Research | Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment | Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation

Research

Explore our Research Centers & Initiatives

The world’s biggest sustainability, energy and environmental challenges require innovative, interdisciplinary, inclusive solutions. Our teams tackle complex, real-world problems — transitioning society to sustainable energy, agriculture, resource and infrastructure systems while mitigating and adapting to climate change. The iSEE model incorporates collaborations, cutting-edge science, stakeholder partnerships, and policymaking.

Our Research Themes

The sun sets over a field dotted with wind turbines.

Climate Solutions

Agricultural crops and solar panels share space in a field.

Energy Transitions

A small robot on wheels rolls between rows of crops.

Secure & Sustainable Agriculture

Bluebells in bloom at the university's Red Oak Rain Garden.

Sustainable Infrastructure

A lush green landscape meets a bright blue body of water.

Water & Land Stewardship

Inside a greenhouse, two student researchers are working with several types of young crops.

Engage with iSEE

As a premier research institution, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign features brilliant minds across its campus.

If you are a campus faculty member and your scholarly interests complement one or more of iSEE’s research themes, we encourage you to apply for iSEE faculty or affiliate status.

Our institute can help support your research by:

Building interdisciplinary teams
Developing grant proposals
Managing awards
Communicating your accomplishments
Providing seed funding

Learn about our Services Become an Affiliate Seed Funding Opportunities

Research News

A farmer stands in the foreground, out of focus, holding a tablet. In the distance, a field of wheat is being harvested.

Illinois ARCS Receives S$10 Million Grant to Develop AI-powered Agricultural Digital Twins

This newly-funded project could help strengthen food security and agricultural resilience in Singapore and across Southeast Asia, integrating real-world farming environments with virtual systems.

University of Illinois Researchers Receive $1.6 Million to Improve Fertilizer Efficiency

Complementary nitrogen and phosphorus projects will help Illinois farmers make informed nutrient management decisions while reducing nutrient losses.

Aerial shot of the University of Illinois campus.

iSEE Awards 2026-27 Seed Funding to Four Interdisciplinary Research Teams

The projects aim to transform food waste into clean aviation fuels, leverage AI to accelerate the development of sustainable aviation fuels and safer nuclear energy technologies, and better understand the health of coral reefs threatened by microplastics.