Research, Discovery and Innovation
The University of Arkansas is classified among the top 3 percent of research institutions in the nation with the highest level of research activity, measured by number of doctoral degrees, research expenditures and scholarly productivity, according to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Research and creative work is fundamental in our dedication to Arkansas and mission as a land-grant university to build a better world.Our research capability has more than doubled in the last decade and continues to expand in many key areas.
Announcing the Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I3R) & Entrepreneurial Education
A $194.7 million grant from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation allowed the new institute (I3R) to become a reality. The grant funds multiple projects to build supports and pathways to grow the university’s cross-disciplinary research capability, expand the scope of discoveries made by University of Arkansas researchers and increase the velocity in which discoveries are transferred to the marketplace where they can improve or save lives.
The institute will house innovation clusters for research within five focus areas that fall within the university’s Signature Research Areas:
- Food Systems
- Data Science
- Materials Science
- Metabolic Diseases
- Neuroscience
Signature Research Areas
We've identified six broad research strengths that stretch across multiple colleges and schools of the university. They don't cover everything we do, but they suggest how much we embrace interdisciplinary work.
Advancing the Data Revolution
Researchers across disciplines use data to advance knowledge and find solutions to life’s challenges. At the U of A, researchers are using data to track terrorism threats, diagnose and treat diseases and improve supply chain logistics. Faculty and students in the fields of business, science, humanities, engineering, agriculture and education are harnessing Big Data using data analytics, data science and data visualization. The university’s High Performance Computing Center provides a powerful resource for making sense of the wealth of information around us.
Improving Human Health and Community Vibrancy
U of A faculty and students are studying factors that contribute to healthy people and vibrant communities. Research projects in this area cover all aspects of life, from improving the detection of breast cancer to addressing the issue of homelessness to increasing awareness of diversity in the music world. Researchers in medicine, human performance and nutrition address physical health, while other researchers focus on the health of our communities by looking at social justice issues and cultural systems. And research in education, combined with programs in art and creativity, improve the quality of life for everyone.
Innovating a Resilient and Sustainable Future
U of A researchers study ways to make our world both sustainable and resilient, using technology that supports the human and natural worlds and helps us recover from threats and disasters. In many different departments, faculty and students are developing resilient and sustainable food systems, materials and energy infrastructure. They are finding ways to enhance our communities, supply chains, transportation systems and environments. Researchers in these areas are investigating improved rice-growing practices, creating new technology for the electric power grid and increasing the resilience of our waterways to improve the future for everyone.
