About Link Lab
Link Lab Mission
To advance Cyber-Physical Systems research and education needed to solve society’s most challenging problems.
Why Link Lab?
The Link Lab was created to bring together researchers, students, and partners from across engineering disciplines, industry, and government to tackle complex challenges that cannot be solved within a single discipline.
What makes the Link Lab unique is not just what we do - it is how we do it. Rather than being housed within a single department, the Link Lab brings together researchers from seven engineering disciplines under a shared governance model led by faculty representatives across departments. This structure, along with cross-listed courses, and a dedicated facility for our work in CPS, encourages collaboration beyond traditional academic boundaries, creating an environment where diverse expertise converge to advance innovative research, educate the next generation of engineers, and accelerate real-world impact.
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Connected Research
Link Lab faculty and students advance cyber-physical systems and physical AI through an interdisciplinary and cross-cutting approach to research.
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Real-World Impact
Real-world impact requires a deep understanding of the interfaces between the cyber and physical worlds. The Link Lab’s focus on education and research in Cyber-Physical Systems is leading the way.
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Collaboration By Design
The Link Lab's 17,000 sq. ft physical environment removes barriers between disciplines, creating opportunities for collaboration - as well as serves as a testbed for CPS research and education.
A Message from Link Lab Director Jonathan L. Goodall
Director, Link Lab
Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Link Lab By The Numbers
58 Faculty
300+ Students
7 Engineering Disciplines
$156M+ Research Funding
"Being a member of Link Lab was the NUMBER ONE reason for being drawn to attend UVA "
Giovanna Camacho, Ph.D.
Class of 2026
The Link Lab has reliably proven to be a sound foundation for my research in the IoT, an effective launchpad for global collaboration, and a vibrant space of scientific community.
Marshall Clyburn
Ph.D. student
History
The Link Lab opened in 2018 to create new opportunities for collaboration across UVA Engineering through shared research space, joint faculty appointments, and interdisciplinary student and faculty mentoring. As one of the first initiatives supported by UVA's Strategic Investment Fund (SIF), the Link Lab transformed the second floor of Olsson Hall into a collaborative research environment where faculty and students can work side-by-side and engage across traditional disciplinary boundaries.
When the Link Lab opened, it was home to approximately 15 faculty members and 50 students. Today, it has grown into a thriving research ecosystem of more than 50 faculty and 300 graduate students working together to develop technologies that improve the way we live, work, and connect.