First
The first vaccine for preventing a human cancer began in a Rochester laboratory.
For brilliant minds
Fueling the individuals, ideas, and innovations that move the world forward.
“Research benefits people, saves lives, improves lives, comes up with new technologies and innovations that make the world better for all of us. You never know which discoveries will turn out to change the world.”
—Stephen Dewhurst
Vice President for Research
Largest
The largest academic laser in the world is housed in our Laboratory for Laser Energetics.
Boundless
In 2025, we committed $8.5 million to launching four new transdisciplinary research centers.
Our priorities
Tomorrow’s greatest discoveries begin here—and our faculty and researchers are at the forefront. Your support fuels their exceptional talent, enabling them to pursue the ideas, technologies, and cures that improve lives everywhere.
Endowed professorships
Endowments provide critical—and permanent—sources of funding that enable us to attract and retain the best and brightest faculty, support their teaching, and power their research. We have a bold plan to establish 150 new professorships, igniting our discovery pipeline and raising the University’s global reputation.
Faculty funds
Rochester’s scholars and researchers don’t settle for what is—they’re inspired by what could be. Faculty support, such as rising star funds for early-career faculty and dean’s innovation funds, provide flexibility to address needs and seize opportunities as they arise.
Research at Rochester
As a Tier 1 research university, our students, faculty, and staff conduct some of the highest volume of research activity in the United States. Seed funding for pilot and
moonshot projects empowers creative and bold research activity that sparks discovery and innovation.
Centers of excellence
As part of the Boundless Possibility strategic plan, the University has committed $8.5 million to establish four new transdisciplinary research centers, selected through a rigorous process that included external review. The initiative leverages the University’s distinctive strengths to solve some of humanities most complex challenges.
Joanne Y. Law ’98 establishes distinguished professorship in optics
Science serving humanity
Explore some key areas where our research is making a real difference.
Optics and lasers
New technology is rapidly improving cataract surgery—the world’s most common eye procedure—and helping restore sight.
Aging science
Rochester has been named one of just eight NIH-funded centers in the nation dedicated to studying the biology of aging.
Bio-solutions
Society faces big problems in agriculture, energy, healthcare, and manufacturing that our researchers are solving through a combination of biology and engineering.
Healthy communities
We’re pioneering studies and contributing to national efforts to address conditions, diseases, and other threats to a long, healthy life.
AI for public good
Artificial intelligence is an undeniably powerful tool that our researchers are leveraging to drive innovation and advancement across disciplines.
Fusion and energy
How we power the world is an increasingly pressing issue, and our researchers are working on solutions that are clean, safe, and virtually unlimited.
Music, sound, and tech
Combining Rochester’s strengths in music, engineering, and science, Soundspace is an institute that will extend the technical and artistic abilities of music and sound
Let’s talk
Get on the guest list
Join us as we launch For Ever Better in a city near you! Help us reach our goal of engaging 250,000 alumni, grateful patients, and friends during the campaign. With events on campus, online, and around the world, there are many ways to show up for Rochester.