UW’s research discoveries profoundly impact how scientists, the lay public, industry and government understand and interact with the world around them. These impacts are evidenced in the academic honors UW faculty receive, policy changes informed by UW research, new companies launched and jobs created, improved health outcomes in our region and globally, and more. The opportunity for UW students to contribute to cutting edge research also positions them to meet the evolving challenges facing the next generation workforce.
Spotlight on impact: AI and protein design
A recent article in Nature explores how scientists and graduate students from the UW are using a cloud-based version of an AI tool, called RFdiffusion, to design entirely new proteins that could transform vaccines, therapeutics and biomaterials.
Honors and awards
For over 150 years the UW has been nationally and globally recognized for its research achievements. Our colleges and schools are consistently ranked among the top programs and specialties in the United States and the world, and we count seven Nobel Prize winners and hundreds of National Academy scholars among our faculty and researchers.
8 Nobel Prize winners
8 UW researchers, including 2024 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry David Baker, have received the world’s most prestigious award for outstanding contributions to chemistry, physics, physiology and medicine, literature, economics and peace.
204 National Academy members
204 UW researchers have been honored as members of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine.
103 American Academy of Arts & Sciences members
103 UW researchers are honored as members of the American Academy of Arts and Science.
Rankings
No. 1 most innovative public university in the world
Ranked by Reuters Top 100 in 2019
No. 2 best public university in the world
Ranked by US News & World Reports, Best Global Universities, in 2024
No. 7 best US university for tech transfer
Ranked by Milken Institute’s Concept to Commercialization in 2017