Teach an innovative curriculum that develops technical skills, financial expertise, and business insight.
- Climate risk modeling
- Financial risk assessment
- Product innovation
- Data science and AI
- Undergraduate and graduate students
Institute for Risk Management and Insurance Innovation
Developing creative solutions for emerging threats to society and training the next generation of risk management and insurance professionals
What is IRMII?
The Institute for Risk Management and Insurance Innovation (IRMII) is a multidisciplinary research and innovation hub, bringing together student researchers, academic leaders, and industry professionals to develop creative solutions for managing the financial risks arising from a growing number of threats, ranging from extreme weather to cybersecurity, faced by communities across the globe.
Our Impact
Leading innovation in risk management education and research at UNC Chapel Hill
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45Industry Partners
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20Research Projects
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35Faculty and Researchers
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9Specialized Courses
Goals
Innovative Education
Cutting-Edge Research
Produce novel research responsive to industry challenges.
- Cyber
- Earthquakes
- Flooding
- Infectious Disease
- Liability
- Severe Convective Storms
- Wildfire
Industry Engagement
Introduce students to commercial perspectives and opportunities through active engagement with industry.
- Over 40 industry partners
- Rigorous internships
- Mentoring opportunities
- Certification program partners
Research Projects
We work collaboratively across industry and academia, fostering deep collaboration for interdisciplinary research. Our goal is not just to advance understanding, but to accelerate the application of that knowledge to shape resilient communities, systems, and institutions.
Flood Risk
IRMII researchers are quantifying how uninsured flood losses create systemic financial risk by linking property damage to homeowner defaults, lender exposure, and potential impacts on the broader housing finance system. Using novel machine-learning approaches, researchers estimate the risk of mortgage default and abandonment to help inform smarter interventions and enhance disaster resilience.
Western Water Rights
IRMII researchers are developing sophisticated models to quantify and manage the financial risks that droughts and extreme weather pose to California’s water users and electric utilities. By simulating regulatory, hydrologic, and market dynamics, this work supports innovative financial instruments—like index insurance and water market forecasting tools—to help protect investors, lenders, and insurers from escalating climate-driven volatility.
Wildfire Risk and Mitigation
IRMII researchers are modeling how wildfire risk premiums and insurance gaps influence decisions about mitigation and rebuilding, with downstream impacts on mortgage defaults and lender exposure. By linking wildfire risk, property-level actions, and mortgage performance, this work informs smarter risk-sharing among property owners, lenders, and insurers.
Systemic Cyber Risk
IRMII researchers model and mitigate the impact of potential CAT‑5 cyber events, high‑severity, system‑wide cyber catastrophes with the potential to cause tens of billions of dollars in losses either due to business interruptions or data breaches. By combining predictive analytics, AI‑driven prioritization, and active threat intelligence, IRMII aims to reduce the scale and cost of the next billion‑dollar cyber disaster.
Supply Chain Risk Along the Mississippi River
IRMII researchers are modeling how droughts along the Mississippi River disrupt inland shipping and agricultural markets by reducing both crop yields and barge capacity. New tools developed will inform smarter pricing of commodity derivatives and insurance, and offer a blueprint for managing climate-driven disruptions across inland waterway systems affecting global supply chains.
A Message From Our Director
Our goals are to prepare the next generation of risk management and insurance professionals and to develop novel solutions for society’s growing number of current and emerging threats.
Join Our events
October 22, 2026
Chapel Hill, NC
Future of Insurance Summit
This event features a Research Showcase and Industry-Student Networking Event that brings together industry leaders, academic experts, and rising student talent to engage in sharing innovative ideas, building new connections, and shaping the future of insurance and risk management.