Graduate Research
Here, your questions spark breakthroughs—and your work makes a real difference.
Explore boldly. Think broadly.
At UA, graduate research is more than advancing knowledge—it’s about advancing you. Work alongside accomplished faculty, collaborate with driven peers, and gain hands-on experience that prepares you to move forward with confidence.
Graduate research at The University of Akron connects people, ideas and purpose.
Research Excellence with Real-World Impact
Across every college, students collaborate with faculty, industry leaders, and community partners on research that matters—whether in labs, studios, clinics, or the field. With seven research colleges, 11 institutes, and 30 research centers, UA offers a dynamic network where disciplines intersect and innovation thrives.
The result: meaningful, hands-on experiences that deepen expertise and expand impact—locally and globally.
Proven Impact
UA ranks among Ohio’s top patent-producing universities and is nationally recognized by the Nature Index for high-quality research—affirming its position as Northeast Ohio’s leading public research institution.
Where Research Meets the Marketplace
At the College of Business, your research experience starts now—not after graduation.
Work with real clients. Tackle real business challenges. Gain hands-on experience that translates directly to the workplace. Faculty bring strong industry connections into the classroom, ensuring your research is relevant, current, and immediately applicable.
Take your work further in spaces like the Suarez Applied Marketing Research Laboratories, where you’ll use advanced tools—including eye-tracking, facial analysis, and behavioral research technology—to build in-demand skills that help you stand out and move confidently into what’s next.
One College. Endless Paths of Discovery.
As UA’s largest and oldest college, the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences offers expansive research opportunities across the sciences, humanities, and arts—from biology, chemistry, psychology, and political science to performing and visual arts.
Whether you’re in a lab, a studio, or the field, you’ll explore meaningful questions and generate knowledge that reaches far beyond the classroom.
Through centers and institutes focused on environmental studies, applied politics, intelligence and security, literacy, and lifespan development, you’ll connect your ideas to real-world impact. You’ll also learn from faculty who are shaping their fields—with more than a quarter ranked among the top 2% of scientists worldwide (Stanford University study).
Where Evidence Meets Empathy
At the College of Health and Human Sciences, your graduate research is grounded in impact.
From nursing and public health to social work, counseling, nutrition, exercise science, and speech-language pathology, you’ll prepare for a career dedicated to improving lives and strengthening communities.
Through partnerships with local health systems, agencies, and organizations, you’ll gain hands-on experience in real-world settings. State-of-the-art simulation labs, clinical placements, and collaborative learning environments ensure you graduate with the skills, confidence, and compassion to lead in your field—and say YES to work that truly matters.
Define What’s Next in Engineering
At the College of Engineering and Polymer Science, curiosity meets real-world challenge.
Research and education go hand in hand as you create, test, and apply solutions to global needs—from advanced materials and manufacturing to cybersecurity, space exploration, medical devices, and infrastructure. You’ll collaborate on multidisciplinary teams and learn in state-of-the-art labs alongside faculty who bring both cutting-edge research and industry expertise to every project.
With support from national agencies and partnerships with organizations like Goodyear, NASA, and Parker Hannifin, your work is directly connected to the industries shaping the future.
Recognized as the No. 1 university in the world for polymer science and plastics engineering (EduRank), UA also leads in innovation, with hundreds of active patents and startups driven by faculty and student research.