Research Impact skip to main content Research Impact Investing in Innovation Toolkit Open Investing in Innovation Toolkit submenu Research Funding FAQs SearchSearch Menu Close Investing in Innovation Toolkit Open Investing in Innovation Toolkit submenu Investing in Innovation: Communications Toolkit Back Research Funding FAQs SearchSearch Investing in Innovation Caltech research, fueled by federal funding, yields discoveries, advances, and technologies to change our lives. For more than 80 years, partnership between the federal government and research universities such as Caltech has propelled U.S. leadership in science and technology, ensured economic competitiveness, contributed to national defense, launched industries, enhanced the wellbeing of the American people, and prepared the next generation of science and engineering leaders. Federal investments in Caltech research pay back society through discovery and innovation that improve health, harness new energy sources, create jobs, and pioneer the technologies we rely on in our everyday lives—now and into the future. Explore some of the ways federally funded research at Caltech expands frontiers of knowledge and both fuels a legacy and creates a future of U.S. leadership in innovation and curiosity-driven science. Human Health Improving and saving lives by pioneering a deeper understanding of the body and how it works Earthquakes and Seismology Leading the world in seismic measurement and monitoring for over a century The Future of Energy Exploring efficient, affordable, and accessible sources of energy Space Exploration and Discovery Driving observation and exploration of the universe and beyond to broaden understanding of our origins and future AI and Quantum Computing Integrating deep theoretical expertise and interdisciplinary excellence to advance computing capabilities and then leverage those tools to advance scientific discovery and address societal problems Robotics and Autonomous Systems Designing self-driving cars, self-assembling space robots, prosthetic devices, and more to navigate real-world, unpredictable environments and situations Meet the Minds Driving Discovery Edward B. Lewis Professor of Biology and Biological Engineering Marianne Bronner My lab studies a fascinating embryonic stem cell population called the neural crest. We are also studying how these cells, unique to vertebrate embryos, have changed over the course of evolution. Defects in neural crest development can cause many debilitating birth defects, including cleft lip and/or palate and outflow tract defects of the heart. When things go wrong in neural crest development, they can also give rise to tumors. So, understanding their normal development can help detect and possibly treat developmental abnormalities and some types of cancer. Read more about Bronner's work on Instagram Professor of Planetary Science Konstantin Batygin Humanity has only discovered two true planets beyond those known to the ancients: Uranus and Neptune. If Planet Nine exists, it will expand our census of worlds in the solar system and, with its immense orbit, hold a fossil record of the solar system’s earliest days. Understanding it would not only reshape our map of the nearby cosmos but also reveal how planets form and migrate. The Vera Rubin Observatory comes online later this year. It may confirm or refute our predictions, uncover new patterns, or even detect Planet Nine directly. Either way, we stand at the threshold of discovery. Read more about Batygin's work on Instagram Professor of Planetary Science Heather Knutson Our goal is to find and study exoplanets, which are planets orbiting nearby stars. As astronomers, we have come up with clever ways to study their properties. This allows us to explore nearby worlds from the comfort of our home planet! One of my group’s long-term goals is to characterize more small rocky planets like the Earth. This information will help us to determine whether or not a given planet might be able to support life, and (eventually) to look for evidence of life on those planets. Read more about Knutson's work on Instagram Research Professor of Geophysics Allen Husker We are researching people’s responses to the phone alerts sent out during the 2025 LA wildfires to improve earthquake early warning alerts. We want to find out if people ignore alerts or want more as time passes. We hope to understand decision making and how people respond during emergencies. Millions of people have already been alerted during smaller "one-off" earthquakes, but a large earthquake will have many aftershocks over many days. This research will inform how earthquake alerting happens during aftershocks. Read more about Husker's work on Instagram Previous Next Economic Impact 100+ Caltech-affiliated companies founded in the last decade 2,000+ Active U.S. patents held by Caltech 26K+ Caltech alumni around the world 7,100 Employees across campus and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, making Caltech Pasadena's largest employer Previous Next Caltech Voices Want the next breakthrough? Don't starve the science October 5, 2025 Los Angeles Times Future prospects for American science (video) September 25, 2025 Techer Live Responding to new realities in US science and technology July 31, 2025 Elsevier More coverage Get the latest news from the Caltech website delivered to your email inbox. Subscribe now California Institute of Technology 1200 East California Boulevard Pasadena, California 91125 Digital Accessibility | Privacy Notice | Site Content Copyright © 2026