Research
We dream big, but we don’t stop there. We’re working smarter and faster to make molecular discoveries and deliver results.
Making Molecular Breakthroughs
Molecules make up everything around us, from the air we breathe to our own bodies. It’s critical for scientists from many disciplines to work together to understand and transform these building blocks of life. Their discoveries will lead to the development of the next generation of molecules, which will become the medicines and materials we need for a healthier tomorrow.
NC State’s Integrative Sciences Initiative (ISI) brings together chemists, biochemists, mathematicians, physicists and engineers from across campus to address real-world challenges in areas like human health and sustainability through molecular science.
In Woodson Hall — the hub of ISI — our interdisciplinary scientists will use state-of-the-art instrumentation to:
- Produce visual representations of molecules
- Assemble molecules to create new medicines and materials
- Usher the new products into the marketplace
A Catalyst for Discovery
Finding Solutions Faster
Increased accessibility to colleagues from different disciplines in Woodson Hall — and to advanced technology not currently available at NC State or the Research Triangle — will create a more efficient research process.
Our scientists will be able to automate their experiments, run them remotely and analyze their data faster by leveraging robotics, machine learning and artificial intelligence to build self-driving labs.
These improvements will shorten the time it takes to make new discoveries from several years down to months or even weeks, allowing us to more quickly get new products into the hands of those who need them.
Shaping the Science of Self-Driving Labs
Key Partnerships, Crucial Training
Our collaborative efforts will extend beyond the walls of Woodson Hall. We maintain close ties to industry partners in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park. These relationships inform ISI’s goals, enabling us to deliver outputs tailored to society’s needs — and to give our students relevant research experience to launch their future careers.
Students will spend much of their lab time studying tiny molecular structures, but they’ll see how their work contributes to something much bigger. ISI will give them a unique opportunity to work on cutting-edge research done in collaboration with industry partners, under the supervision of world-class faculty. In the process, they’ll cultivate skills in areas like automation, engage with scientists across different disciplines and learn to effectively communicate their findings to the public. These are all qualities our industry partners — which are also our students’ potential future employers — repeatedly say they value.