The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a public research university in Birmingham, Alabama. It is a doctoral, research-intensive university that offers degrees in over 140 programs of study. UAB is the largest research institution in the state of Alabama and the largest employer in the Birmingham metropolitan area. The university is renowned for its medical research and health care programs, and is home to the UAB Health System, one of the largest academic medical centers in the United States. UAB is also a leader in the fields of engineering, business, education, and the arts and sciences.