Curiosity can change everything
Within the College of LAS, our constant curiosity propels us to investigate so that we can seek a better tomorrow, today.
Our 600+ faculty are trying new things, testing theories, and challenging conventions—all while empowering students to think creatively and transform the future.
Research
This year, LAS received $62 million in research funding—but that number is nothing compared to the impact our research will have on our state. Our society. Our students.
In LAS, our faculty and students make a difference in every field, from the innovative labs of biology to the celebrations of culture through world literature. We're investigating renewable energy sources, studying the ways we interact to help bridge divides, investigating history—and making it.
LAS faculty members are innovative thinkers who are breaking ground across the sciences, humanities, and social sciences. They're driven pioneers recognized with prestigious accolades like the National Medal of Science, Pulitzer Prizes, and Nobel Laureates; fellowships including Guggenheim Fellowships and National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowships; and memberships to elite organizations including the National Academy of Sciences and American Academy of Arts and Sciences. They play an integral role in the campus’s interdisciplinary research institutes, including:
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
- Carl R. Woese Institute of Genomic Biology
- Humanities Research Institute
- Institute of Sustainability, Energy, and the Environment
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications
The interdisciplinary approach at the heart of much LAS research encourages original thinking and the ingenuity to tackle complex challenges. And our faculty members don't work alone—through hands-on research opportunities, undergraduate and graduate students engage in novel experimentation that empowers them to be part of this groundbreaking work, driving real change in the world.
Mathematical, life, and physical sciences
LAS researchers are building on the foundations of mathematical and scientific knowledge and applying it to topics like biology, mathematics, statistics, geography, geology, and more.
Humanities
LAS humanities faculty delve deep into the complexities of human life. They explore the challenges individuals face and how they respond through the power of literature and writing, revealing the novel ways people navigate their lived experiences.
Social and behavioral sciences
LAS faculty study society, relationships, and human behaviors. They're shattering longstanding myths about how humans interact and providing new guidance about how we learn and process the world.
Student opportunities
Every day, LAS researchers propel our understanding of the world forward through their research and creative activity. They explore and innovate, challenge and create, and make our world a better place. Read about the breadth and depth of LAS faculty expertise and how they're utilizing their knowledge to change the world.
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Dean's Distinguished Lecture series
The LAS Dean’s Distinguished Lecture series provides an opportunity for members of the LAS community and the broader campus community to hear from some of the college’s most distinguished faculty. Talks are appropriate for people of all backgrounds, so previous knowledge in a specific topic is not required.