Strategic Research Areas
The department is committed to researching the major, high-impact technological problems of today and into the future, in accordance with the department’s strategic plan. Our department focuses on these strategic areas:
Research in Electrical and Computer Engineering
The Future Is What We Do
Our department is committed to research excellence and our success now, and in the future, comes from the leadership and experience of talented faculty, success of students, collaborations with industry, and the support of our alumni.
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Bioengineering
The department aims to be a leader in combining biology, physics, mathematics, and engineering concepts to make advancements at the intersection of multiple disciplines. This research has applications in the areas of agriculture, bioinformatics, genetics, medicine, and systems biology.
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Cyber Infrastructure
From the time researchers at Iowa State University invented the world’s first electronic digital computer, Iowa State has been a leader in computing technology. The department recognizes that the world’s computing and networking infrastructure, embodied in the Internet, has dramatically altered the technological, scientific, and sociological landscape.
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Data, Decisions, Networks, and Autonomy
With the ever-expanding capabilities of cyber-physical systems—data and sensor technologies; communications, social, biological and other networked systems; and information and decision sciences, the department recognizes that Data, Decisions, Networks and Autonomy play fundamental roles in designing complex engineering systems.
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Engineering Education
Research in engineering education seeks to ensure that graduates have the right mix of technical expertise, creativity, and ability to contribute to today’s inclusive, collaborative, global work world. Our faculty are investigating multiple practices to enhance student engagement and learning, thereby achieving critical student learning outcomes.
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Energy Infrastructure
The increasing demand for renewable energy continues to drive discovery in the department. Our faculty are leading projects in electric power systems, wind and solar energy, and energy planning that will help answer the challenges we face as a result of growing energy demands worldwide.
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Materials, Devices and Circuits
Research in materials, devices, and circuits has significantly altered the way we lead our lives. These technologies have made computers and modern electronics widely available and affordable. Although the impact has already been impressive, the story is far from over: research in these areas has found new impetus from micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and nanotechnology initiatives.