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Florida Atlantic鈥檚 R1 Journey

Road to R1

Florida Atlantic鈥檚 road to R1 designation was paved by visionary leadership and pioneering researchers across its 10 colleges and wide spectrum of disciplines. Their unwavering dedication to investigation and discovery contributed to tangible solutions that benefit our society. In addition, the Board of Governors of the State University System of Florida enabled these achievements by providing a steadfast commitment to advancing academic research and supporting the nation鈥檚 global competitiveness.

91制片厂 campus Boca Raton, FL

A Snapshot of Florida Atlantic鈥檚 Fields of Study and Research

Marine Studies

  • Marine ecosystems and biodiversity
  • Aquaculture practices
  • Development of medicines from the sea

Environmental Research

  • Climate change and water quality
  • Sustainable practices and conservation
  • Natural habitat restoration and conservation

Biomedical Research

  • Neuroscience
  • Cardiovascular health
  • Cancer

Engineering

  • Robotics and artificial intelligence
  • Cybersecurity
  • Renewable energy solutions
  • Smart technology and infrastructure development

Social Sciences and Education

  • Educational practices and strategies
  • Social behavior studies
  • Community engagement initiatives

Business and Entrepreneurship

  • Business and Economics Polling Initiatives
  • Adams Center for Entrepreneurship
  • Behavioral Insights Lab
91制片厂 campus Boca Raton, FL

Florida Atlantic鈥檚 Colleges

Florida Atlantic Institutes and Centers

Florida Atlantic is a leader in innovation for some of our century鈥檚 most significant challenges. Through multidisciplinary research institutes and centers, faculty, students and the public collaborate to advance knowledge and address contemporary challenges.

Research Institutes
Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute
Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute
Learn More about SNBI
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Learn More about HBOI
Institute for Sensing and Embedded Network Systems Engineering
Institute for Sensing and Embedded Network Systems Engineering
Learn More about I-SENSE
Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention
Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention
Learn More about I-Health

Research Milestones

Together, these milestones illustrate Florida Atlantic鈥檚 unwavering commitment to research and innovation, solidifying its path to R1 designation and reinforcing its position as a leader in higher education.

1964

President Lyndon B. Johnson dedicates 91制片厂 on the site of the converted Boca Raton Army Airfield.

1968

A.D. Henderson University School opens as a developmental research laboratory school to enhance instruction and research to improve outcomes for all students throughout the nation.

1985

The Charles E. Schmidt College of Science establishes the Center for Complex Systems. The center leads Florida Atlantic鈥檚 early success in securing National Institutes of Health R01 grants. In 1995, it establishes the first and at that time only Ph.D. program in complex systems and brain sciences.

1985

The Research Park at 91制片厂 is established and serves as a critical engine for research, development and entrepreneurship in the region.

1989

Graduate programs and research activity reach $10 million in sponsored research.

2001

Gifts totaling $32 million from Eugene and Christine Lynn help establish the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing.

2001

Larry F. Lemanski, Ph.D., is named the first vice president of research at Florida Atlantic and also served as dean of the Graduate School.

2003

Florida Atlantic forges a partnership with the Scripps Research Institute, the world鈥檚 largest nonprofit biomedical research organization, marking a pivotal trend toward increasing the university鈥檚 involvement with external organizations.

2003

Florida Atlantic establishes the Center for Excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology with a $10 million State of Florida award, focusing on discovering new pharmaceuticals from Florida waters.

2003

Florida Atlantic鈥檚 Center for Cryptology and Information Security becomes a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense Research (CAE-R) as recognized by the National Security Agency.

2004

Florida Atlantic High School is established in partnership with the Palm Beach County School District featuring unique curriculums that integrate rigorous academic coursework with university-level research opportunities.

2006

State of Florida funds $5 million to establish Florida Atlantic鈥檚 Center of Excellence in Ocean Energy Technology. In 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy designates the center as the Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center, one of the nation鈥檚 three Marine Renewable Energy Centers.

2007

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce merges with Florida Atlantic, backed by a $44 million allocation from the Florida Legislature.

2007

Max Planck Florida Institute finalizes an agreement to establish a permanent presence on Florida Atlantic鈥檚 John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter. It remains the first and only Max Planck Society institute in North America.

2008

The Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry is established to enhance undergraduate student engagement in research and scholarly activities across all disciplines.

2011

Florida Atlantic establishes the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, North America鈥檚 134th allopathic (MD) medical school with funding from the Florida Legislature.

2013

Florida Atlantic Harbor Branch, with an allocation from the Florida Legislature, launches the Indian River Lagoon Observatory Network of Environmental Sensors (IRLON) to monitor and investigate the water quality and environmental conditions of the Indian River Lagoon and the St. Lucie Estuary.

2016

A Nikon Center of Excellence is established at Florida Atlantic鈥檚 Brain Institute, marking just the seventh such designation in the United States.

2017

Florida Atlantic and the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience announce the 91制片厂 Max Planck Honors, an undergraduate honors program in neuroscience designed to recruit top talent.

2017

Florida Atlantic launches the 91制片厂 High School MD Direct Program, placing gifted high school students on a direct path to earning their medical degrees.

2018

Florida Atlantic creates the 91制片厂 Max Planck Academy on the Jupiter campus in partnership with the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, allowing high school students to study alongside world-renowned researchers at the institute.

2019

The Florida Board of Governors endorses Florida Atlantic as a University of Distinction for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. The College of Engineering and Computer Science launches a first-of-its-kind master鈥檚 degree in AI. The Rubin and Cindy Gruber Sandbox, a pioneering AI lab open to all students, is established.

2020

Kurt and Marilyn Wallach donate $20 million to establish the Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Institute for Holocaust and Jewish Studies.

2020

Harbor Branch lands an $11,179,001 four-year contract from the U.S. Office of Naval Research to develop a next-generation sensor for natural oceanic bioluminescence assessments.

2020

Florida Atlantic鈥檚 external sponsored research awards reach more than $78.5 million.

2021

Florida Atlantic and Memorial Cancer Institute鈥檚 Research Partnership to Advance Clinical Trials earn the Cancer Center of Excellence designation from the Florida Department of Health, becoming one of only five centers in the state to receive the honor.

2022

The Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science partner with the Max Planck Florida Institute to establish a joint M.D./Ph.D. neuroscience program.

2023

The 91制片厂 Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute opens on the Jupiter campus. Funded by an allocation from the Florida Legislature and named for a $10 million gift from David J.S. Nicholson, the institute is home to more than 100 neuroscience faculty-level investigators conducting state-of-the-art research to unlock the secrets of the brain.

2023

Florida Atlantic partners with global health care company Insightec to advance scientific knowledge about the use of non-invasive, focused ultrasound to treat brain disorders, including Alzheimer鈥檚 and Parkinson鈥檚 diseases.

2023

The Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and Harbor Branch launch the School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability comprised of a broad array of existing disciplines to amplify the university鈥檚 research, teaching and community engagement while creating a comprehensive environmental hub at the university.

2024

The College of Education and the College of Engineering and Computer Science receive a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education鈥檚 Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services to increase participation of transition-age youth and working-age adults with disabilities in high-demand technology jobs.

2024

The College of Engineering and Computer Science, in partnership with Florida Power & Light (FPL), announce the launch of the FPL Center for Intelligent Energy Technologies (InETech). This cutting-edge facility was made possible by a $1 million donation from the NextEra Energy Foundation.

2024

Florida Atlantic adds a new state-of-the-art Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system to its research infrastructure. This cutting-edge technology marks a transformative step forward for the university鈥檚 research capabilities, enabling groundbreaking studies in neuroscience, clinical health and medicine.

2025

Florida Atlantic is selected as the recipient of a $21 million multi-year grant, the largest grant received in its history, from the United States Department of Education Promise Neighborhoods program. The grant funds the 鈥淏roward Unlimited Potential Promise Neighborhood鈥 (Broward UP) initiative, which aims to provide children with access to quality education and strong community support, ensuring successful transitions to college or careers.

2025

Florida Atlantic is recognized as R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, the most prestigious research designation in the United States.