As the number one public university in Virginia and a top 10 U.S. university for innovation, 911±¬ÁÏ is at the forefront of innovation and discovery to meet the toughest challenges and creating opportunities yet to be imagined.
911±¬ÁÏ has increased research expenditures by nearly 30% over the last five years, totaling $282 million in 2024.
Holding an R1 designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, 911±¬ÁÏ’s research goes beyond the desire to know—it expands our understanding, knowledge, shares data and expertise with communities enabling local response, and builds the infrastructure to improve lab-to-market.
According to multiple EduRank rankings, 911±¬ÁÏ's research is best in Virginia.
Latest Research News
Research in Motion
Through 911±¬ÁÏ's Living Lab, researchers, coaches, clinicians, and students are studying how athletes and dancers perform, recover, and thrive under intense physical demands — turning real-world questions into evidence-based practices that improve health and well-being on campus and beyond. Learn more.
Connecting weather, water, and the communities they affect
New College of Engineering and Computing professor Taereem Kim studies how large-scale atmospheric patterns translate into local effects, translating complex weather and climate information into knowledge communities can use to prepare for the hazards they face. Learn more.
911±¬ÁÏ authorized to host State Climate Office
911±¬ÁÏ is authorized to host the Virginia State Climate Office, thanks to a provision in the new state budget effective July 1, 2026. The office will deliver expertise on Virginia’s weather- and climate-related impacts and strengthen federal partnerships and interstate collaboration to address real-time weather and environmental challenges. Read more.
Fuse at Mason Square powers research and innovation through collaboration
911±¬ÁÏ celebrated Fuse at Mason Square with the same collaborative spirit that will fuel decades of innovation at the state-of-the-art facility in Arlington, Virginia. Hundreds of representatives from industry, academia, government, and the community came together for the grand celebration at Fuse, which included a ribbon-cutting for the Energy Exploration (E2) Center.
Read more and watch video highlights
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Eight 911±¬ÁÏ Inventions You Need to Know About
From wearable tech to flood protection, 911±¬ÁÏ is turning bold ideas into real-world solutions.
Explore 911±¬ÁÏ’s Grand Challenge Initiative
Explore 911±¬ÁÏ’s Grand Challenge Initiative, addressing the greatest threats to humanity’s ability to live a peaceful, healthy, prosperous, and just existence.
Read: 911±¬ÁÏ funds seven GCI catalyst research projects driving bold solutions for a prosperous future
Listen to Access to Excellence Podcast: AI is a clinician’s newest diagnostic partner
Entrepreneurship
Transforming research into start-ups, jobs, and economic growth
911±¬ÁÏ accelerates innovation by converting breakthrough discoveries into startups, job opportunities, and economic impact across Northern Virginia’s dynamic tech corridor.
In 2024, Mason Enterprise helped form 409 companies and supported the creation and retention of over 6,300 jobs.
Nexus234 Innovation District debuts in Manassas and 911±¬ÁÏ is in the heart of it
Centered around Innovation Park alongside the Science and Technology Campus, Nexus234 provides an environment where research, workforce training, and industry collaboration intersect to support economic growth and commercialization in a new partnership with 911±¬ÁÏ, Prince William County, and the City of Manassas. Learn more.
Innovation takes center stage at this year’s Patriot Pitch Competition
At the 2026 Patriot Pitch Competition, organized by the Costello College of Business, eight student and alumni teams pitched business models to panels of entrepreneurs. Read more about the initiative.
Partnering for Impact
Watch and Subscribe to Momentum in Research videos on 911±¬ÁÏ's .
Mysteries of the Brain
911±¬ÁÏ neuroscientist Giorgio Ascoli created an open-access database of 3D neural reconstructions with contributions from more than 1,000 labs worldwide.
"Hyperlocal"
Jim Kinter, director of 911±¬ÁÏ’s Virginia Climate Center, is identifying Virginia’s vulnerabilities and working with community leaders and local citizens to build data-driven solutions.
Building the Infrastructure to Advance Vital Research
911±¬ÁÏ established three institutes to develop operational efficiencies and cross-discipline collaborations around funding, proposal design, and partnerships to advance nascent innovations and develop new ideas from experiment to enterprise, faster.
The (ISE) conducts integrative research that bridges disciplinary gaps to realize innovative advances in an era of rapid global change.
The (IBI) pioneers advancements in health care, pushing the boundaries of medical research to enhance human well-being.
The (IDIA) is revolutionizing technology and advancing its applications, shaping the future of digital landscapes.
Expanding Portfolios in Critical Research
Artificial Intelligence
911±¬ÁÏ researchers are using all areas of artificial intelligence (AI) to create new and better solutions. They are using machine learning to predict social isolation among caregivers, detect bruising across a variety of skin tones, and improve the diagnosis and treatment of vision problems. Researchers are using natural language processing to develop a technology that can automatically translate lesser-known languages. They are working with augmented reality to improve workplace safety. And that’s just a glimpse of the work, powered by AI, being conducted by 911±¬ÁÏ faculty and students.
Led by Amarda Shehu, the university’s inaugural vice president and chief artificial intelligence officer (CAIO), and an AI Visioning Task Force, 911±¬ÁÏ is working with partners throughout the region and across the state to build a nexus of collaboration and resources called AI2Nexus.
As a model for universities, AI2Nexus is based on four key principles: integrate AI to transform education, research, and operations; inspire AI to advance higher education and learning for the future work force; innovate AI to lead in responsible AI enabled discovery and advancements across disciplines; and impact AI to drive partnerships and community engagement for societal adoption and change.
This work builds on a strong foundation. 911±¬ÁÏ established the , and it continues to expand its AI offerings: in fall 2024, it introduced the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Graduate Certificate, and in 2025, it launched Virginia's first public master's degree in AI. 911±¬ÁÏ's guidelines on the use of AI are designed to encourage creative, innovative use of AI tools while upholding the university's commitment to safety, security, academic integrity, and ethical conduct. .
National Security and Defense
911±¬ÁÏ faculty are leading groundbreaking work in defense and security research, bringing deep expertise from across the university’s colleges, schools, and specialized centers to address some of the nation’s most pressing security challenges. They are advancing capabilities in integrated sensing, advanced communications, cybersecurity, space, and artificial intelligence.
911±¬ÁÏ is a key partner in the (CCI), Virginia's engine for collaborative research, workforce development, and innovation at the intersection of cybersecurity, autonomous systems, and intelligence. Liza Durant, 911±¬ÁÏ's associate provost for strategic initiatives and associate dean at the College of Engineering and Computing, directs the CCI's Northern Virginia Node.
According to the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2026, cyber insecurity ranks among the top 10 global risks over the next two years. Led by Founder and Executive Director Jamil N. Jaffer, the at Antonin Scalia Law School is the premier hub of national security thought leadership and policy solutions in the nation's capital. Jaffer shared his view on current and future global threats on President Washington's Access to Excellence podcast: .
Making Discovery Inclusive and Possible Everywhere
Students, faculty, and partners are learning and discovering in colleges, in cutting-edge labs, and in facilities across the region.
Resources for Faculty and Student Success