The brain is the most intricate system known to science — billions of cells forming dynamic networks that allow us to think, feel, move, and adapt. Yet despite decades of research, much about how the brain works remains a mystery. At the same time, neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions are on the rise, affecting more than one-third of the global population and costing trillions in healthcare and lost productivity.

Understanding the brain is key to unlocking human health and flourishing. The need has never been more urgent, but this challenge is too vast for any single discipline to solve alone.

That’s why Georgia Tech recently launched the Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society (INNS). A step toward a more connected, collaborative future, INNS brings together experts from across Georgia Tech’s seven colleges and the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) to study the brain in ways that connect scientific discovery with technological innovation and real-world societal needs.

INNS supports research that crosses traditional academic boundaries. As an Interdisciplinary Research Institute (IRI), it builds community, fosters collaboration, and fills critical gaps in education, professional development, and research infrastructure.

“Georgia Tech has a long-standing culture of interdisciplinary collaboration — it’s in our DNA,” says INNS Executive Director Chris Rozell. Rozell also serves as Julian T. Hightower Chaired Professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “INNS builds on that strength to create a space where breakthroughs in neuroscience and neurotechnology can move from lab to life, impacting real people in real ways.”

A Community Built to Collaborate

INNS is home to a growing network of faculty, students, and research centers spanning the full spectrum of Georgia Tech’s research expertise. This diversity is not just a feature, it’s the foundation.

That foundation was laid over decades of growth, vision, and grassroots momentum. Georgia Tech welcomed its first neuroscience-focused faculty member in 1990, sparking a steady expansion of brain-related research across campus. As more faculty joined and new focus areas emerged, a vibrant, cross-disciplinary community began to take shape.

In 2014, that community organized under the name GT Neuro, a grassroots initiative that united researchers who shared a passion for understanding the brain. This collective energy led to new educational programs, including the launch of Georgia Tech’s undergraduate neuroscience major in the College of Sciences.

“Our undergraduate students absolutely love teaching others about Neuroscience,” said Christina Ragan, director of Outreach for the Undergraduate Neuroscience Program and senior academic professional in the School of Biological Sciences. “I'm really excited to explore ways for INNS to connect our neuroscience community at Tech with the public.”

By 2023, the Neuro Next Initiative launched to bring together leaders from across campus and chart a strategic path forward — the result of nearly two years of community-driven planning to formalize and expand Georgia Tech’s neuroscience ecosystem. 

“The launch of INNS has built on the momentum of the Neuro Next Initiative, which ignited crucial conversations and fostered new collaborations between researchers at GTRI and Georgia Tech faculty,” says Tabbitha Rosenbalm, GTRI senior research engineer. “The remarkable demonstration at Interface Neuro — witnessing a quadriplegic man walk and communicate thanks to innovative research — underscores the transformative breakthroughs possible when academic and applied researchers unite. INNS is uniquely positioned to serve as a catalyst, propelling Atlanta, Georgia Tech, and GTRI as national leaders in neurotechnology, driving advancements in both human health and engineering innovation.”

INNS is also helping shape the future of education. A new interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in neuroscience and neurotechnology welcomed its first cohort this fall, and INNS is poised to support it with professional development, research opportunities, and community engagement.

Breaking Boundaries to Advance Brain Science

Whether it’s developing neurotechnologies, designing therapeutic environments, or exploring the ethical implications of brain research, INNS is here to support work that spans fields and impacts lives.

“To responsibly address the societal and human impacts of advances in neuroscience and neurotechnology, we first need to understand them,” said Margaret Kosal, professor and director of Graduate Students in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. “That requires real and substantive collaboration beyond traditional engineering or biology labs.”

One example of INNS in action is the Smart Transitional Home Lab, a project funded by the inaugural INNS/Shepherd Center Seed Grant. This initiative brings together experts in architecture, inclusive design, neuroengineering, and rehabilitation to prototype environments that actively support stroke recovery, blending rigorous research with human-centered design.

“The establishment of INNS creates a powerful platform where diverse minds, from neuroscience to architecture to rehabilitation, can converge around a shared mission to advance human health,” says Hui Cai, professor in the School of Architecture, executive director of the SimTigrate Design Center, and co-leader of the project. “It enables interdisciplinary work with the potential to transform lives and redefine how we design for healing and recovery.”

“From whole brain recordings, to mapping the connectome, to the incredible advances in artificial intelligence, it's never been a more exciting time to study the mind and brain,” says Bob Wilson, director of the Center of Excellence for Computation and Cognition and associate professor in the School of Psychology. “I'm extremely excited for INNS to act as a central hub, building the neuroscience community at Georgia Tech and beyond.”

Join Us

INNS is more than an institute, it’s a growing, vibrant community of researchers, educators, students, and partners. Together, we’re working to understand the brain, develop technologies that improve lives, and ensure those innovations serve society responsibly.

Whether you're a student, researcher, policymaker, or simply curious about the brain, INNS is your gateway to interdisciplinary neuroscience at Georgia Tech. Get involved at neuro.gatech.edu.

The College of Sciences has exceeded its $75 million campaign target, raising $78 million and counting as part of the Institute’s historic philanthropic effort, Transforming Tomorrow: The Campaign for Georgia Tech.

“Achieving this milestone reflects the generosity and deep commitment of our alumni, donors, and friends to advancing science education and research,” says Susan Lozier, dean of the College of Sciences and Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair. “We are energized by this momentum and grateful to everyone who has supported us through investment in our success as we continue to fundraise for key priorities such as endowed faculty positions, graduate fellowships, undergraduate scholarships, and innovative teaching and experiential learning.”

Sciences is the first Georgia Tech College to reach its goal. 

“This early success highlights the foundational and essential role of the sciences,” adds College of Sciences Director of Development Dan Warren. “The enthusiastic support from alumni, foundations, and corporate partners speaks volumes — reaching this milestone is a tribute to the transformative power of philanthropy and community.”

Philanthropy in action

The funds raised are already making a meaningful impact across the College, supporting students, faculty, and research. Campaign contributions are being invested in important initiatives such as:

• faculty endowments with an emphasis to support those in early and mid-career and in interdisciplinary areas;
• graduate student top-up fellowships to support recruitment of the best and brightest to our programs;
• need-based undergraduate scholarships to ensure an affordable education;
• research-based undergraduate scholarships to provide co-curricular opportunities; and
• direct support for faculty research to accelerate discovery and solutions.

New programs made possible in the College by Transforming Tomorrow include the Student Transfer Enrichment Program (STEP), which helps transfer students thrive through academic support, social engagement, and leadership development, as well as the Rising Tide program, which helps recruit and mentor early-career scientists. Also noteworthy is the enhanced Career Education Program, which connects students with alumni and career opportunities. 

A vision for the future

The College’s success contributes to the broader campaign, which has raised more than $1.6 billion toward its $2 billion goal. Fiscal year 2025 was the most successful fundraising year in Georgia Tech’s history, with nearly $300 million raised in new philanthropic support. Earlier this month, the Institute announced a historic $100 million bequest — the largest single gift in Tech’s history.

What’s next

As the campaign continues, the College of Sciences will remain focused on expanding student opportunities, accelerating scientific discovery, and supporting faculty excellence. The top priority for the Dean is creating opportunities for students to have access to a Georgia Tech education through need-based scholarships and graduate fellowships which provide a competitive advantage in recruiting the best and brightest students to our programs. 

“We are extremely grateful for the alumni, friends, students, faculty, staff, and corporations who have supported us so far,” says Warren. “Thanks to you, we’re heading into the final stretch of the campaign with wind in our sails. Now is the perfect moment to invest in the students, educators, and researchers driving tomorrow’s breakthroughs.” 

To learn more or make a gift to the College of Sciences, contact Dan Warren, director of Development for the College of Sciences, at dan.warren@cos.gatech.edu.

Georgia Tech continues its upward trajectory in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2026 rankings, released Sept. 23. The Institute moved up to No. 32 among national universities, improving one spot from last year and tying with institutions such as New York University and University of California, Davis. Among top public national universities, Georgia Tech held steady at No. 9, and it achieved No. 1 rankings across several categories.

“Georgia Tech has emerged as a unique case in American higher education — an institution that delivers some of the best student outcomes in the nation while growing at a record pace in terms of enrollment, degrees granted, and research,” said Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera. “I am delighted to see rankings like these recognize Georgia Tech among the best public universities in the nation, and I invite families, students, employers, and corporate partners to reach out and learn more about what we’re doing here.”

Academic Distinctions

Georgia Tech also distinguished itself in areas that reflect the quality of the student experience and support for undergraduates. The Institute ranked No. 16 for Best Colleges for Veterans, maintaining its position from last year, and placed No. 3 nationally for internships and co-ops, underscoring Tech’s emphasis on hands-on learning opportunities. The senior capstone experience held steady at No. 12, highlighting the Institute’s commitment to preparing students for real-world problem-solving.

In addition, Georgia Tech ranked No. 21 in Best Undergraduate Teaching, rising 10 places from last year, and No. 3 in Most Innovative Universities, continuing a streak of top-five placements. 

Science and Math Excellence

Among  universities offering undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs, Georgia Tech ranks No. 32 nationally. U.S. News & World Report formally ranks only a handful of undergraduate programs in math and science. This year, the College of Sciences' undergraduate program in psychology entered the top 40 for the first time, moving up 30 places to No. 33. 

College of Sciences graduate programs are consistently ranked in the top 10% of accredited programs. The latest U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate School Rankings, published in April 2023, features all six College of Sciences schools among its best science schools for graduate studies. Several specialties also received high marks.

See ranking updates for other Georgia Tech programs here.

*Please note that this summary includes the latest rankings issued by U.S. News & World Report. Not all Georgia Tech Colleges, Schools, and subjects are ranked every year by this organization.

Georgia Tech’s James Stroud has been awarded a 2025 Maxwell/Hanrahan Award in Field Biology. Presented by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, the award recognizes outstanding scientists conducting field research that both explores the natural world and leverages collaboration. 

An assistant professor in the School of Biological Sciences, Stroud is one of just five scientists selected to receive this year’s honor, which includes $100,000 of funding to support his work.

“I’m honored to receive this award,” he says. “This support affirms the value of field-based research, and underscores the importance of collaborative, long-term field studies.”

From ecology to empowerment

An evolutionary biologist, Stroud uses lizards to explore how ecological and evolutionary processes at the micro scale may underlie broader patterns of biological diversity at a larger scale — research that involves both computational analysis and long-term field studies.

“My lab’s research focuses on studying lizards in their natural habitats, allowing us to directly investigate how species adapt and evolve in real time,” he shares. “This helps us understand how these ecological and evolutionary processes shape life on Earth."

In South Florida, Stroud’s fieldwork focuses on ‘Lizard Island’ — a football field-sized island with a 1,000-lizard population. Operating for a decade, it is one of the world’s longest-running active evolutionary studies of its kind. This year, Stroud published research documenting evolution in action on the island when two species met for the first time, providing some of the clearest evidence to date of evolution in real-time. 

Outside of field research, Stroud recently led a Nature review paper providing the first-ever comprehensive analysis of long-term evolutionary studies, underscoring the critical need for these types of studies. 

Stroud has also developed a community science project called “Lizards on the Loose.” A collaboration with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, the program engages middle school students from more than 100 schools across South Florida through the iNaturalist online platform and mobile app. Together, they have recorded thousands of lizard observations in their school grounds, local parks, and back yards.

As people age, walking often becomes slower and less efficient, limiting mobility and independence. 

To address these challenges, three Georgia Tech researchers have received a $3.2 million Research Project Grant (R01) from the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute on Aging (NIA).

Leading the study is Gregory Sawicki, Joseph Anderer Faculty Fellow and professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and School of Biological Sciences. He is joined by Woodruff School colleagues Aaron Young, associate professor, and Kinsey Herrin, principal research scientist, along with partners at the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC) and Northeastern University. Together, they will study how aging impacts lower-limb joint mechanics, muscle function, and the energy cost of walking.

Read the full story on the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering website.