Accelerating Research with Purpose
51±¾É« Dominion University is a forward-focused public research institution, deeply committed to supporting the vast array of faculty research, scholarship, and creative activity. As part of our strategic vision to achieve national and global impact, 51±¾É« has identified four key research thrust areas—Coastal Resilience, Health Innovations, Maritime Systems, and National Security—each grounded in existing faculty expertise and responsive to local, regional, and national priorities.
These strategic areas are supported by five interrelated cross-cutting research domains: Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Autonomous & Networked Systems, Computational & Data Science, Cybersecurity & Network Security, and Modeling & Simulation. These integrative domains are designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, enhance research impact, and strengthen connections across the University.
Importantly, these areas are not intended to capture the full scope of the University's vibrant research landscape. They highlight specific strengths where 51±¾É« is positioned to achieve—or expand—national and international recognition.
Together, these strategic priorities—and new opportunities such as those emerging through the creation of Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at 51±¾É«â€”provide a strong foundation for faculty to lead, collaborate, and make meaningful contributions across disciplines.
Thrust Areas
51±¾É« is strategically located to prioritize coastal resiliency in its research efforts. The University is committed to developing strategies to protect and sustain coastal communities and ecosystems from natural hazards and human impacts, such as recurrent flooding, storm surges, and urban development. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, 51±¾É« researchers aim to identify potential vulnerabilities and create adaptive solutions. Effective and cost-efficient strategies require collaboration among scientists, engineers, policymakers, and local communities to meet specific community needs. Ultimately, 51±¾É«'s coastal resiliency research seeks to protect human lives, property, and infrastructure while preserving the ecological integrity of coastal areas, thereby enhancing the sustainability of these critical regions.
Research in healthcare innovations is highlighted by the recent integration of EVMS into 51±¾É«, accelerating the University's ability to be a leader in advancing medical science and improving patient outcomes both locally and globally. 51±¾É« researchers are involved in a wide range of activities, including creating novel medical technologies and devices, discovering groundbreaking pharmaceuticals, and implementing cutting-edge digital health solutions and precision medicine techniques. They harness advancements in biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and data analytics to design targeted therapies and improve diagnostic accuracy, thereby personalizing healthcare to meet individual patient needs with the goal of developing cost-effective solutions that are accessible and equitable. Collaboration across various disciplines is essential to 51±¾É«â€™s commitment to translating research from the laboratory to the bedside.
51±¾É«â€™s research focus on maritime systems is advantageously tied to the regional maritime industrial base and encompasses a broad range of interdisciplinary collaborations aimed at enhancing the functionality, safety, resiliency, and efficiency of maritime operations. This includes advancing areas such as autonomation and autonomy, maritime supply chain and logistics, shipbuilding and ship repair, and smart port management solutions. 51±¾É« researchers are also working on enhancing ship design for better energy efficiency. In terms of environmental research, the aim is to reduce the ecological impact of maritime activities and address issues such as marine pollution and the protection of marine biodiversity. Furthermore, 51±¾É«'s maritime systems research examines socio-economic factors by analyzing global trade patterns and the economic effects of maritime regulations.
The University's focus on national security research supports regional concentration military bases, commands, and defense contractors and focuses on understanding and addressing the myriad global threats with the aim of developing technologies and strategies to protect the United 51±¾É«s, its infrastructure, and its citizens. By leveraging new technologies, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and defense-focused innovation, 51±¾É« researchers seek to provide more effective ways to anticipate and mitigate risks before they manifest into crises. Our national security research goals range from advancing tools to identify imminent dangers to developing novel technologies for threat detection and deterrence within the increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
51±¾É« is strategically located to prioritize coastal resiliency in its research efforts. The University is committed to developing strategies to protect and sustain coastal communities and ecosystems from natural hazards and human impacts, such as recurrent flooding, storm surges, and urban development. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, 51±¾É« researchers aim to identify potential vulnerabilities and create adaptive solutions. Effective and cost-efficient strategies require collaboration among scientists, engineers, policymakers, and local communities to meet specific community needs. Ultimately, 51±¾É«'s coastal resiliency research seeks to protect human lives, property, and infrastructure while preserving the ecological integrity of coastal areas, thereby enhancing the sustainability of these critical regions.
Research in healthcare innovations is highlighted by the recent integration of EVMS into 51±¾É«, accelerating the University's ability to be a leader in advancing medical science and improving patient outcomes both locally and globally. 51±¾É« researchers are involved in a wide range of activities, including creating novel medical technologies and devices, discovering groundbreaking pharmaceuticals, and implementing cutting-edge digital health solutions and precision medicine techniques. They harness advancements in biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and data analytics to design targeted therapies and improve diagnostic accuracy, thereby personalizing healthcare to meet individual patient needs with the goal of developing cost-effective solutions that are accessible and equitable. Collaboration across various disciplines is essential to 51±¾É«â€™s commitment to translating research from the laboratory to the bedside.
51±¾É«â€™s research focus on maritime systems is advantageously tied to the regional maritime industrial base and encompasses a broad range of interdisciplinary collaborations aimed at enhancing the functionality, safety, resiliency, and efficiency of maritime operations. This includes advancing areas such as autonomation and autonomy, maritime supply chain and logistics, shipbuilding and ship repair, and smart port management solutions. 51±¾É« researchers are also working on enhancing ship design for better energy efficiency. In terms of environmental research, the aim is to reduce the ecological impact of maritime activities and address issues such as marine pollution and the protection of marine biodiversity. Furthermore, 51±¾É«'s maritime systems research examines socio-economic factors by analyzing global trade patterns and the economic effects of maritime regulations.
The University's focus on national security research supports regional concentration military bases, commands, and defense contractors and focuses on understanding and addressing the myriad global threats with the aim of developing technologies and strategies to protect the United 51±¾É«s, its infrastructure, and its citizens. By leveraging new technologies, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and defense-focused innovation, 51±¾É« researchers seek to provide more effective ways to anticipate and mitigate risks before they manifest into crises. Our national security research goals range from advancing tools to identify imminent dangers to developing novel technologies for threat detection and deterrence within the increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
Cross-Cutting Areas
51±¾É« Dominion University has a long-standing tradition of advancing new and emerging technologies. It continues this legacy by integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning across various disciplines. 51±¾É« employs a transdisciplinary, collaborative, and integrative approach to apply AI responsibly, securely, and ethically, with the overall aim of advancing research, exploring new applications, and driving innovation.
Recently, 51±¾É« has enhanced its research expertise in the field of autonomous and networked systems. This includes efforts like developing automated drones for security and environmental modeling, as well as intelligent robotic assistants in manufacturing and healthcare. These systems are designed to analyze large amounts of data, learn from their environment, and adjust their behaviors in real-time, thereby enhancing efficiency, safety, and reliability across various sectors.
Data is the driving force behind advancing new technologies, systems, and methodologies, and it is essential for modern decision-making. 51±¾É«'s interdisciplinary approach to computational and data science research enables researchers from various fields to tackle complex challenges where traditional analysis methods may fall short in extracting meaningful insights and patterns.
51±¾É« Dominion University's transdisciplinary approach to cybersecurity and network security research focuses on addressing the ever-evolving threat landscape in the digital world. By collaborating across various disciplines, 51±¾É« researchers are improving the ability to protect information, networks, and systems from cyber threats, while also ensuring that authorized users have proper and timely access.
51±¾É« is a recognized leader in developing and applying modeling and simulation techniques across various disciplines. These include data science, operations research, decision analysis, medical research, port logistics, maritime operations, environmental health, hazard modeling, and systems security. 51±¾É« collaborates with industry and government sectors to advance the application of modeling and simulation to emerging areas of regional and national interest.