Broadening expertise
and impact
Northeastern’s interdisciplinary discovery removes boundaries, testing new knowledge in the world and translating what we learn into high-impact solutions that advance society.
Expertise that fuels innovation
Northeastern’s research enterprise ignites collaboration and solutions across the world.
$296.3M
in external research awards in 2023-2024
508%
increase since 2006
32
NSF Graduate Research Fellowships held by current PhD students, up from one in 2006
29
early career investigator awards, including seven prestigious NSF CAREER awards, two NIH Early Stage Investigator MIRA awards, and three Scialog Fellow awards
NSF director celebrates new research complex
On October 16, 2023, we celebrated the opening of the Boston campus’s EXP research complex, with National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan delivering the keynote address. In attendance were Massachusetts elected officials, business leaders, and members of the Northeastern community. A state-of-the-art facility for science, innovation, and learning, EXP provides space for students and researchers to come together to innovate, collaborate, and network. The 357,000-square-foot complex features eight stories of classrooms and research labs, a 15,000-square-foot makerspace, robotics lab, roof terrace, and more.
Leadership in network engineering, network science, and cognitive and brain health
Our researchers are discovering high-impact solutions to our greatest global challenges.
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Advancing treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’sNickolai Slavov is developing new tools to investigate Alzheimer’s disease, which affects more than 55 million people worldwide. Slalov, an associate professor of bioengineering and founder and director of the new Parallel Squared Technology Institute, developed a groundbreaking platform that significantly expands the scale of single-cell protein analysis of the disease. This advance is expected to supercharge research and open areas of discovery.
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Creating the next generation of wireless networksAdvancing wireless technology is critical to U.S. economic health and security. Northeastern leads the way with support from the CHIPS and the Science Act’s Wireless Innovation Fund. Tommaso Melodia – William Lincoln Smith Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and director of Northeastern’s Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things — heads the foundational work, testing approaches to building Open RAN systems — a key to standardizing systems and seamless communication across different networks.
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Empowering informed healthcare decisionsA new AI tool called life2vec developed by computer scientist and inaugural President Joseph E. Aoun Professor, Tina Eliassi-Rad, makes predictions about the human lifespan with advanced accuracy. Built on data that reflects the population of Denmark, life2vec offers a window into a society and its policies and people, providing insights that can help doctors make informed decisions.
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Preparing communities for infectious disease outbreaksThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chose Alessandro Vespignani—director of Northeastern’s Network Science Institute and Sternberg Family Distinguished University Professor—to launch an infectious disease prediction center. EPISTORM: The Center for Advanced Epidemic Analytics and Predictive Modeling Technology, leading a consortium of 10 research institutions, healthcare systems, and private companies, will use AI and network science to monitor and forecast outbreaks of new and existing diseases, similar to the way the National Weather Service provides hurricane warnings.
Expanding our capacity for transformational impact
1,024
tenured and tenure-track hires since 2006, including 81 in 2023-24
242
faculty with interdisciplinary appointments, up 476% since 2012
Meet some of our new faculty
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Adam Caparco
DiPietro Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering -
Adriana de Souza e Silva
Professor of Communication Studies, and Director of the Center for Communication, Media Innovation, and Social Change -
Katheryn Russell-Brown
Elmer V.H. and Eileen M. Brooks Trustee Professor of Crime, Law, and Justice -
Jordan Theriault
Assistant Professor of Psychology, and Assistant Director of the Interdisciplinary Affective Sciences Laboratory
Faculty awards, honors, and excellence
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FELLOW, NATIONAL ACADEMY OF INVENTORS
Yun Raymond FuCOE Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Professor of Computer Science
An AI expert with a focus on computer vision, machine learning, and data mining, Fu was recognized for more than 20 years of research and innovations.
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FELLOW, NATIONAL ACADEMY OF INVENTORS
Srinivas SridharDirector of Nanomedicine Innovation Center and Nanomedicine Academy; Distinguished University Professor of Physics
Sridhar was honored for innovations that are transforming healthcare. His work centers on nanomedicine, neurotechnology, superconductivity, and quantum chaos.
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FELLOW, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE
Eugene SmotkinProfessor, Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Smotkin was honored for his distinguished study of chemical catalysts in fuel cells and in the repurposing of vehicle batteries.
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NSF CAREER AWARD
Lili SuAssistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
This award supports Su’s advances in federated learning, an approach to machine learning that enhances privacy and resiliency when multiple computer systems and devices communicate.
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NSF CAREER AWARD
Alexandra ToAssistant Professor, Art + Design and Computer Science
To was recognized for research that links game design and critical race theory and continues to explore how game designers consider race in their work.
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MEMBER, NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
Albert-László BarabásiRobert Gray Dodge Professor of Network Science; University Distinguished Professor of Physics
This honor recognizes Barabási’s significant contributions to network science. From subcellular, genetic interactions to professional connections, his extensive research informs how underlying mathematical patterns impact human lives.
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MEMBER, AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Eduardo SontagUniversity Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Bioengineering
Recognized for breakthroughs in the mathematics of nonlinear and complex systems, Sontag’s work has impacted biomedicine, systems biology, and neural networks.
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MEMBER, AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Elizabeth MynattDean, Khoury College of Computer Sciences
Renowned for advances in ubiquitous computing and assistive technologies, Mynatt has focused on how AI can support aging adults as well as how tech can help breast cancer and diabetes patients.
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NSF CAREER AWARD
Siddhartha GhoshAssistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Ghosh won the award for research on manipulating “acoustic waves in solids”—work that could revolutionize wireless communication.
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NSF CAREER AWARD
Andreia IonescuAssistant Professor of Biology; Principal Investigator of the Ionescu Lab
Ionescu’s project focuses on how stem cells affect skeletal development, which could lead to interventions to prevent or reverse stunted skeletal growth in children.
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NSF CAREER AWARD
Mona MinkaraAssistant Professor, Bioengineering
Minkara received the award for research to better understand and improve the immune system’s response to pathogens.
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NSF CAREER AWARD
Alireza RamezaniAssociate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Ramezani’s award will fund his development of an autonomous robot that can fly and walk in small spaces while gathering data through sensing equipment.
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NSF CAREER AWARD
Saiph SavageAssistant Professor of Computer Science; Director of the Civic AI Lab
Savage’s research will advance understanding about the challenges gig knowledge workers face and ways to address them.
Entrepreneurship and innovation
Powering innovation
Company: SULA Labs
Beautiful R&D for Sephora and Ulta
As an undergrad, AJ Addae, ’20, conducted sun care-solutions research at the Biomaterials Design Lab and completed a co-op with a skincare startup. Today, she runs a business of her own. SULA LABS is filling a gap by creating and testing skincare products for Black-owned beauty brands and people of color. With team of six, a wet lab, and warehouse space, the B2B lab also develops ingredients that might be more effective on melanin-rich skin tones.
Company: ExplorO
A research study recruiting venture
Data science and biology major Alexis Musaelyan-Blackmon, ’25, aims to make an impact healthcare with technological components. She’s taken a leap toward realizing her vision by developing Exploro, an online platform that helps researchers recruit volunteers for their studies. Study participants are a critical component of research, but recruiting them is a confusing and tedious process. Exploro will be a centralized platform that posts various studies so researchers can connect with suitable participants based on their demographics. Her business pitch won first place in the fall 2023 Husky Startup Challenge, Northeastern’s official venture incubator and a startup pitch competition.
Company: pacDNA
Better treatment for genetic diseases
Advances in drug delivery that could be key for treating a severe form of muscular dystrophy and other diseases are underway at pacDNA, a spinout supported by Northeastern’s Center for Research Innovation. Ke Zhang, a professor of chemistry and chemical biology, is using a novel, more efficient approach to gene regulation using pacDNA’s proprietary Brushfield technology, which enhances drug potency and reduces side effects.
Company: NeuroFieldz
Device uses brain signals for vision health exams
Srinivas Sridhar, University Distinguished Professor of Physics, Bioengineering, and Chemical Engineering, and his team invented and patented an AI-powered headset device, called NeuroVEP, that can scan brains for vision and neurological problems. The device uses a smartphone and a sensor. The phone provides visual stimulation and focus; the sensor monitors brain signals and uses AI to identify potential problems. NeuroFieldz will bring the headsets to clinicians everywhere.
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