Research Initiatives

Researchers here significantly advance technologies, from machine learning and robotics, to life-saving medical innovations. They make critical discoveries about the nature of the universe, the mysteries of the human brain and the opportunities before us to sustain diverse ecosystems and accelerate clean-energy solutions.

Few universities anywhere offer the breadth of resources and strengths available at The University of Texas at Austin.

3-D drawing of a robot hand with a spark of light at its fingertip

Grand Challenges

College of Natural Sciences faculty are leading efforts within the university-wide grand challenge initiatives known as Bridging Barriers. These initiatives include Good Systems, a grand challenge to build and sustain ethical artificial intelligence systems; Planet Texas 2050, which focuses on working towards a more resilient future Texas; and Whole Communities–Whole Health, which uses science to help society thrive.

See UT’s moonshot initiatives

Discovery to Impact & Texas Innovation Center

Through its Discovery to Impact initiative the University of Texas at Austin is determined to bring UT-affiliated discoveries and technologies to market. The Texas Innovation Center is a collaborative hub, especially to support STEM researchers, based in the Engineering Education and Research Center. It provides commercialization support for STEM faculty and graduate students through events and programming, a dedicated co-working space, a wet lab incubator, networking opportunities with UT alumni and friends, among many other resources.

A photo of a scientist working in the field at Stengl Lost Pines Biological Research Station

Stengl-Wyer Endowment Programs

The Stengl-Wyer Endowment supports UT Austin’s highly ranked programming in ecology and biological research, with a focus on the study of the diversity of life and interactions between living things and their natural environments. Our Stengl-Wyer Scholars program and related annual competitive programs provide life scientists and students unique opportunities to do cutting-edge research into organisms in their natural environment and processes that help preserve natural systems in Texas and around the world.