We research the fundamentals of how computers process information, and how to program them to work with each other and with humans safely and securely. We also study the many applications of computers, including helping humans understand real-life processes, analyzing and visualizing complicated data, and helping heal people. Based on our research, we teach our students the fundamentals of how computers work, the craft of programming, and the applications that make computers touch lives. Our successes are not only academic: Faculty and students of our department have founded more than 30 companies that employ over 1000 employees.
From cell phones to airplanes and from washing machines to medical devices, computers are everywhere. We research how to use computers to improve many aspects of people’s lifes.