Pillar: World-Changing Research
Advance knowledge, pursue groundbreaking discoveries, and shape the future through research, scholarship, and creative endeavors that amplify our interdisciplinary strengths and address pressing global challenges.
At RIT, we pursue research through purpose- and curiosity-driven discovery, advancing knowledge in pursuit of innovations that improve our world. Through a decade of significant growth, RIT has established a robust foundation for the next wave of groundbreaking research. The interplay of curiosity, creativity, and innovation is the underpinning that nourishes a culture where novel ideas develop into interventions that transform and even create new fields and industries. We will accelerate our research activity by leveraging our current strengths and supporting the exploration and growth of new interdisciplinary areas.
To fuel this momentum, we will expand our Ph.D. programs to attract and develop the next generation of scholars and innovators; attract and retain top faculty whose research and creativity drive innovation and shape a better future; strengthen the infrastructure that empowers faculty and students to pursue ambitious projects; and harness the transformative power of AI to catalyze discovery across disciplines. These efforts will remove barriers to high-level achievement and position RIT as a hub for bold, collaborative world-changing research.
We are committed to amplifying the impact of our research by accelerating the translation of knowledge into real-world solutions. RIT’s discoveries will transform existing disciplines and forge new frontiers that drive economic growth, inform public policy, and inspire a better future. Through these efforts, RIT will be recognized as a premier leader in research that changes the world, positioning our scholars as the primary architects of a more equitable and prosperous tomorrow.
Strategic Action:
Advance Creative and Technological Frontiers
Conduct world-changing research by strategically investing in interdisciplinary research and creative endeavors that harness RIT’s unique strengths in technology, the arts, and design—transforming existing fields, pioneering new ones, and shaping the frontiers of AI and beyond.
RIT will empower faculty and researchers to push the boundaries of knowledge and creativity by strategically investing in interdisciplinary research and scholarship. Building on the success of existing interdisciplinary centers, we will establish new strategic research centers and institutes that position RIT as a leader in emerging fields.
To do this, we recognize that support—from resources and mentorship to increased incentives and the removal of barriers—is needed for our faculty and research scholars to succeed. Through these efforts and leveraging AI, RIT will nourish a research culture that drives innovation, transforms existing fields, and shapes entirely new ones—advancing creative and technological frontiers that have a lasting impact on society.
Strategic Action:
Attract and Retain Exceptional Research-Active Faculty
Attract and retain exceptional faculty whose research excellence, scholarly impact, and creative inquiry advance breakthrough discoveries that not only fuel innovation but serve as a catalyst for a better future.
RIT will elevate our global impact by investing in the complete lifecycle of faculty excellence—from empowering our established scholars and recruiting new visionaries to creating support systems that develop and nurture their success across all aspects of the research ecosystem. We will attract renowned talent through competitive recruitment and reinvest in our current faculty by providing the robust infrastructure, early-career flexibility, and advanced mentorship necessary for long-term success. By bridging the gap between discovery and application, we will enable researchers to scale their innovations and transform ambitious ideas into tangible global solutions.
Strategic Action:
Strengthen the Research Ecosystem
Build a world-class research and scholarship support infrastructure that spans the spectrum—from funding to impact.
RIT will build a world-class research infrastructure that empowers faculty and students to focus on discovery and innovation. To achieve this, we will invest in the systems, resources, and staff needed to streamline the research process, from identifying funding opportunities and managing compliance and reporting to oversight of large-scale research centers so that researchers can devote their energy to advancing knowledge. By strengthening the research ecosystem, RIT will enable faculty and students to pursue bold ideas with confidence, accelerate groundbreaking discoveries, and amplify the impact of research across disciplines.
Strategic Action:
Cultivate the Next Generation of Scholars
Expand and sustain a strong pipeline of student scholars who actively contribute to discovery, creative inquiry, and the growth of the university’s research enterprise.
RIT will increase the number of graduate and undergraduate student researchers, offering them engagement opportunities early in their academic journey and support throughout. From undergraduate research experiences to advanced graduate study, we will build upon our campus culture of collaboration, professional development, and mentorship. Through these efforts and more, RIT will prepare the next generation of scholars to lead in research, creative endeavors, and innovation.
Strategic Action:
Increase Translational and Entrepreneurial Activities
Support and encourage the translation and dissemination of research into intellectual property, commercialization opportunities, and entrepreneurial ventures to amplify the societal and economic impact of our discoveries.
RIT will amplify the societal and economic impact of our research by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, building strong partnerships with industry, government, and community stakeholders, and creating clear pathways for commercialization and entrepreneurial ventures. We will advance strategies such as open-access publishing, technology transfer, and policy engagement to ensure discoveries move from labs and studios to real-world solutions and reach audiences where they can make the greatest impact. Through these efforts, RIT will transform groundbreaking ideas into innovations that improve lives.
Illuminating Lost History
RIT’s Cultural Heritage Imaging Lab developed MISHA, a low-cost, open-source multispectral imaging system launched in 2024 with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. This portable tool captures 16 wavelengths of light in under a minute, revealing hidden features such as faded text and underdrawings on manuscripts, maps, and artifacts. Students and faculty from RIT collaborate across disciplines, training professionals through summer seminars and international conferences.
Students and Researchers Collaborate to Improve Deaf Health
RIT’s Deaf Health Laboratory, part of the Deaf Health Care and Biomedical Sciences Hub (Deaf Hub) at National Technical Institute for the Deaf, advances research that strengthens health equity for Deaf and hard‑of‑hearing communities. Established in 2022, the Deaf Hub fosters Deaf representation in biomedical fields, supports a network of Deaf scientists and mentors, and engages students in inquiry that drives improved health outcomes.
Tackling the Macro Problem of Microplastics
RIT co-leads a $10 million multidisciplinary effort with the University of Rochester to combat microplastic pollution in the Great Lakes. Supported by NOAA, NSF, and other agencies, the initiative unites mathematicians, ecologists, chemists, engineers, and students to track how plastic waste—from wrappers to cigarette butts—breaks down into microplastics and accumulates in lakes and shorelines. Using tools like LittaTraps and Seabins, team members collect and analyze debris to study polymer breakdown and environmental impact.
Manifesting Quantum
RIT researchers are pushing the boundaries of quantum technology and navigating the next frontier of physics. By advancing quantum science and partnering with industry, this initiative accelerates the commercialization of innovative technologies and entrepreneurial ventures, delivering solutions that will amplify societal and economic impact while reshaping industries such as communication, computing, and security.