Focus Areas

Our researchers use parallel computing, deep learning, and software/hardware co-design techniques to implement and optimize systems. Research applications include geophysical flow problems, circuit design, and second and third generation mobile wireless systems.

Relevant faculty:

Applied Physics and Mathematics: Kyle Mandli

Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics: Marco Giometto, Haim Waisman

Computer Science: Martha Kim

Electrical Engineering: Zoran Kostic, Mingoo Seok

Our researchers focus on quantifying and reducing statistical errors and risks, understanding uncertainty propagation through complex systems, and the derivation of effective computational machinery. Such modeling has been used to investigate sustainable energy and power systems, next-generation nanomaterials, earthquakes, and more.

Relevant faculty:

Applied Physics and Mathematics: Kyle Mandli, Kui Ren

Business: Jing Dong, Awi Federgruen, Paul Glasserman, Hongseok Namkoong

Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics: Marco Giometto, Ioannis A. Kougioumtzoglou, George Deodatis

Computer Science: Vishal Misra

Earth and Environmental Engineering: Upmanu Lall, Bolun Xu

Industrial Engineering and Operations Research: Ton Dieker, Henry Lam, Karl Sigman

Our researchers are interested in settings that involve high-dimensional datasets. Recent work in this area has produced efficient algorithms for various statistical estimation tasks, provided new algorithmic frameworks for solving interactive machine learning problems, and led to the formation of scalable tools for machine learning applications. 

Relevant faculty:

Applied Physics and Mathematics: Kyle Mandli, Kui Ren

Chemical Engineering:  Venkat Venkatasubramanian

Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics: Jacob Fish, Marco Giometto, Andrew Smyth

Computer Science: Changxi Zheng

Our researchers construct models based on inference, verification, and validation paradigms in many disciplines. Specific research themes include adapting current models so they can easily be solved in a depth averaged context, implementing robust and efficient solvers for simulations, and statistical teledynamics, a novel conceptual framework that synthesizes key concepts and techniques from artificial intelligence, game theory, statistical mechanics, systems engineering, economics, biology, and philosophy to understand and model various phenomena. 

Relevant faculty

Applied Physics and Mathematics: Kyle Mandli

Business: Jing Dong, Hongseok Namkoong

Chemical Engineering:  Venkat Venkatasubramanian

Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics: Jacob Fish, Marco Giometto, Andrew Smyth

Computer Science: Itsik Pe’er, Peter N. Belhumeur, David M. Blei, Roxana Geambasu

Earth and Environmental Engineering: Upmanu Lall

Electrical Engineering: Zoran Kostic, Daniel Bienstock, John Paisley

Our researchers use multiscale theoretical, experimental, and numerical approaches to address challenges in a variety of fields, including nanomechanics, mechanobiology, and geophysics. Researchers use large-scale computational models to execute virtual experiments and virtually manufacture composite materials. 

Relevant faculty:

Applied Physics and Mathematics: Qiang Du, Simon Billinge, Kyle Mandli, Chris Marianetti, Marc W. Spiegelman, Michael Tippett, Michael I. Weinstein

Chemical Engineering:  Venkat Venkatasubramanian

Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics: Jacob Fish, Marco Giometto, Steve Waiching Sun, Haim Waisman

Computer Science: Changxi Zheng

Our researchers use computational approaches to understand a wide range of environmental phenomena. Topics include the reactivity of gases relevant to energy conversion, the chemistry and physics of Earth’s atmosphere, the atmospheres of other planets, the impact of turbulence on mass transport, and the continental hydrologic cycle. Researchers use multiscale modeling and big data (machine learning, remote sensing, high-resolution turbulent simulations) to understand fundamental physical processes, Arctic and Antarctic climate change, and past and future climate impacts related to the Montreal Protocol.

Relevant faculty:

Applied Physics and Mathematics: Kyle Mandli, Marc W. Spiegelman,  Michael Tippett, Lorenzo M. Polvani, Adam H. Sobel

Chemical Engineering: Chris Boyce, Ah-Hyung (Alissa) Park

Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics: Marco Giometto, Haim Waisman

Earth and Environmental Engineering: Pierre Gentine, Ryan Abernathey, Upmanu Lall

Industrial Engineering and Operations Research: Ton Dieker

Mechanical Engineering: Michael P. Burke

Our researchers use computational tools to understand biological mechanisms and develop diagnostic and therapeutic medical applications. Specific areas of expertise include soft tissue with a focus on the female reproductive system and pregnancy, the emerging field of synthetic biology, biomedical image processing, and what happens to our brains when we make rapid decisions.

Relevant faculty:

Applied Physics and Mathematics: Qiang Du

Biological Sciences: Raju Tomer

Biomedical Engineering: Tal Danino, Andreas H. Hielscher, Andrew Laine, Barclay Morrison III

Chemical Engineering: Ben O’Shaughnessy

Chemistry: Brent Stockwell, Nicholas Tatonetti

Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics: Haim Waisman

Computer Science: Itsik Pe’er

Electrical Engineering: Dimitris Anastassiou,   Aurel A. Lazar

Mechanical Engineering: Gerard A. Ateshian, Jeffrey Kysar, Kristin M. Myers, Vijay Vedula

Physics: Szabolcs Marka

Systems Biology: Tal Korem, Nicholas Tatonetti

Our researchers investigate the basic neural structures in the brain that process visual information, novel treatments for traumatic brain injury, and the ability to reverse engineer the fruit fly brain.

Relevant faculty:

Biomedical Engineering: Barclay Morrison III, Paul Sajda

Chemical Engineering: Ben O’Shaughnessy

Electrical Engineering:   Aurel A. Lazar, Nima Mesgarani

Physics: Szabolcs Marka

Statistics: Liam Paninski

Our researchers focus on computer graphics algorithms that address various geometric and physical problems, such as predicting the motion and deformation of materials, processing 3D geometric data, and interactive tools for engineering design. 

Relevant faculty:

Applied Physics and Mathematics: Kui Ren

Computer Science:  Peter N. Belhumeur, David M. Blei

Biomedical Engineering: Andreas H. Hielscher, Andrew Laine

Chemical Engineering: Chris Boyce

Electrical Engineering: John Paisley

Our researchers in computational health focus on the mathematical analysis and quantification of medical images, signal and image processing, computer-aided diagnosis, and biomedical informatics. 

Relevant faculty:

Applied Physics and Mathematics: Qiang Du

Biomedical Engineering: Tal Danino, Andreas H. Hielscher, Andrew Laine, Barclay Morrison III, Paul Sajda

Chemistry: Brent Stockwell, Nicholas Tatonetti

Computer Science: Itsik Pe’er

Electrical Engineering: Zoran Kostic

Mechanical Engineering: Gerard A. Ateshian, Matei Ciocarlie

Physics: Szabolcs Marka

Systems Biology: Tal Korem, Nicholas Tatonetti

Our researchers in computational mechanics study materials at a variety of scales. At the nanoscale, researchers are interested in how nanoscale structure dictates material properties, using first-principles of quantum mechanics to predict material behavior, and the mechanics of materials at small scales under extreme conditions. Our researchers also investigate the mechanics and physics of geological and porous materials, and fracture and damage mechanics considering multiphysics and multiscale responses of materials.

Relevant faculty:

Applied Physics and Mathematics: Simon Billinge, Qiang Du, James Im, Chris Marianetti, Renata Wentzcovitch

Chemical Engineering: Sanat Kumar, Ah-Hyung (Alissa) Park, Alexander Urban

Chemistry: Timothy Berkelbach, Latha Venkataraman

Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics: Jacob Fish, Steve WaiChing Sun, Haim Waisman, Huiming Yin, George Deodatis

Mechanical Engineering: Jeffrey Kysar

Our researchers develop and apply simulation methods to understand molecular and macroscale phenomena. Specific areas of expertise include computational quantum mechanical studies of material properties at high pressures and temperatures, such as those found in planetary materials, combining first principles knowledge and data science approaches for rapid discovery of new materials, investigating the fundamental reactivity of gases, and modeling electrochemical processes to design next-generation batteries.

Relevant faculty:

Applied Physics and Mathematics: Marc W. Spiegelman, Renata Wentzcovitch

Chemical Engineering: Sanat Kumar, Ben O’Shaughnessy, Ah-Hyung (Alissa) Park,  Alexander Urban, Venkat Venkatasubramanian, Alan C. West

Chemistry: Timothy Berkelbach, Brent Stockwell, Latha Venkataraman

Mechanical Engineering: Michael P. Burke

Our researchers develop computational technologies used for virtual reality, digital fabrication, and mechanical engineering. Applications include simulating realistic, complex motions, as well as the methods that compute virtual sounds synchronized with simulated motions, augmented reality, wearable electronics, and computer vision.

Relevant faculty:

Computer Science: Peter N. Belhumeur, Steven K. Feiner, Eugene Wu, Changxi Zheng

Electrical Engineering: John Wright

Physics: Szabolcs Marka

Our researchers work on the theory and applications of optimization. Of particular interest is the interplay of mathematical programming and computer science to construct and solve mathematical models that support decision making. Our researchers also develop primarily analytic and numerical stochastic methodologies for response analysis, reliability assessment, and optimization of complex engineering systems and structures under the presence of uncertainties. 

Relevant faculty:

Applied Physics and Mathematics: Kui Ren

Business: Rajeev Kohli, Will Ma, Ciamac Moallemi, Hongseok Namkoong

Computer Science: Roxana Geambasu

Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics: Marco Giometto, Haim Waisman, Huiming Yin

Earth and Environmental Engineering: Upmanu Lall, Bolun Xu

Electrical Engineering: John Wright

Industrial Engineering and Operations Research: Shipra Agrawal, Yuri Faenza, Vineet Goyal, Ali Hirsa, Garud Iyengar, Henry Lam, Clifford Stein

Physics: Szabolcs Marka

Our researchers work on random processes and computer simulation algorithms to develop tools so that data for one system can be used to make predictions about modified systems for which no data is available. Such tools are useful to regulators in predicting how well banks respond to financial shocks, to scientists in predicting future climate under various carbon-emissions rates, and to engineers in predicting how factory layouts will boost performance and solve decision problems in information-rich and highly dynamic environments. 

Relevant faculty:

Business: Jing Dong, Will Ma, Ciamac Moallemi, Hongseok Namkoong, Oded Netzer

Chemical Engineering:  Venkat Venkatasubramanian

Computer Science: Steven K. Feiner, Changxi Zheng

Earth and Environmental Engineering: Xi Chen, Upmanu Lall, Bolun Xu

Electrical Engineering: Predrag Jelenkovic

Industrial Engineering and Operations Research: Shipra Agrawal, Ton Dieker, Yuri Faenza, Ali Hirsa, Garud Iyengar,  Karl Sigman, Van-Anh Truong, Daniel Bienstock

Our researchers use regression architectures, machine learning techniques, and neural networks to develop unstructured and indeterministic approaches to solve traditional solid and fluid mechanics problems.

Relevant faculty:

Applied Physics and Mathematics: Qiang Du, Kui Ren

Astronomy: Zoltan Haiman

Biomedical Engineering: Paul Sajda

Chemical Engineering:  Venkat Venkatasubramanian

Chemistry: Latha Venkataraman

Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics: Jacob Fish, Marco Giometto, Steve Waiching Sun

Computer Science: Daniel J. Hsu

Earth and Environmental Engineering: Upmanu Lall

Industrial Engineering and Operations Research: Yuri Faenza, Ali Hirsa, Henry Lam,  Karl Sigman

Mechanical Engineering: Matei Ciocarlie, Hod Lipson

Physics: J. Colin Hill, Szabolcs Marka