Pittsburgh Quantum Institute (PQI)

The Pittsburgh Quantum Institute was established in 2012 to help unify and promote research in quantum science and engineering in the Pittsburgh area. PQI members have faculty appointments from Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh in physics, chemistry and engineering disciplines.

Pittsburgh Particle Physics, Astrophysics, and Cosmology Center (PITT PACC)

PITT PACC's aim is to enhance research activities for particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology; strengthen interactions and collaborations among theorists and experimentalists in those fields; and promote local research to the general community.

Discipline-Based Science Education Research Center (dB-SERC)

“The ‘dB’ in dB-SERC actually has two meanings. The first is the literal acronym that stands for ‘discipline based,’ meaning that we are tailoring our activities to support evidence-based teaching and learning in the nine natural science departments. The second meaning of ‘dB’ refers to the ‘measurable gain’ that we hope to achieve. In science and engineering, dB is called ‘decibel’ and is a quantitative measure of gain or amplification. We want to provide tools that not only hold promise for improving student learning but also help faculty members assess the gains. We want to amplify the natural talent of our faculty members so that we can deliver more to students.” Dr. Chandralekha Singh, Director of dB-SERC

Peterson Institute of Nanoscience and Engineering (PINSE)

The Gertrude E. and John M. Petersen Institute of Nanoscience and Engineering (PINSE) is an integrated, multidisciplinary organization that brings coherence to the University's research efforts and resources in the fields of nanoscale science and engineering. The Institute's vision is to solve large, complex scientific and engineering challenges by facilitating interdisciplinary teams drawn from faculty in the Schools of Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Health Sciences, and to educate the next generation of scientists through world-class integrated programs. PINSE provides research infrastructure for nanoscience research and fosters interactions among diverse research groups both inside and outside of the University to encourage innovative and interdisciplinary knowledge generation. The Institute serves industrial interests by forming partner groups and seeking opportunities for sharing discoveries with the commercial sector. Through an open seminar series and user meetings each semester, PINSE brings in leading researchers to present their work on nanoscience in an interdisciplinary setting in an effort to promote dissemination of expertise throughout the user community.  These research goals combine to form the three tenets of PINSE – Collaboration, Innovation, and Service.