Research Centers
AUS is committed to pushing the boundaries of knowledge through research. Our commitment to promoting research, innovation and analytical thinking to address societal needs is deeply rooted in the visionary leadership of our founder, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Sharjah. His Highness's unwavering dedication to education and research has propelled AUS to its current standing as a leading institution in the region. Building on this legacy, Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of AUS, continues to champion the university's mission of promoting excellence in teaching, learning, research and creative work.
Recognized for our exceptional academic reputation and impactful research contributions by QS World University Rankings (2024), AUS stands as a beacon of research excellence. Ranked second in academic reputation in the UAE, our institution's global influence is underscored by its significant contributions to scholarly discourse and innovation. Additionally, our faculty members' active engagement in research, highlighted by AUS's second-place ranking in citations per faculty in the UAE, underscores our commitment to generating knowledge that resonates globally.
Aligning with the university's dedication to research excellence, our research centers are driving transformative and innovative solutions across various disciplines.
Our three Research Centers include:
Materials Research Center (MRC)
Hosted by the AUS College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), the Materials Research Center (MRC) nurtures and promotes groundbreaking interdisciplinary research and education activities in the field of advanced materials and sustainable structures. The center focuses on providing novel solutions and developing highly skilled human resources that are critical to the UAE’s economic growth, particularly as it transitions from a petroleum-based economy to a diversified knowledge-based economy.
MRC combines science disciplines and various branches of technology to discover new solutions in the energy, environmental, healthcare and construction sectors. Our faculty members are actively contributing to diverse areas of research across the fields of materials science and engineering , all of which lead to technological advancements and finding novel solutions for sustainability, surface engineering and 3D printing, as well as in developing smart materials, and advanced composites with enhanced characteristics.
The research center is also committed to supporting current PhD programs, particularly the PhD in Materials Science and Engineering program, where students are immersed in cutting-edge dissertation projects aligned with our focus areas.
Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainable Development (CEISD)
The Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainable Development is a multidisciplinary research center hosted by the AUS School of Business Administration (SBA). The center collaborates with strategic partners in Sharjah to bring the research innovations and promising ideas of students and faculty members to the marketplace. It also aims to assist entrepreneurial students, alumni and faculty in accessing and leveraging Sharjah’s innovation ecosystem and the broader landscape of the UAE. At the core of CEISD's work lies research on sustainable development, encompassing environmental, social and governance sustainability themes, as well as exploration into the catalysts for sustainable growth, notably entrepreneurship and innovation.
Energy, Water and Sustainable Environment Research Center (EWSERC)
Hosted by the AUS College of Engineering (CEN), the Energy, Water and Sustainable Environment Research Center (EWSERC) aims to develop world-class research that focuses on making a significant impact in addressing global challenges in energy, water and environmental sustainability.
Faculty and scholars at AUS are dedicated to finding practical solutions to the growing demands on resources in urban areas. There research enables AUS to contribute to several UAE strategic plans, such as UAE Net Zero 2050, the Sustainable Environment and Infrastructure (Vision 2021), the National Water and Energy Demand Management Program, the UAE Environment Policy, the UAE Circular Economy Policy, the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, the National Climate Change Plan of the UAE 2017-2050 and the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036.
The center works towards providing sustainable solutions, optimizing resource utilization and developing new technologies and infrastructures that address pressing challenges not just regionally, but on a global scale as well. It also aims to foster extensive collaboration with industries to bridge the gap between academia and industry, to ensure that the innovative solutions become tangible and leave a positive effect on both sectors.
