A Culture of Technological Innovation

The Robert Mehrabian College of Engineering (COE) at UC Santa Barbara is a diverse community comprising everyone from wide-eyed first-year undergraduate students and world-renowned faculty researchers (including Nobel laureates) to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. We at the COE are inspired to work for a better future, and to envision how to make the improbable possible in order to address the grand challenges of our time and advance technology that benefits people around the world. From biomedical applications, energy technologies, and resource sustainability to advanced functional materials, next-generation electronics and photonics technology, computing and machine learning, COE researchers at the forefront of their fields conduct leading-edge research, often in close collaboration with colleagues from other departments, disciplines, and institutions. 

Areas of Research

• Bioengineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Computer Science
• Electrical & Computer Engineering
• Materials
• Mechanical Engineering
• Media Arts & Technology
• Technology Management

Our Approach

BE Efficient + Effective

There is a reason why research at The Robert Mehrabian College of Engineering receives so much investment within the state, and it has a lot to do with our high level of innovation efficiency. We are home to one of the most successful public-private research partnerships in the nation, with some programs boasting nearly a 1:1 patent-to-publication ratio. At UCSB, researchers in engineering and the sciences leverage a tremendous inventory of shared instrumentation, secured and maintained by way of multiple funding sources, to lower the cost of research across campus and spread the benefits widely. We pursue projects that lead to real solutions to meet unfulfilled needs in the marketplace. On average, UCSB generates one intellectual property disclosure for every $1.8 million in research expenditures — nearly twice the average university IP productivity. [source]

HaVE, AND support, an Enterprising spirit

In 2014, Forbes ranked UCSB as one of the top schools for entrepreneurship, and the COE has only expanded on its capabilities and achievements since then. More than sixty startups have been launched based on UCSB technology, and, as of 2015, 48 percent of UCSB inventions were under a licensing agreement. "Techpreneurial" students can participate in certificate and graduate-degree programs offered in UCSB's Technology Management Department, the university's newest department; they can compete in the New Venture Competition, the annual year-long competition that has served as the incubator for numerous successful tech start-ups; and they can take advantage of the Technology Incubator, which is operated by the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) to provide tech entrepreneurs with services, space, and facilities they need to succeed.

GAIN Recognition

The Robert Mehrabian College of Engineering has been ranked #1 in the world for engineering research citation impact by the Leiden University Rankings for many years running, and has received top rankings from US News and the National Research Council. Five COE departments earned rankings within the Top 10 in the NRC's most recent assessment of doctoral programs, with the two newest departments, BioEngineering and Technology Management, being too new to be ranked. Our materials program is consistently ranked #1 in the world for research impact by sources such as US News and Thomson Reuters. We have on our faculty five Nobel laureates, the highest number of National Academy of Engineering members per capita among University of California campuses, six National Academy of Inventors fellows, as well as numerous other faculty who have received prestigious designations recognizing the deep engineering expertise on our campus and its impact on the world.

collaborate across disciplines 

“Research without walls” isn’t just a phrase at UCSB; it is the very foundation of our institutional culture. While core focus areas of research are determined by each department within The Robert Mehrabian College of Engineering, research efforts often are pursued by interdisciplinary teams, which are more effective and efficient at achieving ambitious, comprehensive goals. This is demonstrated especially well in our many research centers and institutes, our successful history of grant funding year after year, and our industry partnerships.

Research Centers

Explore the research institutes and centers affiliated with the College of Engineering, as well as the dozens of research centers we count as collaborators at UCSB. Our numerous centers and initiatives are leading their fields in groundbreaking engineering and technology research.

Lab Facilities & Instrumentation

Explore the network of laboratory facilities and instrumentation at UCSB, and our environment of interdisciplinary collaboration, which help make great things possible. See our directory of shared instrumentation.

Industry Partnerships & Technology Licensing

Learn more about UCSB Engineering corporate partnerships and our commitment to protecting and licensing technological discoveries. We partner with companies, government agencies, and start-ups to facilitate beneficial relationships and to advance technology that serves society.