Research Projects
On this page
Doug Brinkerhoff, Associate Professor
Glaciology
My work focuses on improving our ability to predict changes in earth's glaciers using computer models, and in particular determining just how certain our predictions are. This usually means using computational statistics to and then . Simulating large fluid mechanical systems like glaciers can be very computationally expensive and our methods for quantifying uncertainty can require running them many times, so a large part of my work involves . I also sometimes fly out to glaciers in Antarctica, Greenland, and to measure things.
Jesse Johnson, Professor
How computers can be used to ‘do physics’
I am currently engaged in several research projects and it may be difficult to see what they have in common. All can be traced to my interest in how computers can be used to ‘do physics’, or satisfy the constraints encountered when considering physical systems. I discuss some of the grounding principles for my research in . My background in both computing and physics helps me to carry out the projects. Twenty years into a career I still find bringing theory into agreement with observations utterly satisfying. Learn more about my major research projects.
, Assistant Professor
Mobile Cyber-physical Intelligence
Our research is at the forefront of innovation, designing and developing cutting-edge sensing and intervention technologies for smart health, the Internet of Things, and human-computer interactions. Driven by a mission to expand the boundaries of cyber-physical systems, we specialize in multimodal data fusion and interpretation frameworks. Our multidisciplinary efforts aim to deepen the understanding of human activities, enhance human capabilities, predict future health issues, and enable operations in challenging environments. To learn more about our major research projects and opportunities, visit our .
, Assistant Professor
Computational Cognitive Neuroscience
My research seeks to better characterize complexity and interactivity in the brain by developing and employing a range of computational tools. My approach analyzes a variety of neural data (fMRI, ECoG, EEG) in conjunction with behavioral data collected from experimental tasks in both patient and healthy control populations using techniques such as machine learning, timeseries modeling, and graph theory. I explore a range of psychological and neuroscientific questions related to network dynamics in the brain, all with the broader goal of method development and clinical applications.
Zedong Peng, Assistant Professor
Natural language processing for requirements engineering
My research focuses on software engineering practices in requirements engineering (RE), natural language processing (NLP), and software testing. Currently, I am exploring ways to improve the automation and accuracy of requirements-based testing in scientific software, leveraging NLP techniques to efficiently extract and analyze requirements. My work also addresses challenges in metamorphic testing, a method particularly effective for tackling the "test oracle problem" in scientific software. I am particularly interested in evaluating how metamorphic testing performs in real-world software environments and comparing its effectiveness with existing approaches.
Lucia Williams, Assistant Professor
Applied Algorithms
My work focuses on developing and using theoretical advances in algorithms to solve real-world problems. Currently, my main application area is the field of bioinformatics, where my group is using new algorithms for the NP-hard problem of flow decomposition to produce accurate strain-level assemblies of viral genomes (funded through ) and improve genome assembly method when multiple samples are available (funded through ). I am also interested in improving computer science education and have earned grants to incorporate autograding and AI into my teaching.