Faculty and students at CPS drive discovery that makes a difference. Working closing with industry, community and education partners our research is centered in defining pressing problems and delivering high-impact solutions.
Our Approach to Research
Research is a pillar of academics and is interwoven in the fabric of our work at CPS. Informed by the ever-changing demands of the global workplace, our faculty collaborate with industry, community, and education leaders to advance understanding with applied research that is driven by actionable, measurable impact.
Applied research at the College of Professional Studies involves systematic investigation designed to solve practical, real-world problems within specific professional fields. Unlike basic research that seeks to expand theoretical knowledge, applied research directly addresses industry challenges and aims to produce actionable solutions that can be immediately implemented in professional practice.
Our research involves collaboration with industry, education, government, and community partners, focusing on improving existing processes or developing new applications with an emphasizes on outcomes that enhance professional effectiveness and advance field-specific knowledge.
Examples include developing new teaching methods for education programs, creating more efficient business processes, or improving patient care protocols in health sciences.
Core Research Areas
CPS is home to a constantly evolving arena of core research areas with experts who are practitioners in their field and trained with academic rigor. With a continually expanding portfolio of research, some of our core research areas include:
Educational research is the systematic investigation of teaching methods, learning processes, educational policies, and institutional practices to understand how people learn and how education can be improved. It employs both quantitative and qualitative research methods to examine questions about curriculum effectiveness, student outcomes, teacher preparation, educational technology, and systemic reforms. The ultimate goal is to generate evidence-based insights that can inform educational practice, policy decisions, and improve learning experiences for students across all levels of education.
Applied AI research focuses on developing and implementing artificial intelligence technologies to solve real-world problems across industries such as healthcare, finance, transportation, and manufacturing. It involves taking theoretical AI concepts and algorithms and adapting them for practical use cases, often requiring considerations of scalability, reliability, ethics, and integration with existing systems. The field emphasizes creating AI solutions that deliver measurable value and impact in specific domains, bridging the gap between academic AI research and commercial or societal applications.
By bridging engineering, computer science, materials science, and data analytics, advanced manufacturing research drives economic competitiveness while addressing critical challenges in workforce development, supply chain resilience, and environmental impact.
Workforce and economic development research examines strategies and policies that enhance human capital, create employment opportunities, and drive regional or national economic growth. It investigates the effectiveness of job training programs, skills development initiatives, entrepreneurship support, industry partnerships, and policy interventions designed to build competitive economies and improve employment outcomes. This research aims to understand how workforce development aligns with economic needs and informs evidence-based approaches to reducing unemployment, increasing wages, and fostering sustainable economic prosperity.
Regulatory affairs research examines the development, implementation, and impact of government regulations across industries, focusing on how regulatory frameworks affect business operations, market dynamics, and public welfare. It investigates regulatory compliance strategies, the effectiveness of different regulatory approaches, stakeholder engagement processes, and the economic and social outcomes of regulatory policies. This research aims to inform evidence-based regulatory decision-making, improve compliance strategies, and optimize the balance between protecting public interests and enabling innovation and economic growth.
Project management research investigates the methodologies, practices, and organizational factors that contribute to successful project delivery across various industries and contexts. It examines topics such as project planning techniques, team dynamics, risk management strategies, stakeholder engagement, leadership styles, and the effectiveness of different project management frameworks like Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid approaches. This research aims to identify best practices, improve project success rates, and develop evidence-based tools and methodologies that enhance project outcomes while optimizing resource utilization and minimizing risks.
Healthcare and biotech research encompasses the systematic investigation of medical treatments, diagnostic methods, pharmaceutical development, and biotechnological innovations to advance human health and combat disease. It includes clinical trials, drug discovery, medical device development, genomics research, and the study of healthcare delivery systems, regulatory processes, and patient outcomes. This research aims to translate scientific discoveries into practical medical applications, improve treatment efficacy and safety, and ultimately enhance patient care while reducing healthcare costs and expanding access to life-saving therapies.
Government policy research involves the systematic study of public policy development, implementation, and evaluation to understand how government decisions affect society, the economy, and individual citizens. It examines policy processes, stakeholder engagement, regulatory frameworks, and the effectiveness of interventions across areas such as social services, economic policy, environmental regulation, and public administration. This research aims to provide evidence-based insights that inform policymakers, improve government decision-making processes, and enhance the design and delivery of public programs and services.
In addition to these core research areas, our deep bench of adjunct faculty bring globally recognized expertise in their specific industries as accomplished CEOs and Executives to Military and Government leaders spanning sought-after knowledge in everything from homeland security to happiness.
Faculty Research
CPS faculty are continually advancing applied research in professional studies spanning an array of industries. Some of our faculty’s most recent research is highlighted below.
Experiential learning is the core of the Northeastern learning experience. From undergraduate students completing their bachelor’s degree to professional doctoral students drafting dissertation research, our students pursue cutting edge research that makes a difference.
The Center for Bioinnovation combines AI-driven analytics with industry partnerships to advance biotechnology education and research, creating pathways from middle school through graduate study that keep pace with rapid developments in the field.
Center for the Future of Higher Education and Work
The Center for the Future of Higher Education and Work (CHEW) is an applied research center that builds on Northeastern University’s heritage of more than a century of leadership in experiential learning and its network of more than 3,300 employer partners.
The Workforce Transformation Lab is a research initiative that brings together researchers, industry partners, and policy experts to explore how technology can connect more people to more economic opportunity. Our multi-disciplinary team investigates both the development of effective HR tools and how these technologies are implemented in real-world settings.
The Digital Transformation Lab conducts research on the theory and application of emerging technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and big data analytics in logistics, supply chain management, project management, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.
