Inspiring Versatile Innovators

Stanford has been inspiring engineering excellence since its inception, when founders Jane and Leland Stanford made engineering a foundational part of the curriculum. The School of Engineering was created in 1925, launching a century of innovation. From health care to computing to energy, technologies developed by Stanford Engineering faculty and their collaborators have changed the world — and so have the students educated here. 

The original School of Engineering leaders sought to offer well-rounded instruction that would shape graduates who were resourceful, thoughtful, and prepared for leadership. Today’s Stanford Engineering students receive a world-class education not only in technical skills, but also in creativity, cultural awareness, and entrepreneurship. Alumni have gone on to discover breakthroughs, found companies, strengthen communities, and teach the next generation of engineers.

Exploring the Depths

Nearly a kilometer beneath the ocean’s surface, off the coast of Cannes, France, in 2022, OceanOneK became the first humanoid robot to touch the deep seafloor. This remarkable robot helps humans explore otherwise unreachable underwater locations, including historic ship and plane wrecks, using touch-based feedback and optical tools that allow researchers to experience the environment as if they were there. As the OceanOne team prepares for OceanOneK’s future expeditions, they will run experiments in a new Stanford Robotics Center aquarium.

Space for Invention

The Robert Rosenkranz Science and Engineering Quad creates an interconnected ecosystem for learning and research. The complex, which opened in 2014, evokes classic Stanford architecture while housing dozens of state-of-the-art labs and centers. The Stanford Robotics Center opened in the basement of the David Packard Electrical Engineering building in 2024, adding space for advanced research in fields such as medical science, manufacturing, and education. The nearby Computing and Data Science Building (CoDa), completed in 2025, shares the quad’s collaborative focus. 

Transformative Medical Research

Stanford researchers are leading revolutionary advances in health sciences. Karl Deisseroth, a professor of bioengineering and of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is known for pioneering two tools for brain research: optogenetics, which activates neurons using light, and CLARITY, which makes tissues transparent so researchers can study brain structures in 3D. Other innovators include professor of mechanical engineering Allison Okamura, who develops haptic technology for use in robotic surgery and assistive physical therapy, and professor of chemical engineering Zhenan Bao, who designs soft, stretchable circuits for biomedical applications.