Research & Strategic Partnerships

PSU is the region’s leading urban research university and offers wide-ranging research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. PSU researchers engage in addressing the critical challenges of the 21st century through groundbreaking research in environmental science, urban development, and community health. Our faculty includes internationally recognized researchers in engineering and physical, natural, and social sciences, making vital contributions in research areas ranging from the origins of life to machine learning, to designing resilient cities. Researchers at PSU engage in a tradition on of innovation and discovery and work across disciplines and with industry, government agencies, and other universities to find solutions, fill knowledge gaps, and improve life in Oregon, the nation, and the world.

PSU partners with our sister institutions in Oregon through Signature Research Centers in nanotechnology, drug discovery, and sustainability in the built environment. We collaborate with Oregon Health and Science University through interdisciplinary research where our expertise in social science, biology, and chemistry add value to their clinical expertise. Our research strengths in specialized fields such as invasive species and ecosystem services attract world-class partners like the Smithsonian Institution. And our strong relationships with companies like Intel and Portland General Electric provide partnerships in cutting-edge research as well as training opportunities for students and employees.