The interdisciplinary Center for Polymer Science and Engineering is composed of three major research areas: polymer colloids, polymer interfaces, and polymer materials.

The Emulsion Polymers Institute was formed at Lehigh University in 1975 to carry out interdisciplinary research designed to gain fundamental information on - and understanding of - the preparation, characterization, properties, and applications of latexes: A latex is defined as a colloidal dispersion of submicroscopic polymer particles in a continuous medium, sometimes being referred to as emulsion polymers or polymer colloids.

This co-operative Industry/University center was founded in 1985 and has been funded by various industrial companies, the National Science Foundation, and the Ben Franklin Partnership Program of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The mission of the center is to collaborate with industrial partners for their benefit through the application and advancement of research in the areas of model development, dynamical systems analysis and control, design, synthesis, and development of a broad range of manufacturing process systems.

A key execution strategy includes incorporation of a strong graduate student program grounded in work defined with industrial partners. The center is committed to excellence in research, education, and advancement of knowledge in process automation while delivering center technologies and services that will meet or exceed the expectations of economic return.