Research

Research That Improves Lives

At The University of Texas at Tyler, research leads to discovery — uncovering something new that can transform the future. Yet, innovation doesn’t end there and instead serves as a pathway for possibility, one that can improve the quality of life locally as well as throughout the state and the nation. These efforts shape healthcare delivered through UT Health East Texas, our outreach efforts, our region’s advancements in sustainability and preserving ecosystems, and by influencing education and industry partnerships.

Explore our research areas, how our discoveries influence the future of East Texas and ways students can get involved.

About Research at The University of Texas at Tyler

The University of Texas at Tyler is designated an R2 research institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. This classification indicates UT Tyler is a university with very high research activity. UT Tyler has the highest Carnegie classification in East Texas.

Office of Research, Scholarship, and Sponsored Programs

The Office of Research, Scholarship, and Sponsored Programs helps faculty and staff navigate the increasingly complex and competitive world of external funding sources, supporting and guiding their research goals in the process.

Northeast Texas Consortium and the Center for Educational Technologies

UT Tyler is a member of the Northeast Texas Consortium, a collaborative effort of 13 higher education institutions that bring a wide range of instruction to 50 Northeast Texas counties that are home to 46% of the state’s rural population. Collaboration not only shapes educational quality and research but also creates a highly trained regional workforce, supports local businesses and advances technology use.

Research Design and Data Analysis Lab

The Research Design and Data Analysis Lab supports research at UT Tyler by providing students, faculty and staff with expert guidance in developing research designs and methods and conducting data analyses based on quantitative, qualitative and mixed method approaches.

Research Areas

UT Tyler research is conducted by five colleges and three schools.

InTune Mobile Clinic 2020 COVID-19 Screening at UT Tyler

Clinical Research

The UT Tyler Health Science Center’s robust clinical research programs in trauma, pulmonary medicine, cardiology, neurology, oncology and orthopedics enhance treatment options and advance medical knowledge to improve the quality of life for patients now and in the future.

Biomedical Research

The innovative research performed at the UT Tyler Health Science Center each day plays a significant role in how diseases are treated and prevented. Scientific areas include immunology, cancer, lung injuries and diseases and microbiology.

Microbiology

The Department of Cell and Molecular Biology at the UT Tyler Health Science Center conducts clinical and basic research on nontuberculous mycobacteria and other aerobic actinomycetes. The laboratory has achieved a worldwide reputation for excellence in susceptibility testing, identification and treatment.

Students study human anatomy in a biology class at The University of Texas at Tyler

Lung Health

The Texas Lung Injury Institute’s research advances our understanding of the pathogenesis of lung disease and its treatment, including for severe, currently untreatable conditions.

A biology class with nets at the Lake on The University of Texas at Tyler campus

Environmental Conservation

Through high-quality, high-impact research coupled with intensive undergraduate and graduate education, the Center for Environment, Biodiversity and Conservation is a cross-disciplinary effort focused on preserving biodiversity, decreasing species extinction globally, leading conservation strategies and exploring sustainable solutions and their economic impact.

Researchers from the School of Community and Rural Health tour Southside Waste Water Treatment plant in Tyler, where they'll be carrying out research on the local water system.

Public Health

This Centers for Disease Control and Preparedness-funded registered Laboratory Response Network focuses on improving public health preparedness in response to chemical and biological threats, infectious diseases and other population-threatening hazards.

UT Tyler student wearing safety glasses in an industrial technology lab

Safety and Industry Prevention

Creating a safer world extends to the workplace. The UT Tyler Health Science Center’s Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury Prevention and Education aims to improve the safety and health of agricultural, forestry and fishing workers through research, intervention and education projects. Focusing on occupational and environmental medicine, the Texas Institute of Occupational Safety and Health collaborates with local companies to support safer, healthier workplaces and influences policy that shapes workplace education and training.

Air and Environmental Quality

The Texas Allergy, Indoor Environment and Energy Institute serves as a leader in the research and development of new residential and commercial building technologies to improve indoor air and environmental quality and reduce energy costs.

Engineering

Engineering builds and advances our world through new materials, technologies and applications. UT Tyler’s College of Engineering influences these developments through civil and infrastructure, energy and sustainability, mechanical and biomedical and electrical research, with opportunities open to both undergraduate and graduate students.

Business and Economic Research

The Hibbs Institute for Business and Economic Research helps businesses, regional economic development councils, nonprofits and local governments expand their activity in greater East Texas.

UT Tyler students using computers in a classroom

Social Sciences

The Center for Social Sciences Research engages in and supports projects that make significant scholarly contributions to the fields of archeology, cultural anthropology, conservation, historical preservation and documentation, sociology, economics, criminal justice, public administration and political science.

Data Science

The Data Analytics Lab is a purpose-built facility capable of performing sophisticated analysis of big data using statistics, machine learning, visualization and other tools. Current projects are in the areas of health informatics, textual/financial prediction and sports analytics.

Centers and Outreach

UT Tyler’s research centers and programs play a vital role in supporting the mission of the University. We are dedicated to serving our East Texas community through education, health-related outreach and industry partnerships.

All Research Centers and Outreach Programs

Center for Ethics

East Texas Entrepreneurship Center

Texas Productivity Center

East Texas Center for School-Based Research & Instruction

Center for Economic Education & Financial Literacy

Center for Retail Enterprises

Center for Family and Small Enterprises

Center for Cybersecurity

Leadership Institute

Northeast Texas Center for Rural Community Health

Heartland National TB Center

Getting Involved

Lead the future of East Texas by taking part in research projects on the UT Tyler campus. Learn more about the opportunities available to undergraduate and graduate students:

Undergraduate Research

Research, scholarship and creative endeavors spark new discoveries and position you as a driven innovator once you enter the workforce. Every faculty member is engaged in groundbreaking original scholarship, and as an undergraduate, you can join them to contribute to new solutions.

Research Month

Participate in the Lyceum Research Showcase, East Texas Research Conference, the Celebration of Scholarship and Creativity and 3MT® to showcase your original research and work to the larger community.

Volunteer for Studies

UT Tyler students are invited to volunteer for research studies. Some studies involve answering questions online or in person, and others require physical activity. All posted studies have been approved by the UT Tyler Institutional Review Board.

Honors College

Open to intellectually curious and high-achieving students from all majors, the Honors College emphasizes small, unique courses with engaged faculty and rigorous undergraduate research. Honors graduates are among the most sought-after by employers and graduate schools.

Faculty Profiles

As an assistant professor at the Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy, Dr. May Abdelaziz focuses her research on drug discovery in several fields, with emphasis given to kinases enzymes’ role in cell biology. Additional research interests include the discovery and characterization of allosteric modulators, screening of chemical and natural product libraries, studying enzyme kinetics, mechanisms of inhibition and discovery and analysis of protein-protein interactions in cellular networks.

Lance Williams from UT Tyler's Center for Environment, Biodiversity and Conservation

Faculty and students explore new ways to save endangered species in the Center for Environment, Biodiversity and Conservation. Projects include the work of biology professors Lance Williams, Ph.D., Joshua Banta, Ph.D. and Katrina Kellner, Ph.D. to investigate factors causing the extinction of freshwater mussels, which play a significant role in keeping Texas’ waterways clean.

Take the Next Step

Let’s Rise as One to build the future of East Texas through innovative research, patient care, sustainability and business development. Contact us to learn more.

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