WSU Research

Addressing the challenges of today to create a better future.

In alignment with our land-grant mission, we support research, scholarship, and creative activity that enriches the lives of our communities, from Washington to the world.

Partnership and engagement with the communities that WSU serves are key to answering pressing questions and solving difficult real-world problems. WSU researchers collaborate with communities, industry partners, Tribal nations, and other researchers around the world to catalyze change. 

Learn about a few specific examples:

The Sustainable Future of Flight

The race to decarbonize aviation is reshaping transportation, energy, and aerospace. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a crucial solution. Through research, workforce development, and strategic partnerships, WSU is leading the transformation of SAF from innovation to impact.

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Resilient Livestock Program

WSU’s Resilient Livestock Program advances precision gene-editing technologies to improve livestock health, productivity, and resilience while supporting food security and agricultural sustainability.  

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Healthy Farming, Healthy Food

Through interdisciplinary research connecting soil health, agricultural resilience, food system sustainability, and human health, WSU researchers are improving access to nutritious, affordable whole-grain foods, while evaluating their impacts from the farm to the consumer.

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Honey Bee + Pollinators Program

The Bee Program at WSU studies solutions to the most pressing issues facing honey bees and other bee pollinators today, supporting sustainable agriculture, the beekeeping industry, and conservation. 

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Resilient Agriculture

WSU is helping agriculture thrive in a changing energy landscape by integrating renewable energy production with food production, sustainable waste management, and rural economic development.

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The Future of Salmon

Salmon are among Washington’s most important natural resources — a keystone species with a vital role in ecosystems throughout the Pacific Northwest. WSU research strengthens sustainable aquaculture and develops innovative solutions to emerging environmental challenges facing salmon. 

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All forms of research, scholarship, and creative activity are valued and supported throughout the WSU research enterprise — from foundational research to community-engaged partnerships. We promote interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research between the social sciences, engineering, the physical sciences, the arts, the humanities, and life and health sciences across all campuses.

These relationships generate dynamic research strengths that uniquely position WSU to do strategic and socially impactful research. Learn more about our strengths, our impact, and our statewide expertise.

Research Strengths

WSU research spans a broad range of topics, including: Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture; Community and Public Health; Biomedical, Life Sciences, and Biotechnology; Environmental Sciences and Energy Futures; Next Generation Materials and Advanced Manufacturing; and AI/ML and Robotics.

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Research Impact

WSU research improves the lives of people across Washington State and beyond — impacting farmers, communities, energy grids, law enforcement, healthcare, schools, and more.

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Statewide Expertise

Via campuses, centers, and extensions throughout Washington state, WSU advances research and creative activities for the benefit of people everywhere.

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