Research

Solutions rooted in transdisciplinary research

Climate resilience. Carbon storage. Biodiversity conservation. Sustainable building materials. Access to nature. The quality of the air we breathe and water we drink. Many of society’s biggest challenges are rooted — and intertwined — in the forest. Oregon State is the most innovative university in the Pacific Northwest, advancing research to find the solutions in critical areas like climate science, robotics and clean energy. 

11

research cooperatives supporting public-private collaboration

315+

Refereed publications by COF faculty and students 

(FY23-24)

$45 million

in research grants and contracts 

(FY23-24)

old growth tree

Oregon’s Forest Research Laboratory

The College of Forestry is home to Oregon’s Forest Research Laboratory (FRL), the state’s official forest research agency established by the Legislature in 1941. As one of Oregon State’s three Statewide Public Service Programs, FRL is uniquely funded to advance applied forest science that supports healthy forests, resilient communities and Oregon’s natural resource economy.

This dedicated research mission — backed by state funding that is further leveraged by researchers to secure additional federal and competitive grants — has helped make Oregon State the No. 1 forestry program in the nation and No. 2 in the world. Faculty are consistently among the top-producing researchers globally, shaping innovation and impact in forestry and natural resources.

The FRL is advised by the Center for the Future of Forests and Society, a 15-member board that connects science, policy and community to ensure research addresses our most pressing challenges.

Learn More About CFFS

Priority Research Areas

Forestry is, by nature, transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary. At Oregon State, our research brings together multiple ways of knowing, braiding Indigenous Knowledge with Western science, to address complex challenges and ensure the resiliency of our forests for generations to come. As one of the few universities in the U.S. studying every dimension of forestry — from forest floor to living room floor — the College of Forestry is leading real-world, science-based solutions. 

Explore the topics below to meet the experts leading this research, learn more about their lab groups and collaborators, and discover the impact of their work.

Tallwood Design institute

TallWood Design Institute

The TallWood Design Institute (TDI) is a collaboration between Oregon State University’s Colleges of Forestry and Engineering and the University of Oregon’s College of Design. Founded in 2015, TDI was one of the first research centers in the nation dedicated to advancing mass timber and other innovative wood products.

Through cutting-edge research, world-class facilities like the A.A. “Red” Emmerson Advanced Wood Products Laboratory, and partnerships with industry, architects, and agencies, TDI has helped make mass timber a trusted building material in the Pacific Northwest and across the U.S. This work has not only advanced sustainable building practices, but also bolstered Oregon’s economy, spurring investments in new manufacturing facilities and a growing mass timber workforce.

Learn More About TDI

Global research and collaborations

The College of Forestry is the only college at Oregon State with a dedicated international programs office. Through global research partnerships, internships, exchanges and study abroad opportunities, our students and faculty contribute to forestry and natural resource solutions worldwide. These connections create a truly global footprint — broadening perspectives, strengthening scholarship and preparing graduates to thrive in an interconnected world. 

Explore the map below for a snapshot of our global impact.

Map Legend: Green Pins = Faculty research, Orange Pins =Internship Purple- Student short term program, Blue Pins = Exchange/Study Abroad, Purple Pins: Student Short-term Program

We're proud to partner on research with: