Areas of Research | Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Interdisciplinary. Translational. Powerful.

At WPI, researchers are innovators and educators who are working on solutions to the world’s great problems.

Purpose-driven research at WPI focuses on three key areas that highlight the technical and societal intersections of these global challenges:

Smart technologies changing the way we live and work
Materials and manufacturing processes designed for a more sustainable world
Life sciences and biotechnology

Artificial Intelligence, Data, and Robotics

From computer chips to robots, WPI researchers are showing how humans can work smarter, faster, and safer as technology evolves rapidly.

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Advanced Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing

WPI leads in research that moves beyond steel and alloys toward advanced concrete, sustainable water, new energy sources, and more.

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Life Sciences and Biotechnology

Research in Life Sciences and Biotechnology at WPI stands at the intersection of the life sciences, the physical and computer sciences, and engineering.

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Research at WPI

Off-Road Autonomous Vehicles

Professor Vladimir Vantsevich and Professor of Practice Lee Moradi are taking autonomous vehicle technology off road to develop rugged systems capable of rolling across farms, construction sites, disaster zones, military theaters, and even other planets.

Nurses and Robots

Amid a national shortage of nursing professionals, Assistant Professor Jane Li is leading development of a user-friendly robot that could help nurses care for patients in health care facilities in the US and other countries.

Mysteries of Cell Division

How does one cell divide into two? Associate Professor Amity Manning is uncovering that process in her lab, making discoveries with implications for diseases such as cancer. Every discovery helps improve lives.

Better Medicine

Professor Suzanne Scarlata examines the cellular mechanisms that determine how and why individuals respond differently to a drug, addressing a critical problem in health care. The implications of her research have many applications.

Concrete Solutions

Concrete is everywhere, and its production and deterioration contribute to global carbon dioxide production and waste. Associate Professor Nima Rahbar is working on solutions to make concrete more durable and sustainable.