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Research At the U


Recognized as a Carnegie Tier-1 Research University, the U continues to develop groundbreaking research on a local, national, and international level.  The combined resources of 18 colleges, 35 interdisciplinary programs, 100 academic departments/ divisions, and 120 centers/bureaus on campus, creates endless opportunities for collaboration.

Our research is also a catalyst for economic growth and innovation, creating over 280 spin-out companies—and 16,000 jobs – from the university’s inventions and technologies.

Research News


Under Pressure

Scientists have solved decades long puzzle about lithium, an essential metal in cellphone and computer...

2018 Churchill Scholar

Scott Neville receives Utah's third straight Churchill Scholarship.

Plant Genomics

QUESTION: How does RNA decay contribute to gene expression? Could the RNA decay rate be...

Discover 2018

Research Report Discover Magazine 2018 Research Report for the College of Science   This issue...

Insects, Bacteria & Ice

Valeria Molinero Contrary to what you may have been taught, water...

2019 Churchill Scholar

Cameron Owen of Boise, Idaho, a senior honors student majoring in chemistry and physics and...

Associate V.P. for Research

The College of Science is pleased to announce the appointment of Diane Pataki, Ph.D., as...

2019 Research Scholar

The College of Science Research Scholar Award is given annually to one graduating student who...

Distinguished Research

“Since Professor Molinero joined the Department of Chemistry as Assistant Professor in 2006, she has...

New Physics

A decision to take a physics class for “fun” During her senior year at New...

Going with the Flow

Going with the Flow John Sperry Retiring botanist studied how plant's...

Research Funding

Research Funding Tops $540 Million Total Research Funding Through the accumulated...

TreeTop Barbie

When Nalini Nadkarni was a young scientist in the 1980s, she wanted to...

Commutative Algebra

Can commutative algebra solve real-world problems? Srikanth Iyengar “When we first...

Electrochemistry

Henry S. White - A Positive Force in Electrochemistry   Henry S. White From energy...

Running with Scissors

Jamie Gagnon One could argue that the age of genomes is divided between before CRISPR-Cas9...

Discover 2019

Features the Science Research Initiative, College Rankings, Commutative Algebra, and more.

Courtship Condos

Dean Castillo Playing to the ethic of pursuing pure science, new...

Hedgehogs and Undergrads

Astronomers recently discovered a black hole unlike any other. The only confirmed intermediate-mass black holes,...

Crab Nebula

University of Utah scientists detect Crab Nebula using innovative gamma-ray telescope.

Forest Futures

Forests absorb a significant amount of the carbon dioxide that’s emitted into the atmosphere—And this...

HIV Microscopy

Ipsita Saha, graduate research assistant at the Department of Physics & Astronomy uses electron microscopy...

11 Billion Years

Kyle Dawson and a global consortium of astrophysicists have created the world's largest three-dimensional map...

Next-Gen Astronomy

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey is providing groundbreaking insight into the formation and evolution of...

Giant Poisonous Rats

The secret social lives of giant poisonous rats.

Lake of Dust

Is Utah’s great lake turning to dust?

Priyam Patel

Visualizing the Topology of Surfaces

COVID-19 Vaccine Panel

Panel of experts answer questions on the COVID-19 vaccine.

Sea Ice Science

Ken Golden brings the principles of mathematics to some of Earth’s most remote and most...

Sloan Research Fellow

Luisa Whittaker-Brooks awarded prestigious 2021 Sloan Research Fellowship.

Allergy Season

Climate change is making allergy season last longer.

Patterns in Sound

Exciting new math research by Fernando Guevara Vasquez.

AAAS Membership

Valeria Molinero joins the prestigious ranks of the American Academy.

NAS Membership

Mary Beckerle receives the significant recognition of NAS membership.

Camille-Dreyfus Award

Luisa Whittaker-Brooks receives Teacher-Scholar award.

Let's Get Kraken

The Sigman Group launches an open-access tool for chemists.

Mysteries of the Universe

A five-year quest to map the universe and unravel the mysteries of dark energy began...

Birds of the Philippines

University of Utah study determines extinction risk factors for Philippine birds.

Chemistry in Pictures

Chemistry is so much broader than just a list of elements.

Be the Light

American Indian Services students visit campus.

Physics Innovation

University of Utah faculty Yue Zhao Receives Physics Innovation Award

Darwin's Pigeon "Enigma"

Darwin's short-beak enigma solved

Fabulous Fungi

SBS faculty Bryn Dentiger explores the possibilities of fungi.

Research Funding

The University of Utah reports $641 million in research funding for fiscal year 2021.

Arctic Adventures

BBC StoryWorks feature with Jody Reimer, Rebecca Hardenbrook, and Ken Golden.

The Frontier of Physics

Physics beyond the Standard Model.

Space Plants

Plants are the future of space travel.

Theory Meets Intuition

Will Feldman studies things most of us take for granted.

Biological Data

All thinking is done using modeling, whether it’s through language or mathematics.

James Webb Space Telescope

The largest and most powerful telescope ever sent into space.

Of Mice and Monarchs

Are California mice eating monarch butterflies?

Extraordinary Black Hole

Astronomers recently discovered a black hole unlike any other. The only confirmed intermediate-mass black holes,...

Galápagos Letters

South American correspondent Nora Clayton reporting from the Galapagos Islands.

Carbon Nanotubes

Vikram Deshpande had a hunch that carbon nanotubes held a lot of promise as a...

How Trees Grow

William Anderegg explores the relationship between photosynthesis and cell growth.

Interactive Forest Maps

Threats impacting forests are increasing nationwide.

Moiré Magic

Ken Golden presents highly tunable composite materials—with a twist.

Biomimetic Cephalopods

David Peterman is bringing ancient animals back to life—as robots.

Cellular Crosslinking

Caralyn Flack studies cellular crosslinking in chemoreceptor molecules.

Air Tracker

John Lin, of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, adapted his research group’s atmospheric model to...

Arctic Adventures

Rebecca Hardenbrook and Julie Sherman take on the Great White North.

SRI Stories

Kai Wilmot, of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, reveals an increase in the height of...

10-year Plan

U astronomers tackle the decade’s biggest questions.

Star Trek

To boldly know what no one has known before.

Ants of the World

Jack Longino sees the world through ants.

Air Pollution

Utah’s air quality issues have been with us for a long time.

The Wilkes Center

Backed by $20 Million Gift, University of Utah Launches The Wilkes Center for Climate Science...

Crystal Su

Rational engineering of a synthetic insect-bacterial mutualism.

At-Risk Forests

Bill Anderegg quantifies the risk to forests from climate change along three dimensions.

NuFact 2022

The Department of Physics & Astronomy hosts NuFact 2022 neutrino workshop at Snowbird, Utah.

Research Funding

The University of Utah reports $686 million in research funding for fiscal year 2022.

STAR-X Proposal

Astrophysicist Dan Wik proposal selected by NASA.

Armentrout Interview

Richard A. J. O’Hair interviews Prof. Peter B. Armentrout for the Journal of the American...

NDSEG Fellowship

Aria Ballance Granted 2022 NDSEG Fellowship.

Toxic Dust Hot Spots

Where is Great Salt Lake's toxic dust most likely to originate?

Planetarium Internship

U students create new presentations during planetarium internship.

McMinn Chair

Christopher Hacon appointed to 2nd term as the Trevor James McMinn Professor in the Department...

Visualizing the Infinitesimal

Janet Iwasa and Ofer Rog re-imagine the cellular space occupied by condensates.

Nuclear Recycling

Michael Simpson wants to recycle spent nuclear fuel rods.

Utah F.O.R.G.E.

The future of geothermal energy is located in Milford, Utah.

Ethiopian Abattoirs

The decline of vultures and rise of dogs carries disease risks.

Hedgehog Signaling

U of U undergrads work to break open the biological mystery of Hedgehog Signaling.

Stolen Ivory

What does “bomb carbon” have to do with elephant poaching?

BioKids

Celebrated childcare and pre-school at the School of Biological Sciences.

Bonneville Salt Flats

Search for solutions drives race to save Bonneville Salt Flats.

Clarivate's Most Cited

Peter Stang is recognized for his exceptional research influence, demonstrated by the production of multiple...

Relativistic Jet

Researchers document a black hole giving off more light than 1,000 trillion suns.

King of the Playa

On a crisp October morning, Kevin Perry pedaled his bike across the Great Salt Lake...

GSL Meteorite

In order to have a meteorite named, you have to have an institution classify it.

Ichthyosaurs Migrations

Breeding grounds for massive prehistoric marine reptiles.

Pauling Medal

Distinguished Professor Dr. Cynthia Burrows is the 2022 Pauling Medal awardee.

Collaboration of the Cited

Biology’s ‘highly cited’ researchers collaborate in forest science.

$1M Grant to Chemists

Grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation will help chemists learn how molecules crystallize, potentially saving...

Fellow of the AAAS

Vahe Bandarian elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Space Sunscreen

Dust launched from the moon’s surface or from a space station positioned between Earth and...

Fellow of the AAAS

Jennifer Shumaker-Perry elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

A.A.U. Membership

The University of Utah is one of the newest members of the prestigious Association of...

Weekend Effect

Large-scale citizen science camera trapping helped assess animal behavioral responses across multiple mammal species in...

2023 College of Science Awards

The College of Science is committed to recognizing excellence in education, research, and service and...

An Unexpected Climate Solution

The Wilkes Center Student Innovation Prize Nicholas Witham is the first-place winner of the Wilkes...

Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine

Regional Innovations Engine University of Utah part of new NSF-funded initiative to ensure regional climate...

New Tyrannosaurus Species

Scientists Conclude New Mexico Fossil Is New Tyrannosaurus Species January 29, 2024     Scientists...

Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats Has Long Been in Flux

Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats has long been in flux February 21, 2024 Salt crusts began...

Utah's Warm Wet Winter

A warm, wet winter in Utah but don’t blame El Niño February 22, 2024 For...

Measuring Black Carbon

Black carbon sensor could fill massive monitoring gaps February 22, 2024 Black carbon is the...

Sizing Up Courthouse Crack

Sizing Up Courthouse Crack February 29, 2024 Geohazards, due to the way they constantly change,...

Spectrum 2023

A collection of alumni, student and faculty stories from the U Department of Physics &...

2024 College of Science Awards

The College of Science is committed to recognizing excellence in education, research, and service and...

U Atmospheric Scientists Team Up for $4.8M Snowfall Research Project

U atmospheric scientists team up for $4.8M snowfall research project May 6, 2024 Above: Atmospheric...

Toxic Thalium: Humans changing the chemistry of the Baltic Sea

changing chemistry of the Baltic Sea May 6, 2024 Above: Assistant Professor of Geology &...

Aftermath 2024

A collection of alumni, student and faculty stories from the U Department of Mathematics.

U of U Part of $6.6M National Weather Forecasting Initiative

U of U Included in $6.6M National Weather Forecasting Initiative The partnership with NOAA, other...

Tapping coal mines for rare-earth materials

Tapping coal mines for rare-earth materials May 23, 2024 Above: Michael Vanden Berg, a geologist...

Breakthrough in Geothermal Energy at Utah FORGE

Breakthrough in Geothermal Energy at Utah FORGE June 3, 2024 Above: The Utah FORGE site...

A Tale of Two Worms: Advancing Epigenetics

A Tale of Two Worms : Advancing Epigenetics June 4, 2024 Above: Immunofluorescence in round...

Finding new ant species in a SLC backyard

Utah’s ant man found a new species in his backyard June 5, 2024 Above: John...

Championing Representation & Advocacy in Healthcare

Championing Representation & Advocacy in Healthcare June 12, 2024 Above: Kimberly Gamarra Kimberly Gamarra, a...

Bacteriophages: Nature's bacterial killers

Bacteriophages : Nature's bacterial killers June 14, 2024 Above: Talia Karasov Bacteriophages, viruses that attack...

Utah's fir trees at risk from balsam woolly adelgid

Utah's fir trees at risk from balsam woolly adelgid June 20, 2024 Above: A drone...

Meet Lokiceratops: Giant Blade-Wielding Dinosaur


Meet Lokiceratops: A Giant Blade Wielding Dinosaur June 21, 2024 Above: Reconstruction of Lokiceratops surprised...

Life On Other Planets … and in a student’s mind

Life On Other Planets … and in a student’s mind June 13, 2024 Above: Mary...

Delve into the puzzle of ice crystallization and uncover its secrets.

Delve into the puzzle of ice crystallization and uncover its secrets July 5, 2024 Above:...

Journey to the Center of Biotech

Journey to the Center of Biotech  July 8, 2024 Above: Heng Xie “I guess I...

A Framework for Cancer Ecology and Evolution

A Framework for Cancer Ecology and Evolution July 17, 2024 Why do the vast majority...

Scientists Find Hope in Cone Snail Venom

Scientists Find Hope in Cone Snail Venom Aug 23, 2024 Above : Ho Yan Yeung,...

New tools for peering into cell function.

New tools for peering into cell function Sep 9, 2024 Above: Ming Hammond, professor of...

2024 Clarivate's Most Cited

Bill Anderegg, Highly Cited Researcher 2024 December 9, 2024 Above: William Anderegg at the One-U...

The Next Antibiotic Revolution: Viruses to the Rescue

The Next Antibiotic Revolution: Viruses to the Rescue Dec 09, 2024 Above: Talia Backman –...

Coyote numbers are often higher in areas where they are hunted

Coyote numbers are often higher in areas where they are hunted January 9, 2025 Above:...

In Detox: Woodrats use ‘quantity over quality’ as a plan

Woodrats use ‘quantity over quality’ as a Detox plan January 9, 2025 Above: A woodrat...

2025 College of Science Awards

The College of Science is committed to recognizing excellence in education, research, and service and...