Research
Driven by the pursuit of new ideas and big discoveries, faculty, researchers, and students at the UMD College of Information (INFO) are combining principles of information science with cutting-edge technology to foster access to information, improve information interfaces, and expand how information is used. We tackle significant, real-world information challenges from diverse perspectives such as communication, information retrieval, policy, computer science, education, archives, business, human factors, law, humanities, and more. Our discoveries empower, inspire, and connect individuals and communities.
EXPERTISE AREAS RESEARCH GROUPS PROJECTS
Research Community
70+ Faculty and Researchers, 88 PhD Students, 12 Research Labs/Centers
INFO Research Groups
Research Performance
$36M in Research Funding from 16+ Funders; 50 Active Grants; 12 NSF, IMLS or DARPA Career Grants
Browse Projects
#8 HCI Research USA
UMD for Research Performance in Human-Computer Interaction (Publications, Citations)
EduRank (external link, opens in a new tab)
#11 Research Spending USA
UMD in the USA for Research Spending, Public Universities
National Science Foundation HERD Survey (external link, opens in a new tab)
Internal College Research Funding
Internal College Research Funding provides limited financial support to INFO Faculty, Ph.D., and Master’s students who have exhausted all other available funding sources to improve their research efforts. It also supports collaborations in critical research areas through advancing Research Interest Groups. Proposal applications are accepted yearly on January 15th, April 15th, and September 15th. Ph.D. students may also apply for additional research funding under the Doctoral Student Search Award (DSRA). More information about the DSRA and its application process can be found on the INFO Scholarships & Awards landing page.
INFO Research News

A mural in Asheville, North Carolina, depicts the history of the city's Southside neighborhood and the impact of urban renewal. Students in INFO's Computational Archival Science courses analyze archival records on that history.
INFO Students Learn to Use AI With Records They Know Best
October 14, 2026 | Laurie RobinsonIn a new series of Computational Archival Science courses, MLIS students build the skills to work with AI

Photo licensed by Adobe Stock via Jay Koppelman
TRAILS News: What Tech Workers Tell Their Kids About Careers in the Age of AI (ft. Katie Shilton)
September 22, 2026 | INFO StaffINFO Professor Katie Shilton explores how AI is reshaping technology careers and the advice parents give children about their futures
