CITRIS Affiliated Programs
World-Class Labs, Testbeds and Research Opportunities
CITRIS at UC Davis hosts multiple research labs including the CITRIS Aviation Lab in Academic Surge, Visual Thinking Lab in Bainer Hall, Environmental Robotics Laboratory at the Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC), and the Center for Spaceflight Research in East Davis.
Habitats Optimized for Missions of Exploration
The UC Davis-led NASA Space Technology Research HOME Institute (Habitats Optimized for Missions of Exploration) resides in East Davis adjacent to the UCD Mind Institute on Cousteau Drive. HOME is a seven-university research consortium tasked with researching the critical technologies NASA needs to design a semi-autonomous deep-space habitat for astronaut crews.
Institute for Next Generation Food Systems
The institute researches biological data and processes, addressing issues of molecular breeding to optimize traits for yield, crop quality, and pest/disease resistance; agricultural production, food processing, distribution, and nutrition. Major emphasis is placed on inclusive education and minority outreach opportunities.
Tahoe Environmental Research Center
The CITRIS Environmental Robotics Laboratory located at the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) is developing autonomous robotic and sensor technologies for exploring challenges in water quality and environmental health. Laboratory Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) “access the inaccessible” allowing CITRIS collaborators to study the Antarctic ice shelf surveys, harmful algal bloom dynamics, turbulence measurements in ice-covered lakes, and underwater measurements during storm events.
Tech for Social Good
The CITRIS and the Banatao Institute Tech for Social Good Program support student-led learning and technology development for healthy, sustainable, connected, and equitable livelihoods in the United States and abroad. CITRIS at UC Davis organizes and brings students to a professional level in yearly programs.
CITRIS Affiliated Labs
Aviation Lab
CITRIS Aviation has expanded to UC Davis, which launched a Drone Training Academy for high school students in 2018. Designed by a 20-year veteran of the aviation industry, the Drone Academy aims to engage underrepresented youth with emerging STEM fields and wide-spread applications of UAVs for societal benefit.
- 2018 UCD and ASSURE Drone Academy
- 2019 UCD and ASSURE Drone Academy
- 2021 Drone Academy Video Highlights
Engineering Student Design Center
The CITRIS-affiliated student start-up center will be incorporated into the Diane Bryant Engineering Student Design Center (ESDC). This new facility will focus on providing an inclusive, supervised space to practice manufacturing and fabrication techniques and will include a student start-up center for entrepreneurial ventures. Team projects and real-world applications will add to students’ business acumen, as they develop the collaborative skills and hands-on experience necessary for success.
Center for Nano-MicroManufacturing (CNM2)
CNM2 provides the UC Davis campus community with a full spectrum of state-of-the-art micro-nanofabrication equipment, processes, and services. The Center enables nanometer-scale lithography, deposition, etching, and characterization capabilities for leading-edge research in MEMS/BioMEMS, Sensors, Photonics, Heterogeneous integration, Optoelectronics, Compound semiconductors, Meta surfaces, Microfluidics, Biomedical devices, Optics, Quantum Nanophotonics and Solar cells. Moreover, CNM2 staff offer consultation, training, and services in emerging research communities. We also serve as an engineering innovation hub, facilitating both campus-based start-up companies and emerging regional industries.
Visual Thinking Lab
The CITRIS Visual Thinking Laboratory (VTL) in collaboration with the Engineering Student Startup center combines human imagination and computer processing with technology and wearable hardware. Students and researchers utilize Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) equipment with high-speed computer processing stations to explore, investigate, and solve challenges in education, medicine, game design and AI development.