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Centers

To complement and strengthen the universitys institutes of research excellence, several interdisciplinary science and engineering research centers were established to pursue basic and applied research on problems of significant state and national interest. Five of these centers are organized under research institutes.

• The Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) educates new energy professionals; influences decision proccesses concerning the appropriate energy mix and policy options; conduct energy research; and, engage the energy industry to ensure the nation's energy security with competitive, secure and sustainable energy systems.
   
• The Center for Applied Thermodynamic Studies (CATS) focuses on the development of standard, reference quality and thermodynamic property formulations for fluids of engineering interest. These formulations include thermodynamic equations of state and correlations for transport properties, i.e., thermal conductivity, viscosity and surface tension. CATS also facilitates research collaborations between engineers at UI and Washington State University.
   
• The Center for Hazardous Waste Remediation Research was established to promote remediation research through EBI and IWRRI. The center addresses the critical issue of cleanup of contaminated soils, surface waters and groundwaters. Research conducted through the center focuses on the development and field application of novel technologies for hazardous waste remediation in the areas of site characterization, bioremediation, and chemical and geochemical remediation. There are over 30 UI researchers from 10 disciplines working cooperatively in this research.
   
• The Center for Intelligent Systems Research (CISR), established within the MRCI, coordinates research, teaching and outreach in the field of intelligent, autonomous electrical, mechanical and chemical systems, including self-propelled vehicles operating under on-board computer control.
   
• The Center for Salmonid and Freshwater Species at Risk was established as a research adjunct of the ARI. The center is housed in the state-of-the-art experiment station in Hagerman. The center conducts research in molecular genetics and population biology to assist in the development of national conservation measures that will enable aquatic species from becoming endangered.
   
• The Center for Secure and Dependable Systems (CSDS) operates as a center in the Microelectronics Research and Communications Institute (MRCI). CSDS concentrates on computer-related security education and research and is recognized by the National Security Agency as a Center of Excellence in Information Assurance Education. CSDS faculty conduct research in the areas of system defense, intrusion detection, critical infrastructure protection, secure protocols, network security, evolutionary algorithms, computer forensics, reliability, and fault tolerance.
   
• The Center for Sustainable Aquaculture at ARI's Hagerman Fish Culture Experiment Station conducts research aimed at improving the efficiency of aquaculture and at reducing the impacts of aquaculture on the aquatic environment. Nutrition and feeds research involves the continued development of environmentally-friendly feeds, plus development of alternate feed ingredients. Fish disease, pathology, and immunology research is also conducted at the station, in collaboration with industry and academic partners.
  
  
• The Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Molecular and Cellular Basis of Host-Pathogen Interaction funds University of Idaho research in microbial pathogenesis. Included are five investigators in the Department of Microbiology, Molecular Biology & Biochemistry and Department of Animal Veterinary Science. They form the core of the UI Center of Biomedical Research Excellence to Study the Molecular and Cellular Basis of Host-Pathogen Interactions. The center will strengthen and diversify this core to establish Idaho as a premier institution with this focus.
  
  
• The Institute for Materials and Advanced Processes (IMAP) coordinates research in the area of advanced materials and processes to produce these types of materials. This includes materials both for structural applications (e.g. in automobiles and aircraft) and devices (e.g. magnetic memory devices). The institute is the focal point of basic and applied advanced materials and processes research from 3 colleges on the U of I campus. The institute also coordinates research between Idaho and neighboring state institutions and national laboratories (e.g. Battelle PNNL and INEL).