Updated May 30, 2008

Computer Science

Database Lab – Director Praveen Madiraju
The database lab is dedicated to conducting research in both theoretical and system aspects of databases. There are many potential areas which will benefit as a result of the research carried out in this laboratory, such as information systems, health care, bioinformatics, and others. Current projects include

1. Constraints in Databases – Different issues related to constraints such as representation, checking and optimization for heterogeneous databases including both relational and XML databases. 1 MS student is working on the project.
2. Community Information Management (CIM) – data management issues related to discovery and management of peers in a community. 2 MS students are working on the project. Once the initial results are in, we plan to submit for grant.
3. Agent Module for a System of Mobile Devices – SyD (System of Mobile Devices) is a new middleware that enables rapid application development for heterogeneous, autonomous and mobile devices. Improving the agent module for SyD

Systems Lab - Director Dennis Brylow
The lab creates new tools and methods for building and studying complex computer systems. Our emphasis is on embedded, real-time, and network systems, with strong ties to the electrical and computer engineering community, and the computer science education community. Current projects include

1. Experimental Embedded Networking Platform. Creation of laboratory infrastructure and software for research and education in the area of embedded networking appliances, particularly wireless routers and IP telephony. Collaboration with Cisco Systems Advanced Research Division. Funding from Cisco is supporting 1 graduate research assistant and three undergraduate research assistants in first year; additional funding from Cisco likely.
2. Experimental Embedded Operating System Laboratory. Creation of laboratory infrastructure and software for research and education in area of embedded operating systems. Collaboration with University of Buffalo. NSF funding pending. 1 graduate student, 2 undergraduate currently involved.
3. Embedded Software Transactional Memory. Exploration of an innovative transactional memory model for guaranteeing process synchronization in embedded operating systems. Collaboration with Intel Research. 1 graduate student; Intel has asked us to submit a grant application early next year.
4. Power management infrastructure for embedded target pools. Interdisciplinary senior design team is building a hardware/software component for managing our pool of experimental embedded targets. 5 undergraduates.
5. Development environment for Embedded XINU on Windows platform. Interdisciplinary senior design team is building software to allow our systems lab infrastructure to be available on non-UNIX platforms. 4 undergraduates.

Ubicomp Lab - Director Sheikh Iqbal Ahamed
This lab focuses on the research issues in pervasive/ubiquitous computing systems and applications. Current projects include

1. Middleware services for pervasive/ubiquitous computing systems and applications -developing energy efficient infra-structure less device discovery, secure service discovery, location detection and self healing services on wirelessly connected PDAs and Sensors. Using these services to build different applications such as assessment tool, asset tracking, home monitoring, and healthcare applications. Got some equipment from Microsoft research. 2 MS students and 2 undergrad students are working.
2. Security, trust and privacy in pervasive/ubiquitous computing- developing initial results for writing grants. 2 MS students are working. NSF support is being requested.
3. Pervasive healthcare - applying pervasive computing technologies for wellness monitoring, elderly care, cancer patient care. Collaborating with Medical college of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI and Mashfield Clinic, Wausau, WI. 1 undergrad and 1 MS student are working. Microsoft research grant has been requested. NIH support is being requested.
4. RFID security - developing security solutions for RFID. Developing initial results for writing grants. 1 MS student is working.

High Performance Computing Lab – Director Rong Ge.
New Assistant Professor Rong Ge will join a burgeoning group of computer scientists who form the Southeast Wisconsin High Performance Computing organization http://www.sewhip.org, dedicated to fostering support for inter-institutional high performance computing in the geographical area. She will have a high-performance cluster for her dedicated use, and access to larger clusters on campus at Marquette and supercomputers over long-distance networks. One of her current research interests is creating software and hardware techniques to measure and control emergent power-aware capabilities on real systems. Another project involves creating formal mathematical and statistical techniques to model, predict, and explain the why’s and how’s of performance on real systems. The research group of which she is at present a part attempts to identify performance bottlenecks in high-end systems and applications using techniques such as analytical models and hardware counters.

Biomathematics

Pulmonary Lab – Director Gary Krenz
Applies mathematical modeling to address basic science questions regarding nonrespiratory functions of the [mammalian] pulmonary circulation. Current projects include

1. Pulmonary disposition of quinones. The working hypothesis is that metabolic changes precede the remodeling that occurs in pulmonary hypertension. Quinones are used as probes to investigate changes in the pulmonary endothelium redox status/signaling. Work is in collaboration with Marquette Biomedical Engineering and Zablocki/Medical College of Wisconsin researchers. Unpaid consultant on both an ongoing and a recently awarded NIH R01; VA Merit Award has been submitted for salary support.
2. Structure/function studies of the pulmonary circulation. Investigation of how structural changes that result in several biological models of pulmonary hypertension (chronic hypoxia exposure, monocrotaline exposure, thoracic irradiation) impact upon the hemodynamic functioning of the pulmonary circulation. 1 Ph.D. student working on the impact of supernumerary vessel recruitment may have upon normal pulmonary function. Salary support via a current VA Merit Award.

Bioinformatics Lab - Director Craig Struble
This lab applies machine learning and algorithmic techniques to biologically motivated questions. Current projects include

1. Microarray data analysis and modeling - analyzing and interpreting microarray data for problems in RNA regulation, toxicology, and DNA transcription. Work is in collaboration with MCW, Department of Biological Sciences (Munroe, Anderson), and Great Lakes WATER Institute. NIH support has been requested.
2. Biomedical text mining - automated information extraction and representation from scientific literature. Work is in collaboration with Department of Chemistry (Sem), Va. Tech group of computer scientists and plant biologists. NSF support is being requested.
3. Virtual screening for drug design - screening compounds for their potential as pharmaceuticals. Work is in collaboration with Department of Chemistry (Sem). 1 M.S. student. NIH support is being requested.
4. ) SeWHiP - a Southeast Wisconsin High Performance computing interest group, promoting improved research computing research and knowledge in the region. Work is in collaboration with CIOs and investigators at Marquette, MCW, Children's Hospital, UWM, and the Blood Center. NSF support is being requested.

Biomedical Imaging – Director Anne Clough
This laboratory designs, develops, and optimizes imaging systems and requisite experimental protocols and image analysis tools for investigating cardio-pulmonary physiology pathophysiology of small laboratory animals. Close collaboration with Prof. Krenz’s group as well as scientists and clinicians at Zablocki VA Medical Center and Medical College of Wisconsin. Ongoing funded projects include

1. Micro-Angiography Investigation of Pulmonary Hemodynamics- following completion of this instrument, its hardware, experimental protocols, and image analysis tools are being modified to determine capillary flow, its regional distribution, and changes therein following lung injury or treatment in rats. Supported by NHLBI, Co-Investigator.
2. Angiogenesis in the Bronchial Circulation using SPECT (single-photon emission computed-tomography) – micro-CT and SPECT to monitor angiogenesis in the bronchial circulation of rats. Supported by NHLBI, Co-principal investigator.
3. Micro-SPECT Hardware and Software Design – construction of a flexible system for rapid, high-resolution imaging of small animals using radiopharmaceuticals targeted at specific molecular functions. Supported by the Keck Foundation.
4. Redox Status of Lungs in Rats Exposed to Chronic Oxidative Stress with Micro-SPECT – Use molecular imaging radiopharmaceuticals and pharmacokinetic modeling to assess early lung injury. Supported by NHLBI, Co-Investigator.
5. Reducing Patient Dose in Spiral and Conebeam CT – simulations designed to determine optimal scanning parameters. Supported by NIBIB, Co-Investigator with U. of Iowa.

Biomedical Applications – Director Steve Merrill
This lab applies mathematical modeling to clinically relevant questions. Current projects include

1. Cardiac Image Registration – real-time 2-d/3-d registration of heart images during treatment. Work is in collaboration with St. Luke’s Hospital and G.E. Healthcare. 1 Ph.D. student. Grant for summer support for student received.
2. Thyroid Control in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis – using clinical measures to monitor and guide treatment. Work is in collaboration with a U. of Mass. Group of engineers and physicians. 1 Ph.D. student.
3. Measures of Normal Aging – a clinical characterization of rate of aging based on standard tests. Work is in collaboration with scientists in the D.C. area.

New faculty member Elaine Spiller’s research work also forms part of the Biomathematics group’s activities, but also interfaces with the Statistics group’s work.

Statistics

Statistical Methods – Co-Directors Naveen Bansal and Hossein Hamedani
This group develops and applies new statistical methods in a variety of applications. Projects include Bayesian hypothesis testing using a decision theoretic approach. The purpose of her thesis is to develop a decision theoretic methodology for testing multiple and multi-sided hypotheses to produce more powerful test procedures. The idea is to incorporate prior information in order to produce more powerful tests which will have application in gene expression data analysis. 1 Ph.D. student.
In 2008-2009, the Department will hire another applied statistician. The Schools of Nursing and Dentistry are in the process (March 2008) of hiring a faculty member in biostatistics, with whom potential collaborations will be explored.

Computational Algebra - Director Michael Slattery
Research in this area offers a rare cross-over between pure mathematics and computation. In the case of Dr. Slattery, it is concerned with designing and analysing algorithms and data structures to compute information about groups. Two important computer algebra systems (CAS) used for group theory are GAP and MAGMA.