We welcome you to this introduction to research at the Boise State University College of Engineering (COEN), and encourage you to engage and partner with us. Ours is the largest public university and top-ranked engineering college in Idaho.
To reach us, please use the contact information provided in the college directory Research Affairs section. Read on to learn about whom we serve, signature research, student research opportunities, research showcases, and giving.
Whom we Serve
Research impacts are far reaching. We serve the state to build a vibrant local community and region, and partner with non-profits, industry, government, and universities across the country and around the world. Undergraduate and graduate students engage in our labs, and research outcomes inform the classroom experience, scientific progress, and society.
Signature Research Areas
We offer substantive research breadth. The college has particular shared expertise and external funding in five areas: (1) materials, (2) computing, (3) built environment (human-made infrastructure for how we live, work, and play), (4) biomedical, and (5) microelectronics. A sampling from the above and other research areas includes cybersecurity, environmentally sustainable batteries, resilient public infrastructure, organizational performance, workforce development, and engineering and computer science education.
Innovative Research
Scott Phillips conducts materials research to improve recycling practices and outcomes. Take a look. Video Transcript
Rapid Research Growth at the College of Engineering
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education designates Boise State University as an “R2” research institution. This means that faculty participate in high research activity, while also actively engaging with students and teaching.
College of Engineering culture prompts deep questioning, the interdisciplinary pursuit of complex problems, and needed, impactful studies. We see growth in hiring with over 100 full-time faculty members. College research awards have more than tripled over the past 10 years, and research activity expenditures have more than doubled in the past 5 years to $17 million in 2024.
Student Research
Numerous College of Engineering students contribute as researchers, often with nationally or internationally recognized collaborators. Opportunity is abundant. In fact, 80% of our undergraduate students graduate having had experience either conducting research in classrooms or laboratories, or through internships.
We welcome inquiries.
Research and Educational Opportunities
Undergraduate Students
Engage in our research labs or through the Office of Undergraduate Research to extend classroom learning and open advanced education and workforce paths. Many students also apply for Excellence in Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (EURECA) recognition.
Summer Research
The college regularly hosts students from across the country each summer with funding from the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates program (NSF REU). The program pays for most student costs. We currently offer summer research REU in computer science and materials science. Learn about current computer science offerings here. Programs in materials science address advanced manufacturing for a sustainable energy future, and materials for society.
Graduate Students
Engage through Ph.D., Master’s, and certificate programs at the highest-ranked graduate engineering program in Idaho. See our graduate student program overview and graduate brochure to learn about our offerings, including numerous interdisciplinary research opportunities.
For example, Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. students study with engineers, biologists, and kinesiologists from three Boise State colleges.
You can also learn about fellowship programs, curricular opportunities, and undergraduate mentorship through offerings from the university Institute for Inclusive and Transformative Scholarship.
Research At A Glance
Explore a concise and useful College of Engineering research directory to learn about wide-ranging research across scientific disciplines. We welcome research inquiries and collaboration from potential students, academic institutions, and organizations of all types and sizes.
Come On In
See the kind of research we do at the Boise State College of Engineering by looking at these university and college sources that entirely or frequently showcase faculty and student work.
College of Engineering Research Giving
Funders help our researchers do their work. We welcome contributions of all amounts to research, scholarships, and other college initiatives.