Interdisciplinary Research Institutes
The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences
The Huck Institutes were established in 1996 to enhance and facilitate excellence in interdisciplinary research and training in the life sciences across Penn State. We accomplish this by investing strategically in the recruitment of outstanding faculty who then build and retain precedence in strategic areas including infectious disease, genome sciences, plant sciences, and the neurosciences. We facilitate new initiatives and insights by seeding emerging fields (e.g., metabolomics), providing leadership in interdisciplinary graduate education, and ensuring that our faculty, staff, and students have access to state-of-the-art workspace and instrumentation.
Shared Core Facilities Contact: Nigel Deighton Director of Research Instrumentation, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences
814-865-4782
nxd20@psu.edu
Clinical and Translational Science Institute
Penn State’s Clinical + Translational Science Institute (CTSI) serves as a catalyst for the clinical and translational sciences at the Institution. As a member of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Network (UL1 TR00127), the CTSI provides resources, collaboration opportunities, services, workforce training, education and tools to help translate new research findings into tangible health benefits that improve the lives of those in the Commonwealth and beyond.
Institute for Computational and Data Sciences
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Institute for Computational and Data Sciences
The mission of the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences is to build capacity to solve problems of scientific and societal importance through cyber-enabled research. As computation and data science become increasingly vital modes of inquiry, we enable researchers to develop innovative computational methods and to apply those methods to research challenges. Specifically, we:
- foster a collaborative, interdisciplinary scholarly community focused on the development and application of innovative computational methods;
- expand participation in interdisciplinary research through strategic investments and effective outreach; and
- provide a vibrant world-class cyberinfrastructure by maintaining and continually improving hardware and software solutions and technical expertise.
ICS Contact: Wayne Figurelle, Assistant Director
wfigure@psu.edu
814-777-2965
Penn State Cancer Institute
Penn State Cancer Institute
Integrated in the same building where Cancer Institute patients receive leading edge care for nearly 100 percent of cancer types, research is underway into the causes, cures and prevention of cancer. The Cancer Institute has three research programs focused on the themes of Population Health and Cancer Control, Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis and Experimental Therapeutics. Additionally, pediatric cancer research led by faculty at Penn State Children's Hospital and Penn State College of Medicine is a highly visible part of the Penn State Cancer Institute and greatly benefits from THON and Four Diamonds. With a research presence in Hershey and at the University Park campus, the Penn State Cancer Institute is the centerpiece of Penn State’s commitment to discoveries that will lead to the prevention, treatment and cures for cancer.
Cancer Institute Contact:
dholl@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
717-531-4034
Materials Research Institute
Penn State's MRI is a catalyst for multidisciplinary education and innovations in materials. With our capabilities in electronic materials and devices, functional polymers and nanoscience, Penn State is uniquely positioned to apply our materials research to critical challenges of the future in healthcare.
The Penn State Institute of Energy and the Environment
The mission of the Penn State Institute of Energy and the Environment is to expand Penn State's capacity to pursue the newest frontiers in energy and environmental research by encouraging cooperation across disciplines and the participation of local, state, federal, and international stakeholders.
Facilities at University Park (Available to non-Penn State Users)
The Social Science Research Institute
The Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) mission is to foster research that addresses critical human and social problems at the local, national, and international levels. We do so by bringing together researchers from different disciplines around emerging areas of study, and by providing consultation, financial support, shared, accessible infrastructure, and services to social scientists at Penn State.
Contact: info@ssri.psu.edu
814-865-1528
Photo of Shared Fermentation Facility lab.
Penn State's interdisciplinary research institutes, listed below, operate a portfolio of world-class research instrumentation, services and consulting that are available to internal and external users.
List of laboratories with shared core facilities
Search for shared instruments and services
In addition to browsing the interdisciplinary research institutes below, internal and external users can search the facilities and research instrumentation available for use at pure.psu.edu*.
Search tips:
For most inclusive search results, search by free text, and use both types of instruments and methodologies. For example, search both "microscope" and "microscopy," or "mass spectrometer" and "mass spectrometry."
*This database of core facilties is in development, with the majority of shared facilities entered as of 9/1/2018. Completion is expected in the summer of 2018. If you have a new shared research facility (with approved external rates) and would like to include the instrument or service in the database, please email osvpr@psu.edu.
Additional Advanced Research Facilities
Applied Research Laboratory
ARL is primarily a science, systems and technology-based laboratory with strength and leadership in the following research areas: acoustics, guidance and control, thermal energy systems, hydrodynamics, hydroacoustics, propulsion, materials and manufacturing, navigation and GPS, communications and information, systems engineering and education.
Facilities
Electro-Optics Center
The Electro-Optics Center (EOC), a proud part of The Pennsylvania State University, is a hybrid between the best components of a university and those of private industry. This relationship allows us access to the university's researchers and scientists, its state-of-the-art facilities and leading edge research. Our staff, comprised primarily of former industry and DoD personnel, brings experience in exceeding sponsor and corporate expectations. Through the application of this hybrid model, the EOC is able to provide its sponsors with solutions that combine leading edge research with on-time and on-budget deliveries.
Institute for Manufacturing & Sustainment Technologies (iMAST)
The Institute for Manufacturing and Sustainment Technologies (iMAST) is sponsored under contract N00024-02-D-6604 by the United States Navy Manufacturing Technology (MANTECH) and the Repair Technologies (REPTECH) programs. iMAST provides manufacturing technology support to the systems commands of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The Institute for Manufacturing and Sustainment Technologies (iMAST) is one of nine U.S. Navy MANTECH Centers of Excellence. Formally established in February of 1995, the Institute comprises seven thrust areas. Located at The Pennsylvania State University's Applied Research Laboratory, the Institute is in partnership with industry, government, and the University. iMAST provides a focal point for the development and transfer of new manufacturing processes and equipment in a cooperative environment with industry, academia, other Navy acquisition, and in-service use. The Institute leverages the resources of The Pennsylvania State University to develop technology and business practices, to enhance the industrial sector, and to address advanced weapon system issues and challenges.
Penn State College of Medicine
Our default mission is to provide research infrastructure for investigators who conduct research with human subjects. Investigations carried out can include studies of normal and abnormal human function and studies of cause, prevention, progression, and cure of diseases.
The CRC is part of the Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Clinical Services Key Function. The Penn State Clinical Research Center (CRC) was funded by the National Center for Research Resources in July, 1995 (Grant Number M01RR10732) and is located at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey and the Elmore Wing of the Clinical Research Center in University Park.
The Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute
Animal Diagnostic Lab
Animal Resource Program
The Animal Resource Program (ARP) provides veterinary care and disease prevention and health monitoring programs for laboratory animals, wildlife, and agricultural animals; manages laboratory animal facilities at University Park; coordinates animal purchasing and shipping; and offers clinical pathology and histology services, as well as personnel training in animal handling, sampling techniques, and surgery.
Contact: arp@psu.edu
814-865-1495
ADL serves the commonwealth of PA by providing the following specific services:
Diagnostic and analytical testing services for detection of animal diseases
- Bacterial isolation, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing
- Bacterial serotyping, toxin testing and other virulence testing on disease producing enteric bacteria
- Fungal identification
- Virus isolation and identification
- Serology
- Anatomic pathology
- Clinical parasitology
- Diagnosis of nutritional and metabolic problems
- Molecular testing for pathogen identification, typing and sequencing
- Biopsy service to identify diseases in clinical samples
- Electron microscopy
Surveillance testing to actively safeguard animal health
- Avian Influenza
- Exotic Newcastle Disease
- Chronic Wasting Disease
- Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Mad Cow Disease)
Development of new and improved procedures for disease detection
- ELISA
- PCR
- Ribotyping
Recommendations for veterinarians and animal owners
- Vaccination programs
- Medical treatments (antibiotics, antifungals, nutritional, etc)
- Field investigation summaries
- Management recommendations (nutrition, colostrum, calf care, milk quality, etc)
Contact:
814-863-0837
adlhelp@psu.edu
Biomarker Core Lab
Innovation Gateway is designed to connect Penn State researchers to the technical challenges and needs of industry. This framework was created by Penn State and has resulted in efficient and successful research partnerships across the University. Industry partners are able to capture a variety of proposals from world-class experts, and researchers are able to quickly translate their work from idea to impact.
Click here for an overview of Innovation Gateway process (PDF) for researchers and companies. Penn State researchers may view current opportunities at innovation.psu.edu.
Penn State's more than 700 industrial research partnerships are supported by a streamlined intellecutal property (IP) policy. To learn more about IP at Penn State, contact the Office of Industrial Partnerships at researchpartnerships.psu.edu.
Libraries
Photo: Barbara Hackman Franklin Atrium, Pattee Library. Image: Wilson Hutton
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Library Investment Index listed the Penn State University Libraries among the top 10 in North America, and second among U.S. public university research libraries. The index provides a yearly snapshot of the size of each research library's collections and its capacity to provide services to students, faculty and staff, as well as to visiting researchers. The University Libraries consistently rank among the top 10 among more than 110 peer institutions’ libraries surveyed.
Corporate Research Centers
Building 310 at Innovation Park.
Need direct access to the research capabilities at Penn State? Companies like Morgan Advanced Materials, RJ Lee, and others are choosing to build their business directly in the heart of Materials Valley. The University's centers of excellence place companies directly in an environment designed to accelerate innovations - whether it's a smaller flexible working space, or a brand-new 30,000 sqft reasearch facility, Penn State has the means help you develop your own research capabilities locally.
Click here to read more about Penn State's recent corporate partnerships, or to contact the Office of Industrial Partnerships to speak with an expert who can help you leverage our world class capabilities to find solutions for your business or organization.