Research Areas & Priorities

Faculty, researchers, and staff at the School of Engineering drive discovery and innovation across a broad spectrum of disciplines.

Three scientists in lab coats and safety glasses work together on equipment with red liquid in a modern laboratory, surrounded by shelves and laboratory glassware.

Supported by world-class resources and an ecosystem built for collaboration, they work at the intersections of fields—where breakthrough ideas take shape.

In alignment with President Sally Kornbluth’s vision, the School has identified key research priorities where MIT engineers can make the greatest national and global impact, while remaining agile as new challenges and opportunities arise.

A scientist wearing safety glasses and white gloves examines a petri dish with bacterial colonies, holding it up to the light in a laboratory setting.

Engineering research at MIT extends far beyond these four priorities. Across the School, faculty and researchers are advancing work in fields ranging from robotics and quantum science to materials, transportation, space systems, and more. Explore some of the many research areas where MIT engineers are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

 

A close-up of a quantum computers intricate gold and copper components, wires, and cooling systems, set in a dimly lit lab with electronic equipment visible in the background.
Two scientists in a lab coat and gloves work together on a complex experiment involving tubes, wires, and lab equipment, surrounded by shelves with various scientific supplies.
A man stands confidently behind a lab bench in a bright, modern laboratory filled with scientific equipment, glass containers, and machinery, with pipes and devices visible in the background.
A person holds a magnifying glass over an electronic circuit board, closely examining its components in a brightly lit workspace.