Centers and Institutes
UConn is home to more than 85 centers and institutes that drive research, spark innovation, and strengthen public engagement in fields ranging from the arts to engineering to health sciences. Some of these university-level institutes report directly to the Provost and are featured here. Others are overseen by the Office of the Vice President for Research, or are based within our schools, colleges, and departments. Browse the full listing to explore the breadth of expertise and impact across the university.
Humanities Institute
The Humanities Institute serves as an interdisciplinary hub that catalyzes, facilitates, and promotes humanities research both at UConn and globally. Anchored by its mission to ask foundational questions—What does it mean to be human? How do we craft values in the face of technological and ecological transformation?—the Institute fosters collaboration among scholars and students across fields. It supports this mission through annual fellowships, public programming, and a vibrant research community that bridges disciplines.
Institute of the Environment and Energy
The Institute of the Environment and Energy brings together UConn’s experts, students, and community partners to address today’s most urgent environmental and energy challenges. Its work focuses on issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, energy and food security, and sustainability.
The Institute includes five main units: the Center for Environmental Sciences & Engineering, Office of Sustainability, Natural Resources Conservation Academy, New England Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center, and the Eversource Energy Center. Together, they conduct research, share knowledge, and create solutions that protect the planet and support thriving communities.
Institute for Materials Science
The Institute of Materials Science advances UConn’s leadership in materials research, graduate education, and industry partnerships. Since 1965, IMS has brought together faculty, students, and industry to explore and develop new materials that shape technology and improve everyday life. Its graduate programs in Materials Science and Polymer Science prepare students for careers in research, manufacturing, and beyond.
IMS is home to state-of-the-art facilities, including a cleanroom, microscopy and imaging labs, and the CAMMA analysis center. Through its Industrial Affiliates Program, IMS supports Connecticut companies with expert analysis, problem-solving, and access to advanced equipment—helping to drive innovation across the state and region.
Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
The Werth Institute fosters entrepreneurship and innovation across UConn, helping students, faculty, and staff turn ideas into real-world solutions. Established in 2017 through a transformational gift from Peter J. Werth, the Institute connects people, programs, and resources to inspire creative thinking and support ventures in any field.
Through courses, mentorship, maker spaces, funding opportunities, and events, the Werth Institute cultivates the skills and confidence needed to launch new ideas. Signature programs like Werth Innovators and NetWerx link students with alumni and industry mentors, while competitions and incubation support help ventures grow from concept to impact. Guided by a belief that entrepreneurship can spark change in any discipline, the Werth Institute has become a driving force in building a culture of innovation at UConn.
Centers & Institutes Across UConn
In addition to UConn’s university-level research institutes, many schools, colleges, and departments are home to specialized centers and institutes. These units focus on advancing knowledge, fostering collaboration, and supporting scholarship in their respective fields, contributing to the university’s broad impact in Connecticut and beyond.
Humanities Institute
Center for the Study of Popular Music
Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life
Krenicki Arts & Engineering Institute
El Instituto: Institute of Latina/o, Caribbean and Latin American Studies
Africana Studies Institute
Asian & Asian American Studies Institute
Peter J. Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CCEI)
Center for the Advancement of Business Analytics (CABA)
Center for International Business Education & Research (CIBER)
Center for Real Estate & Urban Economic Studies
Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis (CCEA)
GE Global Learning Center
Zwick Center for Food & Resource Policy
Center for Behavioral Education & Research (CBER)
Center for Education Policy Analysis, Research & Evaluation (CEPARE)
Center for Applied Research in Human Development
Reading & Language Arts Center
Renzulli Center for Creativity, Gifted Education & Talent Development
International Center for Life Story Innovations & Practice (ICLIP)
Center for the Study of Culture, Health & Human Development (CHHD)
Center for Advancement in Managing Pain (CAMP)
Center for Environmental Health & Health Promotion (CEHHP)
Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP)
Innovations Institute
Institute for Sports Medicine
Korey Stringer Institute
Nursing & Engineering Innovation Center
Center for mHealth & Social Media
Connecticut Institute for the Brain & Cognitive Sciences (IBACS)
Institute for Systems Genomics (ISG)
Center for Genome Innovation (CGI)
Institute of the Environment & Energy (IoEE)
Center for Environmental Sciences & Engineering (CESE)
Center for Clean Energy Engineering (C2E2)
Center for Land Use Education & Research (CLEAR)
Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation (CIRCA)
Connecticut Institute of Water Resources
Connecticut Sea Grant
Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR)
Eversource Energy Center
Center of Biological Risk
Institute of Materials Science (IMS)
UConn–Thermo Fisher Scientific Center for Advanced Microscopy & Materials Analysis (CAMMA)
UTAS Center for Advanced Materials
Pratt & Whitney Additive Manufacturing Innovation Center (PW AMC)
Pratt & Whitney Institute for Advanced Systems Engineering
Connecticut Manufacturing Simulation Center
Digital Design Research, Analysis & Manufacturing Center (D2DREAM)
Krenicki Arts & Engineering Institute
Human Rights Institute
Insurance Law Center
Center on Community Safety, Policing & Inequality
Nancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work (note: official name; not “Political Science”)
UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health
Connecticut Advanced Computing Center (CACC)
Connecticut Information Technology Institute (CITI)
Center for the Advancement of Business Analytics (CABA)
Center for Real Estate & Urban Economic Studies
Connecticut Transportation Institute
Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center