Rutgers Edge

Rutgers Edge
About Rutgers
Rutgers Edge
The Rutgers Edge
As a powerhouse of research, innovation, and public service, Rutgers stands at the forefront of higher education. The Rutgers Edge is defined by a relentless drive to push boundaries, solve real-world problems, and empower communities through knowledge and discovery.
Rutgers Cracks the Code on Forever Plastics
What if plastic was biodegradable?
Each year over 400 million tons of plastic waste enter our oceans, soil, and landfills, where it can persist for centuries.
Rutgers researchers have unlocked a molecular secret
: plastic that can self-degrade over time.
With a small change to production methods, plastics get an end date—making a healthier world a reality.
Read More about the Research
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Our Leading Edge
Eight Rutgers Researchers Named AAAS Fellows
Rutgers Congratulates Our Newest Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
This year’s class of
American Association for the Advancement of Science fellows
includes top administrators, distinguished professors, and accomplished scientists. Their work demonstrates the breadth of ongoing research at Rutgers that is changing the world and making a difference in people’s lives.
Steven G. Buyske
Professor of Statistics, School of Arts and Sciences
Distinguished contributions to the field of statistical genetics, particularly in multi-cohort human genetics projects and in neurological and psychiatric disorders
Yingying Chen
Chair and Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Engineering
Advancements and contributions to the field of computer science and information technology, particularly in mobile computing, wireless sensing, and information security
Wendie Cohick
Vice Provost and Vice Chancellor for Research, Rutgers–New Brunswick
Distinguished contributions to the field of animal science, particularly hormonal regulation of mammary gland physiology, lactation, and breast cancer
Cheryl F. Dreyfus
Chair and Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Contributions to the field of neuroscience and glial biology, as well as for academic administration and service to the public
Maria Laura Gennaro
Principal investigator, Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School; Professor, Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School; Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Rutgers School of Public Health
Outstanding contributions in understanding host and pathogen interactions, including mycobacterium tuberculosis and SARS-CoV-2
Reynold A. Panettieri Jr.
Vice Chancellor for Translational Medicine and Science, Director of the Institute for Translational Medicine and Science, Rutgers Health; Professor of Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Distinguished contributions to the basic science of pulmonary disease and inflammation, and for outstanding leadership of the Rutgers Clinical and Translational Science Awards
Junichi Sadoshima
Chair and Professor of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School
Distinguished contributions to the field of cardiovascular research, as well as for administration in his role as chair
Andrew P. Thomas
Distinguished Professor and the Thomas P. Infusino Endowed Chair of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School; Senior Associate Dean, School of Graduate Studies
Outstanding contributions to the field and advancing the knowledge of the role of calcium in cell signaling, and for outstanding administration in his role as chair
An Engine of Innovation
Rutgers is a research powerhouse
, fueled by nearly $1 billion in research investments. Every day, we accelerate solutions that safeguard our land and oceans, advance health and wellness, and modernize infrastructure and agriculture. With 300 research centers and institutes providing the foundation for discovery, our impact is measured in real-world results:
200+
New Inventions, Bringing Ideas to Life
100+
Startups Getting Rutgers Ingenuity to Market
100+
Patents Securing Life Changing Innovations
240+
Industry Partners Turning Ideas Into Impact
More about Rutgers Research
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Rhodes Scholar from Rutgers Named
Rutgers is one of only 22 U.S. universities to produce a Rhodes Scholar this year.
Omar M. Abuattieh
is one of 32 Americans—and one of about 100 worldwide—hand-selected to join the one of the most highly competitive and prestigious international cohorts of promising young people worldwide at the University of Oxford in 2026.
Learn More About Rutgers' Rhodes Scholar
The Inauguration of Rutgers President William F. Tate IV
President William F. Tate IV was inaugurated as the 22nd President of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, on November 7, 2025, at Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall in Newark. During his inaugural address, Tate announced a new scholarship to support student achievement.
Inauguration Highlights
Closing in on Cancer
For the 1 in 20 Americans living with a cancer diagnosis, the need for new hope is immediate and essential.
At Rutgers we’re laser-focused on discovering novel and effective ways to treat cancer. In collaboration with an international network of research partners,
Rutgers Cancer Institute
, together with
RWJBarnabas Health
, is investing millions of dollars and thousands of hours to conduct hundreds of clinical trials. With our eye on  a cure, we’re getting closer every day to beating cancer—together.
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Rutgers Attacks Asthma
A Breakthrough in Identifying and Monitoring the Disease
One in four children in dense urban areas have asthma, far outpacing the national average. Our researchers at the
Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science
developed a simple blood test to diagnose and manage the disease, replacing difficult breathing tests. Rutgers research improves outcomes and confronts life-threatening health challenges for children and their families.
Watch Rutgers Make a Breakthrough in Asthma Research
Read More about Asthma Research at Rutgers
Rutgers Highly Ranked for Graduates’ Social Mobility
Rutgers University ranks high among the nation’s top universities for social mobility,
according to the 2026
U.S. News & World Report
college rankings, with Rutgers-Newark and Rutgers-Camden among the top 10 and Rutgers-New Brunswick ranking second among the Big Ten Conference’s 18 universities.
Read more about Social Mobility at Rutgers
An Academic Powerhouse
Over 40 Rutgers graduate programs rank in the top 25
across a wide range of disciplines.
U.S. News and World Report
consistently ranks Rutgers graduate programs among the best in the nation.
U.S. News and World Report
once again ranks all three Rutgers University campuses as top 50 public universities.
Rutgers-New Brunswick ranks as #16 public university, Rutgers-Newark ranks #36 and Rutgers-Camden ranks #46 among public universities.
View Rutgers Top Graduate Programs
More about Rutgers Rankings
Targeting the Causes of Parkinson's
Rutgers Experts Bring Hope to Finding a Cure
At the
Rutgers American Parkinson Disease Association Center for Advanced Research
—one of only nine such centers—we don’t just seek to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s but to cure it. By focusing on approaches to stop a chief culprit in the disease—the α-synuclein protein—from accumulating in the brain, there is hope for eradicating Parkinson’s.
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Rutgers' Precollege Program Is a National Model for Success
Rutgers gives academically promising, low-income, first-gen students a real path to earning a college degree
. From 7th grade on,
Rutgers Future Scholars
receive academic support, enrichment courses, leadership seminars, paid internships, and more. When students complete the program and gain admission to Rutgers, tuition assistance and ongoing mentoring help them through their degree completion.
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Preparing Tomorrow's Health Care Heroes
Rutgers Health Service Corps
connects our students with university health professionals, resources, and partners to create impactful service-learning opportunities. Through disease screenings, health education, and overdose prevention programs, the initiative has reached thousands of residents in our communities. By helping our neighbors, Rutgers is addressing health inequities and preparing the next generation of health care and public health heroes.
Learn More about Rutgers Health Service Corps
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Rutgers Battles Addiction with Research
One in 5 people struggle with substance use disorder at some point in their life.
Rutgers Addiction Research Center
—the nation's largest comprehensive addiction research center—brings together a multidisciplinary team of experts to reinvent the prevention and treatment of addiction.
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Investment in a Rutgers Degree Pays Off
The results are in.
Rutgers prepares students for success.
Nine in ten
participate in internships
or other professional experiences—often leading to their first job. Six months out, nearly
90% are employed
, furthering their education, serving in the military, or in a service program. With an
average starting salary of $70,000
, PayScale ranks Rutgers a top public university for the highest-paid early-career graduates.
That’s career success. That’s the value of a Rutgers education.
Rutgers Teaches Leaders the Power of Kindness
Coursework Shapes Tomorrow's Leaders
Students in
Rutgers Master of Business and Science
degree program learn to combine science and engineering with empathy and emotional intelligence—the soft skills that define the most effective leaders. They are challenged to perform five random acts of kindness and reflect on the impact, experiencing how seemingly small acts—helping a stranger, leaving an encouraging note, volunteering time—have a positive ripple effect. These future leaders will put the power of empathy to work alongside science, business, and innovation.
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Rutgers Is Restoring Freedom and Championing Reform
The
New Jersey Innocence Project
at Rutgers University is fighting injustice and working on behalf of victims of wrongful conviction. Two innocent men imprisoned for decades were freed in the past year thanks to the project’s investigative and legal work. Additionally, the Rutgers team advocates for reforms to the legal system to reduce unjust convictions—and make our justice system fairer for all.
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Rutgers Uses Data For Crime Prevention
To tackle this issue of rising violent crime, the
Rutgers School of Criminal Justice
developed risk terrain modeling to address areas of high crime without the need for over policing.
With national and international recognition, Rutgers has pioneered a unique approach to reimagining crime prevention. Rutgers' risk terrain modeling technology analyzes root crime causes in city landscapes to improve public safety outcomes.
The Rutgers-led
Newark Public Safety Collaborative
engages over 40 community organizations providing real world data and insights that empower them to make meaningful actions to reduce crime.
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Rutgers' BEAST Is a Game Changer for Structural Tests
When a bridge is compromised, the transit impact and repair costs are substantial. The
Rutgers Bridge Evaluation and Accelerated Structural Testing facility (BEAST)
is the world’s only laboratory that gathers critical data on how extreme weather and heavy traffic weaken a bridge’s structural integrity—creating, in just one year, a decade’s worth of real-world wear and tear. Armed with this data, transportation departments can make better informed bridge management decisions, saving billions in infrastructure costs and keeping traffic flowing.
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Rutgers Fosters Civic Engagement
Civic engagement is a critical component of education and a path toward appreciating our differences, restoring civil discourse, and serving the common good.
Rutgers Scarlet Service
provides Rutgers undergraduates from all campuses paid internships at government offices and public service-orientated nonprofits.
Students gain hands-on experience addressing important issues while developing a better understanding of themselves and building relationships with others. The program began in 2022 with 100 students interning in and around the state of New Jersey and has grown in 2023 to include a cohort in Washington, D.C.
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Researching Food for the Future
Rutgers University scientists are
driving the research and development of disease and climate-change resistant food crops
Rutgers has a long and proud history of breeding agricultural crops with improved qualities to meet the needs of selected industries.
Visit the Department of Plant Biology
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Preparing Tomorrow's Changemakers
Rutgers is redefining honors education. Recognized as a national model, the
Rutgers Honors Living-Learning Community
selects students who have not only achieved academic excellence but are also committed to creating a more just and equitable society. Addressing real problems in the local community, our scholars envision and implement actual solutions—making a difference right away. Through a curriculum designed to have an impact today, Rutgers HLLC scholars leave prepared to change tomorrow.
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A Historic University
Chartered in 1766, Rutgers is the eighth-oldest college in the nation. Our charter was granted by King George III of England and signed by William Franklin, the last Royal Governor of New Jersey and son of Benjamin Franklin.
A Reputation for Stellar Learning
Rutgers perennially appears in the most respected annual listings of the world's top universities. And we are the only university in the United States that is a colonial college, a land-grant institution, and a leading national public research university.
A Renowned Faculty
Rutgers faculty include members of the National Academies and winners of the National Medals of Science and Technology; Pulitzer Prizes; Guggenheim, MacArthur “Genius,” and Simons Fellowships; Fulbright Scholarships; and NSF CAREER Awards.
Devoted to Serving New Jersey
Rutgers is proud to be The State University of New Jersey, the Garden State's premier, comprehensive public research university, with educational and outreach programs that reach residents in all 21 New Jersey counties.
A Leader in Academic Health Care
Rutgers and its partners form one of the nation's largest academic health care systems, and the largest in New Jersey.
An Exceptional Education at an Affordable Price
Our students receive an outstanding education that prepares them for a future of leadership and success and is also a great value.
Forbes
magazine ranks Rutgers as #29 in the nation as "Best Value Colleges."