Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering

Research

Moving the world forward through science, engineering and innovation

The Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU conducts groundbreaking research focused on making the world a better, more livable place for our shared global future.

We have 390 tenured and tenure-track faculty advancing engineering innovation and entrepreneurship focused under four interdisciplinary research impact themes:

  • Climate technology solutions.
  • Competitive manufacturing in an advanced economy.
  • National and economic security.
  • Technology-enhanced health and medicine.

Advancing innovative ideas doesn’t happen in a bubble.

Our researchers partner with experts from other fields, industry, nonprofits, government and academic institutions to solve real-world problems and improve our shared global future.

ASU Engineering research themes

Our five-year research impact themes are driving investigation and discovery across the Fulton Schools.

Three men lean over a large solar panel, one holding a part and one adjusting a cable, with a beautiful blue sky overhead.

Climate technology solutions

Research that mitigates both the impact of humans on the earth and a changing climate on humans

More info: Tech, Schools and Centers

Technology thrusts

Energy, water, heat, carbon

Units advancing climate technology research

Fulton Schools
Centers and Initiatives
  • AMPED
  • EXTREME
  • EPICX
  • CBBG
  • NEWT
  • CNCE
  • EV-STS
  • PSERC
  • CHI
  • STEPS
  • SMART
Three men lean over a large solar panel, one holding a part and one adjusting a cable, with a beautiful blue sky overhead.

Competitive manufacturing in an advanced economy

Research that enables new products within a circular economy through materials, data, and process innovation

More info: Tech, Schools and Centers

Technology thrusts

Automation, data and AI, additive, supply chain, sustainability, complexity

Units advancing Competitive manufacturing in an advanced economy research

Fulton Schools
Centers and Initiatives
  • MADE
  • CHART
  • IAC
  • HMI
  • CCSS
  • EPICX
  • AIMS
A group of six people sit in a conference room type situation doing a decision-making lab exercise

National and economic security

Research that anticipates and diffuses threats, enhances prediction, and promotes resilience

More info: Tech, Schools and Centers

Technology thrusts

Communications, AI, semiconductor, cyber, resilience, extreme events

Units advancing National and economic security and stability research

Fulton Schools
Centers and Initiatives
  • ACT
  • WISCA
  • STAM
  • CAOE
  • SenSIP
  • Connection One
  • SMART
  • Metis
  • CES
  • CASCADE
  • AIMS
An undergraduate researcher, donning a lab coat, goggle and gloves, performs research at a microscope in a lab

Technology-enhanced health and medicine

Research that unravels the complexity of biological systems and augments the human condition to promote fulfillment and longevity

More info: Tech, Schools and Centers

Technology thrusts

Medical devices, microbiome, human-tech interfaces, rehabilitation

Units advancing Technology-enhanced health and medicine research

Fulton Schools
Centers and Initiatives
  • PERFORM
  • WET
  • Swette
  • SenSIP
  • HMI
  • CBDA
  • ANS
  • BRAIN
  • AMCII

Research by the numbers

$280M

Engineering research expenditures
FY24

226

Invention disclosures
FY24

122

US patents issued
FY24

34

NSF CAREER awardees
in the last 4 years

#20

Engineering
doctoral degrees awarded
ASEE 2023

#4

Engineering master’s degrees awarded
ASEE 2023

#6

Civil engineering research expenditures

Ahead of Stanford University, MIT and Georgia Tech (HERD 2022)

#12

Electrical, electronic and communications engineering research expenditures

Ahead of Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University and University of Southern California (HERD 2022)

#12

Industrial and manufacturing engineering research expenditures

Ahead of Stanford University, University of Michigan and Carnegie Mellon University (HERD 2022)

15

Start-ups
FY24

Learn more about entrepreneurship and innovation in the Fulton Schools! Visit our Startups page to learn about our patents, invention disclosures, our inventors and our partnership with ASU’s Skysong Innovations.

ASU Skysong building illuminated by the sun.

15

Start-ups
FY24

ASU Skysong building illuminated by the sun.

Learn more about entrepreneurship and innovation in the Fulton Schools! Visit our Startups page to learn about our patents, invention disclosures, our inventors and our partnership with ASU’s Skysong Innovations.

Research in the Fulton Schools

There are 8 distinct schools in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, each with its own research strengths. Visit our schools to learn more about the cutting edge research taking place.

Award-winning faculty

Portrait of Ayan Mallik in his ASU lab Our early-career faculty members have earned 44 NSF CAREER Awards in the past four years.

Meet our awardees

  School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering

  School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence

  School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering

  School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy

  School of Integrated Engineering

  School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks

  School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment

  The Polytechnic School

Award-winning faculty

Portrait of Ayan Mallik in his ASU lab Our early-career faculty members have earned 44 NSF CAREER Awards in the past four years.

Meet our awardees

ASU Engineering research news

ASU researcher Jason Yu (right) talks with another man while they stand on an array of solar panels.

Thriving research partnerships

We can engineer your solution.

The Fulton Schools strives to understand critical issues facing industry and society. Through our partnerships, we develop the best solutions by combining resources, personnel and research capabilities

No organization is too big or small. For example, we are working with Applied Materials, a leading materials engineering company, on the Materials-to-Fab Center. We also collaborate with new startups, some of which are founded by our own students and faculty.

We have a variety of ways to get involved with the Fulton Schools to help boost your company or organization’s mission.

Options to partner with the Fulton Schools include:

  • Sponsoring students’ and faculty members’ research.
  • Locating your company within Innovation Zones for proximity and access to ASU resources.
  • Sponsoring undergraduate students’ capstone projects.
  • Providing opportunities for student internships.
  • Equipment donation.
  • Partnering with ASU for projects funded by federal research grants.
  • Tailoring options to help meet your company or organization’s needs.

Contact us to get your solution in motion.

“Partnerships are critical to the success and growth of the Fulton Schools. We want to be solving problems that matter.”

— Zachary Holman

Fulton Schools vice dean for research and innovation and professor of electrical engineering

Research Centers and facilities

close up of a person holding a solar panel with the QESST logo built into it

Research Centers

The Fulton Schools is home to 40 research centers and institutes, including 10 federally-funded centers, three Engineering Research Centers (ERC) and seven Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRC)

Two researchers wearing protective clothing (hairnets, masks, gloves and lab coats) examine an object one is holding inside of a very large research facility.

Research facilities

The Fulton Schools has modern, extensive research facilities to suit any research need. Additionally, Fulton Schools researchers have access to ASU and state of Arizona research facilities and equipment.

Impact Arizona

An ASU researcher looks on as a robot arm performs activities interacting with a clear cube. The image is in the shape of the state of Arizona.

Impact Arizona

Impact Arizona is a forward-thinking investment by the state of Arizona that leverages the breadth and depth of ASU’s knowledge and expertise to improve Arizona’s competitiveness in high-growth industries, including:

  • Advanced manufacturing and materials.
  • Advanced communication technologies.
  • Cybersecurity.
  • Artificial intelligence.
  • Automation and robotics.
  • And more.

The Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering is at the forefront of ASU’s efforts to produce the talent to position our state for success in attracting and growing high-tech industries.

An ASU researcher looks on as a robot arm performs activities interacting with a clear cube. The image is in the shape of the state of Arizona.