As the largest R1 research university in North Texas, UNT is a powerful engine of discovery and an essential asset for our region, our state, and our nation, driving new knowledge and insights that bridge traditional academic disciplines.

From music to business, education to engineering, and in scores of other disciplines, our faculty are recognized leaders, working at the cutting edge of technical and artistic endeavors and infusing their classrooms and studios with creativity and discovery at the frontiers of human knowledge and performance. We are building on our established strengths, including materials science, visual arts, supply chain and logistics, music, information science, and advanced manufacturing, while expanding our work into emerging fields critical to the future of Texas.

For our students, the scope of UNT research and innovation creates a unique breadth of educational opportunities as our students collaborate with peers, faculty members, employers, and community leaders to develop new insights, technologies, and artistic contributions. These experiences prepare our students to excel and lead through change.

To center our mission in research and discovery, we will:
  • Tackle Texas’ major challenges: Prioritize research in fields most important to Texas’ future by building on our existing strengths while expanding in artificial intelligence, aerospace, semiconductors, cancer, health care, logistics, and other fields to translate insights into tangible benefits.
  • Expand student research opportunities: Strengthen graduate education while expanding opportunities for students at all levels to engage directly in research, scholarship, and creative arts and design with UNT faculty and DFW partners.
  • Amplify human insights with technology: Apply artificial intelligence, data science, and digital transformation to accelerate research breakthroughs and prepare students for a workforce increasingly defined by rapid technological change.
  • Foster curiosity and problem solving: Emphasize experimentation, discovery, and innovation across our curriculum and campus life so every student builds confidence as a creative problem-solver who approaches challenges with curiosity and resilience.

 
 
 
  • UNT professor Marcus Young and his student Sophia Cooper work on hypersonic-related research.

    Soaring Beyond Sound

    As needs for hypersonic-capable aerospace vehicles increase, UNT researchers are developing materials that can withstand higher Mach speeds leading to ultrahigh surface temperatures and extreme environments. This work is possible thanks to a team of engineering experts and top-rate facilities across UNT such as the Materials Research Facility and Center for Agile and Adaptive Additive Manufacturing.

  • Professor Shengqian Ma in his lab, image courtesy of TAMEST

    Removing Oil from Oceans

    Professor Shengqian Ma, a global leader in nanoporous materials research, earned the 2024 Edith and Peter O'Donnell Award in Physical Sciences from the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology (TAMEST). He was chosen for his innovative work in the field of decontamination, which was sparked by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and explores solutions for removing oil from the ocean. Ma is UNT’s first recipient of the award.

  • Seemaparevez Shaik working with a 3D printer in The Spark

    Advancing Cybersecurity

    The U.S. National Security Agency designated UNT as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research, which UNT first earned in 2012. The renewed recognition runs through 2029 and recognizes institutions that include cybersecurity in their doctoral curricula and whose research strengthens the nation’s cyber defense. UNT is one of 5 universities in Texas to earn the honor and one of only 28 nationwide to have it approved for more than 15 years in a row.

  • A student and instructor working with a drone at UNT's CIIMS

    Transforming Mobility

    The UNT Advanced Air Mobility test facility, which allows researchers to shape the future or unmanned autonomous vehicles, is part of UNT’s Center of Integrated Intelligent Mobility Systems (CIIMS), an interdisciplinary research endeavor paving the way for the future of transportation and mobility.

  • Assistant professor Brian Meckes in the lab

    Treating Diseases

    Biomedical engineering faculty member Brian Meckes researches how nanoparticle therapies could find better treatment for conditions like cancer. His work earned him a prestigious Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award from Oak Ridge Associated Universities, which provides seed money for research to junior faculty members in multiple disciplines. Multiple UNT professors have earned this competitive award.

  • Students work on semiconductor-related research at UNT's Discovery Park

    Creating Next-Gen Semiconductors

    UNT launched its Center for Microelectronics in Extreme Environments to advance next-generation semiconductor development, support industry growth, and train the future workforce. Bringing together expertise from more than a dozen faculty members across disciplines, the center’s research focuses on creating semiconductors for high-powered electronic devices.