Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Research Themes

Biological Intelligence
The Biological Intelligence research theme seeks to understand the links between the brain and intelligent behavior.
Human-Computer Intelligent Interaction
The Human-Computer Intelligent Interaction research theme seeks to enhance the human-machine interface through technology development and engineering concepts.
Integrative Imaging
The Integrative Imaging research theme brings together ideas, modalities, and people to foster the discovery of fundamental principles in imaging science, new enabling technologies for imaging instruments, and novel research techniques.
Molecular & Electronic Nanostructures
The Molecular & Electronic Nanostructures research theme seeks to develop an understanding of chemical and physical processes on the nanometer scale.

Strategic Initiatives

The Beckman Institute is home to two campus-wide strategic Initiatives:

Strategic Initiative Listing

Developing Initiative

Beckman Institute researchers are beginning to formalize a new initiative:

Developing Initiative Listing

Healthy Bodies, Brains, Minds, and Communities

Arnold and Mabel Beckman were very involved in the creation of the Beckman Institute, not only because of their financial contribution, but also because of their personal ties to the University of Illinois, the state, and the people here. People who were around for the founding of the Institute and who are still a part of it today remember the Beckmans fondly.

Kramer Speaks at National Press Club

Beckman researcher Art Kramer recently spoke at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on June 24, 2009. Kramer took part in a discussion on “The Science of Staying Sharp: Healthy Functioning in the Aging Brain.” The findings discussed were from the report “Enrichment Effects on Adult Cognitive Development: Can the Functional Capacity of Older Adults be Preserved and Enhanced?” published in the APS journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest.

Clayton Makes New Finding about Memory in Songbird Brain

U of I News Bureau -- Research by David Clayton of the Beckman Institute’s NeuroTech group has provided a new picture of memory in the songbird brain. Clayton, who led a successful effort to have the whole genome of the zebra finch songbird sequenced, found that gene expression in the songbird brain was changed in unexpected ways after hearing another songbird’s song.

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