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Organized Research Units

Organized Research Units (ORUs) promote multidisciplinary research and investigation across departments and divisions, providing a supportive infrastructure for endeavors that span diverse areas of academic interest.

The Vice Chancellors for Research, Health Sciences and Marine Sciences have primary oversight of the ORUs in their respective areas. The Vice Chancellor for Research consults closely with the Executive Vice Chancellor in managing the portfolio of general campus ORUs. 

Campus

  • Synthetic Biology Institute

    Synthetic Biology Institute

    SBI focuses on understanding the dynamic properties of biological regulatory circuits that control their homeostasis and signal responsiveness.
  • Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences

    Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences

    Areas of specialization include high-energy astrophysics, radio astronomy, theoretical astrophysics, cosmology, solar physics and space plasma physics.
  • Center for Circadian Biology

    Center for Circadian Biology

    CCB's mission is to foster innovative research that reveals the mechanisms, general principles and applications of biological rhythms in diverse organisms.
  • Center for Comparative Immigration Studies

    Center for Comparative Immigration Studies

    CCIS is the only academic center in the U.S. specializing in international migration from a broad geographical as well as interdisciplinary perspective.
  • Center for Energy Research

    Center for Energy Research

    CER's mission is to create solutions for the growing challenges of energy supply, distribution and utilization through interdisciplinary research and education.
  • Center for Human Development

    Center for Human Development

    CHD provides resources to the university community with research interests in human development and promotes intellectual exchange among developmental scholars.
  • Center for Memory and Recording Research

    Center for Memory and Recording Research

    CMRR pushes the frontiers of scientific knowledge and engineering technology to meet society's need for high-performing, reliable and secure information storage systems.
  • Institute of Engineering in Medicine

    Institute of Engineering in Medicine

    IEM's objective is to translate creative ideas into clinical medicine and novel products that will transform patient care and improve health and well-being.
  • Institute for Neural Computation

    Institute for Neural Computation

    INC conducts R&D for a new generation of massive parallel computers in areas spanning neuroscience, AI, mathematics, economics and computer engineering.
  • Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind

    Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind

    KIBM supports research into the evolution and mechanisms of human cognition, from the brain's physical machinery to the experiences and behaviors called the mind.

School of Medicine

  • Glycobiology Research and Training Center

    Glycobiology Research and Training Center

    GRTC facilitates research, training and collaboration among researchers who study the molecular and cellular biology of glycans and their roles in health and disease.

Scripps Institution of Oceanography