurity feature

NASA Idaho Space Grant Consortium (ISGC)

ISGC offers mentor-directed, career-related internship programs that contribute to NASA’s mission of space exploration and discovery.

Visit ISGC

University of Idaho student-led research is headed to NASA’s International Space Station (ISS) to help astronauts stay healthy in space, extend mission success and deepen our understanding of the galaxy we live in. Research led by U of I College of Engineering Professor Matthew Bernards and Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Adrienne Shea, is focused on developing a bacteria adhesion resistant coating for use in space vehicles to protect astronauts from sickness and disease.

National Institute for Advanced Transportation Technology (NIATT)

NIATT leverages technological advances to develop data-driven, sustainable solutions for the diverse transportation needs of the Pacific Northwest.

The journey of Grangeville High School as they prepare for and participate in the Northern Idaho Science fair and thier study in STEM field majors

Next Generation Microelectronics Research Center (NGeM)

The NGeM strengthens the nation’s semiconductor manufacturing workforce by delivering world-class undergraduate and graduate education programs and advancing research across the field of microelectronics.

A group of electrical engineering seniors are developing a high-efficiency solar cell, an individual unit of a solar panel that converts sunlight to electricity, in the college’s state-of-the-art clean room. The solar cell will act as a tool to open access to undergraduate students interested in working in semiconductor manufacturing and in a clean room setting.