Research and Innovation

Researchers at the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance collaborating with Stanford Athletics to gather data from student-athletes to find ways to improve athletic performance.

Stanford research is remarkable in both its breadth and depth, with programs that reflect the expertise, creativity, and initiative of the faculty who set the research agenda. Faculty have a long tradition of engaging with their colleagues and students within Stanford’s schools and across disciplines.

Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Research

Vice Provost and Dean of Research: David M. Studdert

There are 15 independent laboratories, centers, and institutes under the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Research that provide physical and intellectual intersections between schools and disciplines. These institutes are in line with Stanford’s long-standing tradition of crossing boundaries to tackle large problems, engaging faculty and their students in collaborations that range from international and economic studies to studies on the environment, energy, and health.

Social Science Centers

Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (CASBS)
Stanford Center on Longevity (SCL)

Policy Institutes

Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI)
Stanford Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI)
Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR)

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Laboratories and Institutes

E. L. Ginzton Laboratory
Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials (GLAM)
Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (KIPAC)
Sarafan Chemistry, Engineering, and Medicine for Human Health (ChEM-H)
Stanford Bio-X
Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences (SIMES)
The Stanford PULSE Institute
Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance
Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
W. W. Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory (HEPL)

Other Special Research Centers

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory operated by Stanford. The lab shares 18 joint faculty members with the university and several joint research centers that focus on cosmology and astrophysics, materials and energy science, catalysis, batteries, ultrafast science, and cryogenic electron microscopy. SLAC’s mission is to explore how the universe works at the biggest, smallest, and fastest scales and invent powerful tools used by researchers around the globe. As world leaders in ultrafast science and bold explorers of the physics of the universe, the lab forges new ground in understanding our origins and building a healthier and more sustainable future. SLAC’s discovery and innovation help develop new materials and chemical processes and open unprecedented views of the cosmos and life’s most delicate machinery. Building on more than 60 years of visionary research, SLAC helps shape the future by advancing areas such as quantum technology, fusion energy, scientific computing, and the development of next-generation accelerators.

Hoover Institution

Established in 1919 by Herbert Hoover—a member of Stanford’s Pioneer Class of 1895 and the 31st U.S. president. Former Stanford Provost and 66th U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice assumed the role of director on September 1, 2020. From its initial charge to collect materials documenting the experience of war and the pursuit of peace, the institution stands today as the world’s preeminent archive and public policy think tank focused on research and ideas advancing freedom, private enterprise, and limited government. Visit the Hoover Institution to learn more.

Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve

Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve (‘Ootchamin ‘Ooyakma), located in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains about 15 minutes from the main Stanford campus, encompasses 1,193 acres and provides a natural classroom and laboratory for ecosystem research and teaching. Docent-led tours are offered to groups aligned with the preserve’s mission to contribute to the understanding of Earth’s natural systems through research, education, and stewardship of the preserve’s resources.

Hopkins Marine Station

Hopkins Marine Station opened in 1892 as the first marine research facility on the Pacific Coast and the third in the United States. Located on Monterey Bay, Hopkins is home to marine research and study by 12 faculty members across the Oceans and Biology departments. It also serves as the home of Stanford’s scientific scuba diving and boating programs.