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
SBI focuses on understanding the dynamic properties of biological regulatory circuits that control their homeostasis and signal responsiveness.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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

Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine
CMBB is a research division dedicated to the exploration of the novel and diverse resources of the ocean.
Climate, Atmospheric Science and Physical Oceanography Research
CASPO engages in research involving the physical ocean-atmosphere system.
Geosciences Research Division
GRD interests cover atmospheric, marine and solid Earth sciences. Research activities encompass modeling studies, laboratory experiments and field-based expeditions.
Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics
IGPP seeks to promote basic research involved in understanding the structure, origin and evolution of the solar system and its planets.
Integrative Oceanography Division
Our research encompasses field work, laboratory experimentation and computer modeling to understand the underlying dynamics of complex ocean systems.
Marine Biology Research Division
MBRD consists of research laboratories in cell and developmental biology, ecology and evolutionary biology, microbiology and physiology of marine organisms.
Marine Physical Laboratory
MPL maintains a strong multidisciplinary program consisting entirely of sponsored exploratory and technology-based oceanographic research and scientific development.