RED Centers & Institutes
Center for American Indian and Rural Health Equity
The mission of CAIHRE is to reduce significant health disparities in Native and rural communities through community-based participatory research that is considerate of and consistent with their cultural beliefs.
Director: Alexandra Adams
Center for Biofilm Engineering
The CBE is the world’s first, largest, and best-known biofilm research center. This interdisciplinary resource has two facilities to support research and education for faculty, staff, students, and visitors: an Analytical Core and a Bioimaging Core.
Director: Matthew Fields
Center for Health & Safety Culture
The CHSC is an interdisciplinary center serving communities and organizations through research, training, and support services to cultivate healthy and safe cultures. The Center is dedicated to applying research to develop sustainable solutions to complex social problems.
Director: Kari Finley
Center for Mental Health Research and Recovery
CMHRR is an interdisciplinary MSU research center, established in 2014 as part of the Office
of Research and Economic Development. CMHRR facilitates collaborative and inclusive
research related to mental health and wellbeing, with a particular focus on mental
health needs of Montanans and rural communities, including K-12 public school communities.
Director: Katey Franklin
Center for Research on Rural Education
The faculty and students in MSU's Center for Research on Rural Education are on a mission to repond to the pressing concerns of small, rural, and remote schools and communities across Montana, the nation, and the world through carefully designed service and research.
Director: Jayne Downey
Center for Science, Technology, Ethics & Society
The mission of the Center for STES is to produce interdisciplinary knowledge and critical thinking about the social and ethical dimensions of science and technology through research, teaching, and public engagement.
Director: Kristen Intemann
Energy Research Institute
The ERI conducts energy investigations in a wide variety of fields including basic energy science, bioenergy, fuel cells, smart grid and controls, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and carbon sequestration.
Director: Lee Spangler
Institute on Ecosystems
The Montana IOE is a community of scholars and partners with a shared vision to advance integrated environmental sciences and related fields as we work to understand complex ecosystems.
Interim Director: Liz Shanahan
Ivan Doig Center for the Study of the Lands and Peoples of the North American West
The Ivan Doig Center seeks to use creative, interdisciplinary approaches to study the lives of Americans in the West’s diverse landscapes. It integrates research, learning, and engagement by bringing together students, faculty, community members, and outside institutional partners.
Director: Janet Ore
MilTech
The mission of MilTech is to accelerate the transition of new technology to the U.S. Government. Since 2004 MilTech has performed over 600 technology acceleration and transition projects for DHS and every military service, including joint and special commands.
Director: Nikki Tuss
Montana Agricultural Research Centers
Research at Montana's Department of Ag Research Centers explores unique solutions to distinct and interesting questions, and to connect Montanans
with the global community through science, discoveries and outreach.
Research Center Department Head: Jessica Torrion
Montana Area Health Education Center and Montana Office of Rural Health
MSU houses the Montana Office of Rural Health and Area Health Education Centers (AHEC), which improve healthcare access across Montana by enhancing the supply and distribution of health professionals through community and academic educational partnerships, and by delivering technical assistance and leadership support to rural health organizations.
Director: Kailyn Mock
Montana Engineering Education Research Center
The mission of MEERC is to transform engineering education through interdisciplinary, empirical research. MEERC research projects span all levels of engineering education from K-12 to graduate school. The MEERC is comprised of interdisciplinary faculty with a common interest in improving engineering education.
Director: Brock LaMeres
Optical Technology Center
The goal of the OpTec Center is to maintain a nationally competitive optics and photonics program that promotes student opportunities, economic development, and collaboration with industry.
Director: Joe Shaw
Science Math Resource Center
The Science Math Resource Center is devoted to the advancement of science and mathematics teaching and learning. We
provide professional development, conduct educational research and host youth STEM
events such as the statewide Science Olympiad.
Director: Suzi Taylor
Spectrum Lab
The Spectrum Lab was established to advance the emerging opto-electronic and photonics technologies and foster their transition to Montana companies; and in the process, provide enhanced educational opportunities for our undergraduate and graduate students. The current areas of research and development include microwave photonics, coherent lidar imaging and quantum technologies.
Director: Krishna Rupavatharam
TechLink
TechLink helps innovation-minded businesses and entrepreneurs identify, evaluate, and license technology developed within Department of Defense and Veterans Administration research laboratories nationwide.
Director: Brett Cusker
Thermal Biology Institute
The TBI is a multidisciplinary team of scientists forging a new path in scientific discovery focused on the unique thermal environments within Yellowstone National Park.
Director: Brent Peyton
Associate Director: Roland Hatzenpichler
Water Center
The Montana Water Center aims to address Montana’s water challenges by fostering statewide water-related research and stewardship, connecting water investigators and students seeking employment with USGS, state agencies, and watershed groups. We offer faculty and graduate student grants with USGS base funding, and support water-related proposals.
Director: Stephanie Ewing
Western Transportation Institute
WTI is the country’s largest university-based research center focused on rural transportation issues, including eight transportation research programs.
Director: Kelvin Wang
Statewide and Regional Initiatives
IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence
Montana INBRE is a statewide network of Ph.D.-granting institutions, baccalaureate schools and community and tribal colleges that invests in Montana’s biomedical research capacity and workforce pipeline.
Director: Brian Bothner
Montana Space Grant and NASA EPSCoR
The goal of Montana Space Grant and NASA EPSCoR is to strengthen education and research in fields related to aerospace science and engineering. Space Grant provides STEM workforce development opportunities that are available to all Montana higher education students. NASA EPSCoR provides funding to develop long-term, self-sustaining, nationally competitive capabilities in NASA-related research.
Director: Meredith Hecker
Mountains and Plains Thriving Communities Collaborative
MSU's Mountains and Plains Thriving Communities Collaborative (MaPTCC, pronounced "map-tek") promotes energy and environmental justice across EPA Region 8: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming, with a focus on the region's 28 federally recognized Tribal Nations, as well as cities, small towns, and rural areas.
Director: Julia Haggerty
NSF EPSCoR
Montana NSF EPSCoR is focused on stimulating statewide sustainable improvements in Montana’s Research and Development capacity and competitiveness in the natural sciences, social sciences, and engineering disciplines.
Director: Rob Walker
Western SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education)
SARE is a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute for Food and Agriculture that provides competitive grants and educational materials. SARE grants programs are conducted cooperatively by farmers, ranchers, researchers, and ag professionals to advance farm and ranch systems that are profitable, environmentally sound, and good for communities.
Director: Clayton Marlow
Deputy Regional Coordinator: Bruna Irene Grimberg