Research Centers and Facilities

The URI College of Engineering is home to several research centers and facilities that support innovation across our targeted research themes. These centers foster collaboration among College of Engineering faculty and serve as hubs for interdisciplinary research across the university.

In addition to centers housed within the College, our faculty actively participate in university-wide and statewide affiliate research centers, expanding the reach and impact of their expertise across Rhode Island and beyond.

Our state-of-the-art research facilities not only advance faculty and student research, but are available for use by industry, government, and private organizations, strengthening partnerships and expanding impact beyond our campus.

Explore our centers and facilities below or visit the faculty directory to learn more about individual labs and areas of expertise.

Federally Funded

National Center for Underwater Vehicle Technology (NIUVT)

A URI/UCONN-industry partnership that accelerates high-priority technology transition to the Navy through applied research and workforce development.

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Center for Cyber-Physical Intelligence and Security

The Center advances fundamental research, technology and transfer, as well as workforce and education development in cyber-physical security and trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI).

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RI Water Resources Center


The RIWRC promotes and disseminates technological, scientific, outreach, and educational innovations to protect the state’s water resources and infrastructure for our residents and the environment.

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Affiliate Centers and Facilities

URI Plastics

A dynamic research network to convene, communicate, collaborate and accelerate ideas and strategies that inform society, guide public policy and reduce land-to-sea plastics pollutants.

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INBRE

The Rhode Island IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (RI-INBRE) program is a statewide network designed to build the biomedical research capacity of Rhode Island institutions, by supporting and developing talented individuals committed to biomedical research careers in Rhode Island.

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EPSCOR

Funded through the NSF and RI Commerce, supports statewide partnerships among institutions of higher education, government, industry and communities to develop basic, use-inspired, translational and applied scientific research addressing real-world problems locally and beyond.

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Ocean Robotics Lab

The new 32,000 square-foot facility will create opportunities for collaborations within URI, among university partners and through public-private ventures. Construction started in March 2024 with estimated completion in Spring 2026.

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Ocean Technology Center

The University of Rhode Island College of Engineering works in close collaboration with the Ocean Technology Center (OTC) to support innovation, research translation, and industry engagement in the Blue Economy. Located at the URI Narragansett Bay Campus, the OTC serves as a dynamic hub for advancing ocean and marine technologies through academic–industry partnerships.

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Research Facilities

R.I. Consortium for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

RIN2 is a multi-user materials characterization facility that enables cutting-edge academic and industrial research and education through access to advanced materials.

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Engineering Analytical



A state-of-the-art, 190,000 square foot, $150M complex. More than $15M in core analytical equipment for use by our researchers and for hire by external researchers.

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Wave and Acoustic Tanks



Located at the Narragansett Bay Campus, the wave tank is a 30m long, 3.6m wide 1.8m deep tank. The acoustic tank is a 25-foot long, 13-foot wide, 11-foot deep pool.

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