Photo of a woman writing public policy brainstorming ideas in colorful doodles on a large whiteboard.

Research, Public Service & Initiatives

Faculty, Researchers & Students Work Together on Critical Issues

Research & Public Service

The Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration is home to and affiliated with many notable research and public service centers and engagement initiatives. These allow students, faculty, and staff to tackle important research and work related to policy challenges and community issues.

The centers' relationship to the academic programs

The affiliated research and public service centers are closely linked to the Biden School's academic programs, helping students learn first-hand by participating in vital funded research. The centers partner with local, state, federal, and international governments and nonprofits and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) to explore issues important to our community, state, nation and the world.

Research assistantships

As a research assistant you may find yourself working in one of the dynamic research centers, or you may be placed in a community organization while supervised by research center personnel. Your research assistantship is determined by available funded projects as well as your interests, specialization, concentration, or desired employment experience.

Photo of President Joe Biden stands in front of a podium bearing the University of Delaware monogram, a large crowd of students is gathered behind him.

The Brandywine River flows through the wooded Delaware Valley during the fall leave change resulting in the flowing river framed on both sides by green, brown, red, purple, yellow and orange bursts

Group photo of students and leadership in professional dress gathered on the steps of the Governor's Mansion in Dover, Delaware

A photo of colorful buildings on the Rehoboth Beach, Delaware boardwalk at sunset with sand and dunes in the foreground.

Photo of historic row buildings with boarded up windows and doors in Darby, Pennsylvania. The street is torn up in the foregorund and a constructrion vehicle is slightly visible in the lower left corner.

Large group photo of students, faculty and staff in professional dress at the SNF Ithaca National Student Dialogue event in 2024

Photo of the 2023 Public Allies cohort standing side-by-side in professional dress, their right hands raised as they take their Americorps oath of service.

Aerial photo of the muddy, flooded streets of a neighorbood with only roofs visible in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

Research & Public Service in action

University of Delaware receives $6 million in research funding on best practices for how coastal communities can combat sea level rise

The coast is unclear

Offshore wind energy grants

UD researchers (from left) Ardeshir Faghri and Jennie Saxe from the College of Engineering and Andrea Pierce and Philip Barnes from the Biden School are part of a new research center that is aimed at advancing equitable transportation research and solutions.

Improving mobility

Stephen Metraux, director of the Center for Community Research and Service (CCRS) and nationally recognized expert on homelessness, says the COVID pandemic has revealed a larger, more urgent homeless problem in Delaware.

Homelessness in Delaware: New Ideas and Directions

A photograph from a helicopter shows the flooding in a community.

$16.5 million grant for UD’s Disaster Research Center

The University of Delaware is one of several universities that received funding for brownfield assistance.

Brownfield redevelopment

Biden School Academic Programs >

Our Recognition & Rankings >

Visit UD Campus >

Elected Official. Nonprofit Executive Director. Health Policy Researcher. Community Planner.

These are just a few examples of the positions filled by alumni of the Biden School programs. You bring the issues and causes you care about, we provide tools, support, and opportunities to help you make an impact.

Colleges