Centers & Initiatives
Innovation—it's essential to how we move the conversation. Our multidisciplinary research centers, initiatives, and projects create unique approaches and solutions to the world's pressing problems.
Research Centers & Institutes
Financial Access Initiative
What we do: Find solutions to the question: How can we create a better life for low-income households through quality financial services?
Our scope: International
Who we are: A consortium of leading international development economists.
Faculty lead: Jonathan Morduch
Furman Center for Real Estate & Urban Policy
What we do: Understand and solve challenges presented by affordable housing, financing, foreclosures, land use regulation, and neighborhood changes.
Our scope: NYC and urban centers nationwide
Who we are: A joint research center of NYU Wagner and the NYU School of Law.
Faculty lead: Ingrid Gould Ellen
Rudin Center for Transportation Policy & Management
What we do: Explore challenges in urban transportation and infrastructure.
Our scope: NYC
Who we are: Thinkers and policymakers from around the world; public, private, and nonprofit partners; and NYU Wagner faculty and graduate students.
Faculty lead: Mitchell Moss
The Health Evaluation and Analytics Lab
What we do: Help health organizations evaluate initiatives that seek to improve health outcomes and healthcare delivery practices.
Our scope: New York State
Who we are: A community of scholars joined by the public sector, communities, healthcare organizations, foundations, and nonprofits.
Faculty lead: James Knickman
John Brademas Center of New York University
What we do: Pursue a collection of initiatives in the areas—the state of Congress and the legislative process in democracies; the shifting dynamics in foreign policy and international affairs; and, the present state and future prospects for higher education, the humanities, arts and culture—which formed the core of John Brademas' life in public service.
Our scope: National / International
Who we are: NYU-wide faculty and staff, joined by a prestigious group of political leaders and scholars who comprise our advisory group.
Faculty lead: Tim Naftali
Institute for Civil Infrastructure Systems (ICIS)
What we do: Develop models for and promote new practices in the world of interrelated, 21st-century urban infrastructure systems.
Our scope: National
Who we are: An interdisciplinary team of researchers working alongside partnering institutions and community groups.
Faculty lead: Rae Zimmerman
Institute of Human Development & Social Change
What we do: Stimulate research and influence social policy on children, youth, families, and communities in the context of a rapidly changing social world.
Our scope: International
Who we are: An interdisciplinary network of faculty members, researchers, and students from across NYU and the Office of the Provost in a joint initiative.
Faculty lead: Patrick Sharkey
The Marron Institute of Urban Management
What we do: Advance solution-oriented research and teaching on how cities can become more livable, sustainable, and equitable.
Our scope: International
Who we are: A university-wide community of scholars and students in the social sciences, natural sciences, humanities, and professional schools.
Faculty lead: Angela Hawken
Initiatives
Innovation Labs
What we do: Promote informed, evidence-based policymaking for a complex world through a series of experimental labs.
Our scope: National
Who we are: Scholars, thinkers, and practitioners.
Faculty lead: Neil Kleiman
Leadership in Action at Wagner
What we do: Advance leadership theory, support effective new practices, and serve as a resource for leaders in all sectors.
Our scope: International
Who we are: NYU Wagner scholars and researchers.
Faculty leads: Sonia M. Ospina and Erica Gabrielle Foldy
Social Innovation & Investment Initiative
What we do: Find innovative entrepreneurial and financial solutions to address pressing social issues.
Our scope: International
Who we are: A consortium of policymakers, philanthropists, finance professionals, researchers, nonprofits, and foundations led by a team of NYU Wagner faculty and graduate students.
Faculty lead: Scott Taitel
Special Projects
NBER Project on the Economics of Food Security, Nutrition, and Health
Faculty Lead: Tatiana Homonoff
The Walter Stafford Project: Inequality in New York City
Advice, Money, Results: Rethinking International Support for Managing Public Finance
Faculty Lead: Paul Smoke