MSU research A to Z

As the premier land-grant university in the United States and a leading global public research institution, Michigan State University is where big questions meet real-world solutions. Spartan researchers are exploring the unknown, solving urgent problems and advancing knowledge that changes lives — in Michigan and around the world. From a 145-year-and-counting seed experiment to modern-day advances in supply chains and packaging and much more, MSU researchers continue to make a difference across the globe.

Explore 26 ways Spartan research is improving lives — from A to Z. These examples offer just a glimpse into the wide-ranging impact Spartans are making every day through discovery and innovation.

A – AgBioResearch

Since its founding in 1888 MSU AgBioResearch has supported farmers and agricultural innovation. Today, approximately 300 researchers from six colleges work to improve food systems, health and the environment. From modernizing greenhouses and dairy operations to creating resilient and profitable agriculture and natural resource systems, AgBioResearch advances economic growth and enhances quality of life in Michigan and beyond. Its researchers even work to ensure Michigan remains a prime tourism destination for natural wonders. 

B – Biometrics

Biometric recognition refers to the automated recognition of individuals based on their anatomical and behavioral characteristics such as fingerprint, face, iris, voice and even gait. These technologies power phone security, protect soldiers returning from patrol, provide airport clearance and even criminal investigations. An MSU research team is creating a robust software system for detecting people in difficult imaging conditions and matching biometric traits across multiple modes.

C – Cancer therapies

In the mid-1960s, an MSU biophysicist and microbiologist discovered the cancer-fighting properties of platinum that led to the development of the chemotherapy drug cisplatin, which has saved millions of lives and remains one of the most effective cancer treatments. Today, hundreds of MSU faculty across eight colleges are delivering cutting-edge advancements to benefit cancer patients. From detecting cancer with honeybees to destroying breast cancer with “smart” bomb technology, MSU researchers are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the fight against cancer. 

D – Diamonds

MSU is growing diamonds on campus, but not for jewelry. These gems are created for use as semiconductors, sensors, coating and other advanced electronic applications. Diamonds have an incredibly high thermal conductivity — much higher than copper — which makes them ideal for use in high-power semiconductors, which are essential for electronic devices like high-performance computers, inverters for the electrical power grid and electric vehicles and chargers. At MSU, research on diamonds focuses on creating cost-effective diamond materials for advanced applications. 

E – Education policy

MSU is known for educating educators. Graduate studies in the areas of both elementary and secondary education at MSU has ranked No. 1 in the nation for more than 30 years straight, according to U.S. News & World Report. So, it comes as no surprise that MSU is also a top spot for research on education policy. The College of Education’s Education Policy Innovation Collaborative, or EPIC, partners with Michigan’s education leaders to research which strategies improve student outcomes and under what conditions. These studies help inform school reforms, from early reading to districtwide interventions.

F – Food security

For more than 50 years, MSU’s Food Security Group has been transforming economies and lives in low-income countries thanks to research that leads to good food and nutrition policy. Covering how changes in climate impact agriculture, the effects of good nutrition in countries facing high levels of poverty and assessments of pesticide risks on farms, the Food Security Group at MSU conducts research across the globe that also provides insights for farmers and policymakers in the U.S. and Michigan.

G – Great Lakes

Calling the Great Lakes State home, researchers at MSU have ample opportunities to conduct studies in the lakes that surround Michigan. In Lake Erie, researchers are working to reduce toxic algae that cost the region tens of millions of dollars annually in lost tourism and fishing. Along lakes Michigan and Huron, MSU trains community members to collect drone imagery of storm-hit shorelines to study and prevent erosion. For more than two decades, MSU has worked to assist in invasive species control of the sea lamprey population in the Great Lakes. And the Institute of Water Research at MSU is passionate about addressing critical water issues that foster human well-being, from the Great Lakes to residential wells and more. 

H – Health policy

From access to care in rural areas to maternal and child health across Michigan, the Institute for Health Policy in the College of Human Medicine is on a mission to advance knowledge of health and well-being through multiple modes, including research. For over two decades, the institute has partnered with state agencies and health care systems to share best practices based on research conducted at MSU and beyond. And thanks to evidence-based analysis, the institute is informing practice and public policy to improve the health and well-being of residents of Michigan and the nation.

I – ICER

Tucked away on campus, MSU’s supercomputer packs more than 3 million gigabytes of memory and 56,000 processors — and it’s free for Spartan researchers. Run by the Institute for Cyber-Enabled Research, or ICER, this powerhouse supports research into everything from climate science to smart home security vulnerabilities. Thanks to ICER, Spartans across disciplines are using big data and computing to solve big problems.

J – Journalism studies

At Michigan State University’s School of Journalism — housed within the nation’s first college of communication — students don’t just prepare for successful careers in journalism; they actively shape the future of the field. Through hands-on research and real-world reporting, they engage with pressing issues and evolving trends. The Knight Center for Environmental Journalism leads efforts to advance reporting on climate and sustainability, while the Center for Journalism Studies focuses on improving journalism through systematic inquiry. Students and faculty contribute to national insights via the American Communities Project, analyzing data and reporting on social and political shifts across the country. As part of its work, the American Communities Project also serves as the U.S. partner for the global Worlds of Journalism Study, helping to examine how journalism is changing in more than 100 countries.

K – Kellogg Biological Station

Just 65 miles from East Lansing, MSU’s W.K. Kellogg Biological Station is a living lab for research in sustainability, agriculture, ecology and more. Spanning 4,500 acres near Kalamazoo, it’s one of North America’s top inland field stations and home to farms, forests, research facilities and a bird sanctuary. At KBS, Spartans are uncovering the causes of butterfly loss, tracking soil health over decades and conducting long-term studies that shape how we understand and protect the natural world.

L – Lignin

Lignin is found in the cell walls of plants, especially in wood and bark. An organic polymer, it allows plants to grow tall and strong, and it is abundant. And according to MSU researchers, it also lends itself to the creation of biofuel, biodegradable plastic, eco-friendly packaging material or even as an additive to concrete to improve strength and reduce environmental impact. Researchers are continuing to experiment with other potential uses for lignin as groundbreaking discoveries continue to emerge with this versatile polymer.

M – Mobility

Spanning 5,200 acres and more than 8 square miles of urban, suburban, rural and industrial spaces, MSU’s campus offers a uniquely real-world testbed for mobility innovation. MSU Mobility’s comprehensive approach to research studies autonomous and connected vehicles and how people interact with them. From biometrics and public policy to scooters, pedestrians and smart infrastructure, researchers are working to save lives, reduce accidents and improve how people and goods move through the world.

N – Neuroscience

From memory and mood to movement and aging, MSU researchers are unlocking the brain’s most complex mysteries. Across campus, neuroscientists are using advanced imaging, molecular tools and behavioral studies to explore how the brain works and what happens when it doesn’t. Their work is driving progress in treating Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, depression and more. With cross-campus collaboration from the College of Osteopathic Medicine to the neuroscience program in the College of Natural Science and real-world impact, MSU is advancing neuroscience to improve lives.

O – Object-based learning

There’s a space on the lower level of the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at MSU that lets you touch, smell and hear art. At the Center for Object Research and Engagement, or the CORE, an active, educational space open to the public, visitors are urged to interact with the art in its collection, including during and for research. Through object-based learning, a technique grounded in research that emphasizes up-close experiences with material objects and facilitates deep critical thinking with, through and about art, members of the MSU community can conduct research in an interactive way.

P – Packaging

MSU’s School of Packaging isn’t just the first and largest of its kind — it’s also home to the nation’s top-ranked packaging doctoral program. Researchers here are solving real-world challenges, from developing recyclable packaging that keeps food fresh to creating materials that protect critical medical supplies. MSU recently launched the Center for Plastic, Paper and Hybrid Packaging End-of-Life Solutions to tackle one of packaging’s biggest problems: waste. With nearly 40% of U.S. plastic waste coming from packaging, Spartan packaging experts are driving a more sustainable future for all of us. 

Q – Quantum computing

At MSU’s Center for Quantum Computing, Science and Engineering, or MSU-Q, researchers have been pushing the limits of quantum technology for more than two decades. Long before quantum computing became a buzzword, MSU scientists were pioneering ways to control qubits — the quantum units that can hold multiple states at once — and solve problems traditional computers can’t touch. Today, MSU-Q is home to one of the world’s most comprehensive quantum education and training programs, preparing the next generation to shape this rapidly advancing field while advancing quantum computing to new frontiers.  

R – Rare isotopes

At the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, known as FRIB, scientists are exploring rare isotopes — short-lived atomic nuclei not normally found on Earth — to drive breakthroughs in medicine, national security and our understanding of the universe. Using the most powerful rare isotope accelerator, FRIB produces these isotopes by accelerating ions, from hydrogen to uranium, to half the speed of light and smashing them into a target. Operated by MSU as a national user facility for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, with financial support from and furthering the mission of the DOE-SC Office of Nuclear Physics, FRIB brings together researchers to study how rare isotopes behave and interact. Their discoveries are leading to new applications in cancer therapies, homeland security, and deeper insights into the origins of matter.

S – Supply chain

For ten consecutive years, the Department of Supply Chain Management at the Eli Broad College of Business has been ranked No. 1 for research. Supply chains power everyday life — moving goods from source to shelf and field to front door. At MSU, some of the world’s foremost supply chain researchers are leading the way in making these systems smarter, safer and more sustainable. From cybersecurity and health care logistics to risk management and climate-resilient operations, Spartan research is reshaping how the world moves.

T – Turf grass

On the south end of MSU’s campus, the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center is home to some of the greenest grass around and world-class research to match. Since 1978, MSU’s Turfgrass Program has led the way in improving grass for golf courses, sports fields and lawns across Michigan and the world. Now, Spartan turfgrass expertise is going global. In partnership with FIFA and the University of Tennessee, MSU is helping provide the natural grass playing surfaces for the FIFA World Cup 26, bringing Spartan research to soccer — or football’s — biggest stage.

U – Urban and regional planning

Within the School of Planning, Design and Construction, the Urban and Regional Planning program is setting out to create a sustainably built and natural environment that enriches communities through smart design, sustainable policy and socially responsible leadership. Faculty researchers in the school tackle big issues like land use, housing, infrastructure and zoning — things that literally shape the world around us. One area of focus is informal housing, which are often unregulated dwellings that can ease housing shortages in expensive metro areas but that also raise serious health, safety and equity concerns. It’s research that aims to make cities more livable, inclusive and resilient.

V – Violence prevention

At MSU’s School of Social Work in the College of Social Science, researchers are working to understand and prevent violence across all stages of life, with the goal of eliminating it altogether. Their work spans many areas, including shifting community norms to prevent child sexual abuse, strengthening school policies around sexual violence and bias, and evaluating crisis chat tools, which are text-based support services for sexual assault survivors. It’s research that’s turning insight into action and creating safer, more supportive communities.

W – Women’s health

In MSU’s College of Human Medicine, the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology is leading research to improve women’s health and make care more equitable. From studying pregnancy and postpartum care for Medicaid patients to tackling gynecologic diseases, faculty are addressing both medical and social challenges. Centers like the Maternal Health Lab and the MIRACLE Center are driving discoveries that make a real difference in women’s lives in Michigan and beyond.

X – X-ray diffraction 

X-ray diffraction allows scientists to examine materials at the atomic level, revealing the structure of crystals and molecules in extraordinary detail. At MSU’s Center for Crystallographic Research, this powerful technique generates knowledge used by chemists, physicists and biologists to solve real-world problems. Whether it’s improving cancer treatments, developing better solar cells, advancing hydrogen storage or enhancing how we grow fruits and plants, MSU researchers are using crystallography to fuel discoveries that make life better.

Y – Youth sports

Launched in 1978 in response to concerns about unhealthy practices in youth sports, MSU’s Institute for the Study of Youth Sports has spent nearly 50 years researching how sports impact children in both positive and negative ways and how to make those experiences better. One of the first institutes of its kind, its work shows that increasing youth sports participation could improve public health and save billions in medical costs. Beyond research, its team of experts has created practical tools for coaches, parents and communities, including new online modules to help prevent abuse in sports.

Z – Zoonotic disease

Zoonotic diseases — illnesses that spread between animals and humans — pose serious risks to both public and animal health. In fact, an estimated 60% of known infectious diseases and up to 75% of new or emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic in origin. In MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, researchers are studying these threats to better understand how they spread and are creating innovative therapeutics and preventative measures to manage disease. And in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, researchers focus on how these diseases could impact farms and food systems, emphasizing the importance of strong biosecurity protocols to prevent outbreaks.

Explore how MSU is conducting research for you.