Neuroscience & Computing
The Neuroscience and Computing Working Group aims to foster collaboration at the intersection of Neuroscience research and Computer Science research. The main pillars of this working group are: Neuromorphic Computing and Principles of Computational Neuroscience. Neuromorphic Computing explores the design of efficient systems and algorithms that can execute neural functionality at extremely low budgets for power, energy, cost, and latency. This includes algorithms to support brain-computer interfaces as well as algorithms that emulate biology to perform cognitive tasks. Principles of Computational Neuroscience focuses on understanding how the brain processes information, learns, and generates behavior through the lens of mathematical models and algorithms. This theme emphasizes the powerful synergy between advanced computational tools from computer science—such as machine learning, optimization, and dynamical systems—and new experimental methods that allow us to measure and manipulate brain activity and behavior at unprecedented temporal and spatial scales.
Quantum
The Quantum Research Working Group is a developing initiative focused on the emerging potential of quantum computing for solving challenging questions in material science and beyond.
Critical Minerals Research Hub
The Critical Minerals Research Hub focuses on materials essential to meeting societal and national security needs, including lithium, copper, indium, tellurium, gallium, and platinum. These critical minerals serve as the building blocks for many modern technologies and are vital to energy development, national security, and economic prosperity. As a result, global demand for critical minerals is projected to increase by 400 to 600 percent over the coming decades. For minerals used in electric vehicles—such as lithium—the demand is expected to be even higher. Utah is home to significant critical mineral resources, positioning the Critical Minerals Research Hub to advance research in identification, extraction, and processing, while also addressing pressing societal, ethical, communication and policy issues.
Wildfire Research
The Wildfire Research Working Group is a cross disciplinary group of research faculty exploring wildfire impacts, forecasting, and solutions. Wildfire prevention and management is one of the pressing issues facing the West, and there is an urgent need for science-driven, innovative, and impactful solutions. University of Utah researchers are engaged in several projects to develop new technologies and policy mechanisms to advance resilience, prevention, and forecasting ability of wildfires. For example, the U was awarded a two-year NSF grant in 2025 to increase wildfire resilience and insurability in Utah and the Mountain West. The Wildfire Research Working Group formed out of a collaboration between the Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy and the VPR Office.
Future of Food
The Future of Food Working Group is focused on the pivotal role of food security for individuals, families, and communities. Ensuring that all individuals have access to sufficient food is a significant societal goal but one that requires new frameworks, programs, and research breakthroughs. Faculty across the university are interested in food security and developing interdisciplinary programs to solve this complex issue. To that end, the working group is examining multiple food issues including food as medicine, nutrition, obesity, dietary assessments, impact of ultra processed foods on chronic conditions, policies linked to food sovereignty, and health.
Housing
The mission of the Housing Working Group is to break down academic silos by connecting scholars engaged in housing-related research, facilitate data sharing, and cultivating partnerships that drive impactful inquiry. By leveraging diverse expertise and perspectives, the collaborative aims to generate actionable insights and inform policy, practice, and community research outcomes in Utah and beyond.
Autism
Autism is a multifaceted condition, diagnosed based on observable differences in social functioning and behavior starting early in development but also accompanied by genetic, neurological, and/or biological variations. Autistic people often have unique strengths, while also facing challenges across the lifespan related to social, emotional, learning, and health needs that can affect their abilities to thrive at different points in their lives. Autism research spans medical, educational, social science, and many other fields all along the translational research spectrum from bench to clinical approaches. The Autism Research Working Group is designed to help draw links between different types of research currently happening on campus, and open doors for future collaborations to maximize the potential for research to impact meaningful change for autistic people.
Reproductive Health
The Reproductive Health Working Group unites clinicians, researchers, and administrators across the University of Utah who are dedicated to advancing evidence-based reproductive health. Our collaborative network explores the full continuum of reproductive life, integrating diverse expertise to address the complex factors influencing reproductive health outcomes. By promoting cross-disciplinary research, mentorship, and community engagement, the group serves as a catalyst for innovative inquiry and translation of knowledge into practice that improves the health and well-being of individuals and communities across the intermountain region.
Arts and Health
As a home to world class creative work and cutting-edge health science, the University of Utah conducts some of the most impactful arts & health research in the world. The Arts and Health Innovation Lab is a catalyst of interdisciplinary research, teaching, clinical care, and community engagement at the intersection of the arts and health. Our members study how the arts support and produce well-being, and put that knowledge to work in hospitals, clinics, community centers, schools, workplaces, and senior care facilities. We define "health" as not just the absence of disease, but as complete physical, mental, and social well-being. Information on current areas-of-focus can be found HERE. All faculty interested in pursuing research and/or creative scholarship focused on the intersections of arts and health are invited to join the Lab. Click below for projects currently supported by the lab or to learn more about getting involved!
Suicide Research
The Suicide Research Working group is focused on preventing suicide. Suicide is a significant public health issue that cuts across multiple research domains. It is also a growing problem as suicide rates increased 36% from 2000 – 2021. Given the breadth and urgency of the problem, the working group will bring together researchers from across the university to elucidate risk factors, identify mitigation strategies, and develop effective interventions. The University of Utah is home to some of the most rigorous and comprehensive suicide research databases, including global datasets that elucidate genetic, behavioral, societal, and individual risk factors.