Centers and Programs

The Allen Discovery Center focuses on reading and writing the Morphogenetic Code, which orchestrates how cells communicate to create and repair complex anatomical shapes. Our interdisciplinary effort explores the role that bioelectrical signaling plays in pattern memory and decision-making by somatic cell networks.

Affiliated Professor: Michael Levin

The Tufts University Biological Resilience Integration Institute seeks to to develop a common language to describe patterns, processes, and mechanisms of resilience across all scales biology. Research and training focuses on models/metrics, mechanisms, and applications.

Principal Investigators: Catherine Freudenreich, Michael Reed, Benjamin Wolfe

STEM Diversity works in partnership with the School of Engineering and the School of Arts and Sciences to foster a diverse and inclusive science and engineering learning environment. We focus on strengthening meaningful student participation in science and engineering, specifically for traditionally underrepresented groups.

The Environmental Studies Program (ENVS) is a multidisciplinary undergraduate program dedicated to: studying our natural surroundings; designs that minimize degradation of those surroundings; and providing the social and political tools to preserve and improve the environment. The program trains students in social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and humanities.

Affiliated Professor: Colin Orians

The Global Development And Environment Institute (GDAE ) conducts research and develops teaching materials in economics and related areas, following an interdisciplinary approach that emphasizes ecological, cultural, social, and institutional factors.

The Initiative for Neural Science, Disease & Engineering (INSciDE@Tufts) is a new interdisciplinary center with multi-scale focus on brain and peripheral nervous system structure, function, and disease. Launched in the fall of 2017 from the new Science & Engineering Complex (SEC) on the campus of Tufts University, the goal of the initiative is to elucidate the molecular pathways and cellular and neural circuit defects that cause neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders.

Affiliated Faculty: David Kaplan, Mimi Kao, Michael Levin, Barry Trimmer

The Tufts program is uniquely positioned to accommodate a variety of health-related career goals. Students work with a health professions advisor to develop an individualized program of study chosen from a wide range of course offerings. This flexibility allows our students to pursue careers in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, osteopathic medicine, optometry, podiatry, or as a physician assistant or nurse practitioner.

Science, Technology, and Society draws on humanities and social sciences approaches to study science and technology in their social context. We have more than 40 faculty affiliates across Tufts University—from anthropology, biology, classics, education, engineering, history, mathematics, music, philosophy, physics, political science, urban and environmental policy and planning, and many more.

Affiliated Professor: Benjamin Wolfe

The P41 Tissue Engineering Resource Center was initiated in August of 2004 with funding provided by the NIH (through the NIBIB). The core themes in the Center continue to focus on functional tissue engineering achieved through the integration of the key elements in the field, via a systems approach; cells, scaffolds and bioreactors to control the environment.

Affiliated Professor: David Kaplan

The Tufts Institute of the Environment supports university wide research and education in the environment. Biology graduate students are eligible for TIE fellowships to support their interdisciplinary research or to participate in the weeklong Tufts Environmental Literature Institute for graduate students.

Affiliated Faculty: Colin Orians, Elizabeth Crone, Zarin Machanda, Michael Reed