Informatics

ISI’s informatics expertise spans computer networks, medical informatics and decision systems. Computer networks teams explore sensor networks, cyber security, and network infrastructure, design and simulation, among other thrusts.  Medical informatics researchers apply grid computing and other technologies to healthcare research and practice.  And our decision systems work includes diverse wireless technology efforts.

Our informatics researchers emphasize both theory and practice across a wide range of technologies and potential uses.  For example, current computer networks initiatives include research, development and applications in security testbeds; cyber infrastructure for environmental sensor networks; and Internet measurement and monitoring.  

More than 50 researchers, programmers and graduate students explore informatics at ISI.  We also work closely with ISI’s artificial intelligence and distributed systems experts, as well as with multiple departments in USC’s nationally ranked Viterbi School of Engineering.

Our principal focus areas:

• Computer Networks:  sensor, active and overlay networks; network security; Internet infrastructure and network architecture; network simulation, protocol design and traffic and performance modeling; congestion control, high-speed communications and embedded systems.  Director:  John Wroclawski, M.S.
   
• Medical Informatics:  grid computing, information security, service-oriented architectures, knowledge engineering, and imaging and medical informatics.  ISI also leads the high-profile Biomedical Informatics Research Network (BIRN) for online collaboration and data analysis.  Director:  Carl Kesselman, Ph.D.