The College of Engineering has over 75 tenured / tenure-track faculty performing research focusing on solving the most pressing local and global challenges. Their nationally and internationally recognized research expertise encompasses areas such as coastal resiliency, materials for extreme environments, nanotechnology, robotics, underwater exploration, offshore wind energy, and water reuse, among others, using an interdisciplinary and user-oriented approach to integrate the discovery of fundamental knowledge and applied research to solve societal issues.
The College of Engineering hosts three research centers funded by federal, state, and private sources and two research core facilities with more than $10M on state-of-the-art characterization and analytical capabilities.
Over the past 5 years, the College of Engineering has received 6 NSF CAREER Awards (60% of all URI NSF CAREER) and 4 ONR Young Investigator Awards. Our faculty’s research activity thrives thanks to the extensive collaboration across engineering disciplines, the university at large, government, academia, and industry worldwide.
This has resulted in a doubling of external research funding from 2016 to 2022, from $6M to $18M. A $150M investment in the Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering (opened in 2019) and the recent approval of state bond to build the new Ocean Engineering building at the Bay Campus is giving URI Engineering some of the best engineering facilities in the country.
Take a look at the construction of the new Ocean Robotics Laboratory.
News in Research
Could wearables be the future in diagnosing ADHD? - According to the National Institute of Mental Health, ADHD is one of the most common disorders diagnosed in children. 
Preparing for a landslide induced tsunami - KINGSTON, R.I. – Jan. 29, 2025 – While the eastern United States doesn’t sit along major tectonic plate fault lines like the West Coast, earthquakes can still happen here.
URI’s Ashutosh Giri receives the Nation’s highest government award to outstanding scientists and engineers - KINGSTON, R.I. – Jan. 23, 2025 – Before the peaceful transition of power, the Biden administration recognized 400 scientists and engineers with the Presidential Early Career Award for Science and Engineering. Among the honorees were two University of Rhode Island faculty members: psychology assistant professor Justin Parent and mechanical, industrial, and systems engineering professor Ashutosh […]- URISE - The Undergraduate Research in Science and Engineering (URISE) Program is designed to connect motivated undergraduate students from all academic levels, particularly first- and second-year students, with faculty who are conducting research projects. The goal is to allow students to explore the diverse research opportunities and find mentorship from faculty across all engineering fields, and ultimately […]