ATLAS Research
ATLAS labs support interdisciplinary research, design & creativity
One of 12 institutes at CU Boulder, ATLAS is home to researchers who transcend traditional disciplinary structures of engineering, design, science and art to inspire new realms of invention. We make tangible and digital tools and methods that shape how people interact with the world for a more inclusive, inspired and sustainable society.
Individually, ATLAS labs serve as hubs for specialized in-depth research in textiles, human-computer interaction, biomaterials, nanotech, data, fabrication, music, language, art, performance and more. Together they comprise a larger force for unconventional lines of inquiry, radical creative expression and spontaneous collaboration.
ATLAS Research Labs
ACME Lab
Ellen Yi-Luen Do, Director
The ACME Creativity Machine Environment Lab explores and develops computational tools for design, creativity, cognition, tangible and embedded interaction, and computing for health and wellness.
Brain Music Lab
Grace Leslie, Director
The Brain Music Lab pursues research to promote health and well-being by combining new music technologies with biometric data from EEG brainwave data and other physiological measurement techniques.
Emergent Nanomaterials Lab
Carson Bruns, Director
By synthesizing and combining nanoscale building blocks, the Emergent Nanomaterials Lab designs technologies that enhance the quality of human lives in health, sensory augmentation and self-expression.
Living Matter Lab
Mirela Alistar, Director
Working at the intersection of biology, engineering and art, the Living Matter Lab interfaces with biological matter, the micro-world and the environment in unique ways.
Programmable Reality Lab
Ryo Suzuki, Director
The goal of Programmable Reality Lab is to make our whole living environment dynamic, interactive, and programmable to transform our living space into a dynamic medium.
TYPO Lab
Joel Swanson, Director
TYPO Lab is an experimental studio for creative work and research related to the technologies of language. It empowers faculty and students to explore and appreciate the media and methods of words.
Unstable Design Lab
Laura Devendorf, Director
An advocate for the arts within engineering fields, the Unstable Design Lab focuses on advancing textile design and fabrication, including the integration of circuitry and other technologies.
Utility Research Lab
Michael Rivera, Director
The Utility Research Lab invents and investigates digital fabrication technology, tools and techniques that empower us to create things that positively impact people, society and the environment.
ATLAS Research News
ATLAS Research Catalog
Get inspired by radical creativity and invention. Download the ATLAS Research Catalog for a detailed look at how the ATLAS community is inventing the future. Explore the novel interdisciplinary work each of our research labs pursues.
The catalog is relevant to those curious about the breadth of our work. It includes:
- Introduction from Institute Director Mark D Gross
- Lab overviews
- Lab director bios
- Project descriptions
- High-resolution images
- Details on participating in our vibrant community
Affiliated Labs
We partner with likeminded labs across the CU-Boulder community to expand our research and creative capabilities.
ATLAS Sponsors
The ATLAS Institute appreciates the support of our sponsors in advancing our collective understanding of the world.
