Faculty Research Projects & Opportunities for Students

Department of Computing Sciences September 16, 2013

Faculty are full-time and part-time members Interests range from theoretical foundations

to practical applications Some research is sponsored – funding for

assistantships sometimes available Actively seeking external sponsorship and

partnership Interdisciplinary research promoted Student involvement is welcome and

encouraged!

Overview

Grand Challenges of Computing

CSC 9025

CSC 9025 – Often called “Independent Study” Mandatory for graduate students Conduct independent research under

guidance of a faculty advisor Encouraged to tackle topics in our discipline

that interest you AND your advisor Intended for completion in a single semester Extension to second semester possible Keep your eyes open for interesting topics!

What is the “Grand Challenges of Computing” course?

Faculty Research Interests & Activities

Listen for opportunities to get involved in research

Prof. Barbara Zimmerman

Projects

• Software Project Management • Web Design• Database Systems• Inter-discipline applications of database

- Manchester Mummy project - Egypt- Alaska- South America

Current Interest

DRA ABU el-NAGA – Thebes, Egypt

St. Lawrence Island mummy

THE CHURCH – 400AD

Flow from Mummy to Slides

MANCHESTER MUMMY DATABASEUPDATE

2013 Status

DATABASE

Database designed and implemented Programs to enter data completed

2012 Documentation begun Egyptian data entered into database

REMAINING WORK

Update database with Alaskan mummies

Update database with North and South American mummies

Transfer the database to Manchester England

Train the researchers in England to use and update the database

Coordinate with researchers using the database

RESEARCHERS USING OUR DATA 2013 Dr. Frank Ruhli, Head of Centre of

Evolutionary Medicine in Zurich Searched the Database and found

specimens for DNA studies Collected the Paraffin blocks from

Manchester and have found DNA evidence in our mummy tissues

Dr. Randall Thompson, Saint Luke’s Ancient Mummy Research Searched the database for diagnosis of

Atherosclerosis He will confirm using CT scans, tissue

samples and microscopic slides

Dr. Robert BeckProjects

Web Site Design Categories of web sites Design principles for a particular category Systematic evaluation against design

principles Automatic measurements

Web Site Renovation Help nonprofit corporations, usually small

ones, upgrade their web sites Student works with “technical” person at

nonprofit Gather data for web site evaluation Challenges

◦ Communicating with the representatives◦ Developing with a variety of tools◦ Navigating the politics of the nonprofit

Web Site Renovation (2) Current requests include:

◦ Nancy’s House, a one-person corporation that arranges respite for caregivers

◦ Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania Video based educational material on the site Improved web site design Marketing strategies to drive users to the site

◦ College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Better navigation

Social Network Analysis Mesh models of conflict resolution with

models of systems thinking for applications to◦ Nation building◦ Co-opetition in SOA system building

Examine and model social network strategies for promoting a cause◦ Flash mob◦ Philanthropy◦ “Pipeline” maintenance

Computing in Context Computing and music through inquiry-based

learning (IBL)◦ More generally, IBL for computing◦ More specifically, strategies for using ChucK, the

language of the laptop orchestra

Packing Problems

Pack n equally sized spheres into the unit sphere and calculate the radius of the small spheres as a function of n.◦ Alternatively, use an ellipsoid of revolution instead

of the unit sphere◦ Alternatively, solve the problems in two dimensions◦ Use a heuristic approach◦ Use a genetic algorithm

Mathematical Structures on the Web Strategies for calculating, storing, and

viewing mathematical structures such as:◦ Finite rings◦ Small Lie algebras◦ Lie algebra representations

Dr. Lillian (Boots) Cassel

Projects

Dr. Lillian CasselResearch interests:

Digital LibrariesComputing OntologyInformation and the

WebInterdisciplinary

ComputingSome Current Projects

Computing PortalConnecting Computing Educators

A large digital library project for computing education, funded by NSF.

Computing Ontology A complete definition of the computing disciplines, in collaboration with ACM

www.computingportal.org

www.distributedexpertise.org/computingontology

Just starting

Earlier and Broader Access to Machine LearningWith Dr. Way, Dr. Matuszek, and help from Dr. Papalaskari, funded by NSFWe will hire undergraduate help

Dr. Mirela DamianProjects

Research Topics (9) Constructing and maintaining wireless

network topologies.

Research Topics (10) Folding and unfolding polyhedra.

DNA Computing: How can DNA molecules solve computational problems?

Research Topics (11)

Dr. James DulleaProjects

Information Management Data Modeling Data Warehousing Data Mining Information Metrics

Interests and Projects

Dr. William Fleischman

Projects

Ethics Research topics related to ethical issues and

themes Electronic voting Outreach activities

Dr. Vijay GehlotProjects

Healthcare Applications

“…degradation of service can have serious consequences, especially when the medical device relies heavily on the wireless connection.  Such situations can compromise the wireless transmission of high-priority medical device alarms, …” FDA, August 13, 2013

CPN Model of WMDN

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Bio-Technology Applications

Model Components

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ResultsNumber of samples = 16where Sample Set = [[(1,[]),(2,[]),(3,[]),(4,[12])],[(1,[]),(2,[]),(3,[9]),(4,[11])],[(1,[]),(2,[]),(3,[]),(4,[])],[(1,[]),(2,[]),(3,[]),(4,[11])],[(1,[]),(2,[]),(3,[]),(4,[])],[(1,[]),(2,[]),(3,[8]),(4,[])],[(1,[]),(2,[]),(3,[8]),(4,[11])],[(1,[]),(2,[]),(3,[]),(4,[12])],[(1,[]),(2,[]),(3,[]),(4,[])],[(1,[]),(2,[]),(3,[9]),(4,[11])],[(1,[]),(2,[]),(3,[]),(4,[11])],[(1,[]),(2,[]),(3,[]),(4,[12])],[(1,[]),(2,[]),(3,[]),(4,[12])],[(1,[]),(2,[]),(3,[]),(4,[11])],[(1,[]),(2,[]),(3,[]),(4,[12])],[(1,[]),(2,[]),(3,[]),(4,[12])]]Number of unique requests = 3where Request Set = [[(3,[8])],[(4,[12])],[(4,[12])],[(3,[8]),(4,[11,12])]]Number of matched samples = 8where Matched Samples = [([13],[(4,[12])]),([15],[(4,[12])]),([16],[(4,[12])]),([8],[(4,[12])]),([7],[(3,[8]),(4,[11])]),([6],[(3,[8])]),([1],[(4,[12])]),([12],[(4,[12])])]Number of pantry samples = 5where Pantry Samples = [([14],[(4,[11])]),([4],[(4,[11])]),([2],[(3,[9]),(4,[11])]),([10],[(3,[9]),(4,[11])]),([11],[(4,[11])])]Number of hold samples = 0where Hold Samples = []Number of discarded samples = 3where Discarded Samples = [([([9],[])],12),([([5],[]),([3],[])],12)]Number of unique assigned requests to samples = 2where Assigned Samples = [([(4,[12])],[([13],[(4,[12])]),([15],[(4,[12])]),([16],[(4,[12])])]),([(4,[12])],[([13],[(4,[12])]),([15],[(4,[12])]),([16],[(4,[12])])]),([(3,[8])],[([7],[(3,[8]),(4,[11])]),([6],[(3,[8])])]),([(4,[12])],[([8],[(4,[12])]),([1],[(4,[12])])]),([(4,[12])],[([8],[(4,[12])]),([1],[(4,[12])])]),([(4,[12])],[([12],[(4,[12])])]),([(4,[12])],[([12],[(4,[12])])])]Number of unique possibly unmatched requests = 2where Possibly Unmatched Requests = [([(3,[8])],[]),([(3,[8]),(4,[11,12])],[]),([(3,[8]),(4,[11,12])],[]),([(3,[8])],[]),([(3,[8]),(4,[11,12])],[])]Number of actual unmatched requests = 1where Actual Unmatched Requests = [[(3,[8]),(4,[11,12])]]

Network Data Analysis and Modeling

Develop a set of tools and techniques for Network Performance Management and Service Assurance.

Create a generalized and extensible framework to accommodate future needs and expansion.

Build a unified dashboard that facilitates the understanding of the relationships between network resources, customer services and their respective performance indicators.

Results

Tools

Dr. Don GoelmanProjects

Databases for Many Majors: A Student-Centered Approach (Dietrich & Goelman) – through 2/2013

Expansion of the Project (? – keep your fingers crossed - !)

Update 5/2013 – not enough crossed fingers for funding, but interest continues in using and customizing animations to bring database appreciation to the world

Funded Projects (Sort of)

Collaborative research with Prof. S. Dietrich, Arizona State University

Calendar: March, 2010 – February, 2013 Curriculum development for database

education to diverse majors Software development: two animations

◦ Advantages of (normalized) database technology over loser (I mean non-normalized) alternatives

◦ Introduction to querying

Funded Project (NSF DUE): Databases for Many Majors

Technical issues◦ Programming in FLASH/FLEX◦ Porting to mobile devices◦ Customization of the animations to majors

Driven by producers (Goelman/Dietrich) and consumers

XML-based Rollout of animations - pretty mature Home page:

http://databasesmanymajors.faculty.asu.edu/

Databases for Many Majors (continued)

Databases: conceptual modeling Databases: schema integration Databases: XML for non-majors Databases: NoSQL databases Data Science and Big Data

Other Interests and Projects

◦Ramya Numboori: NOSQL Data Stores◦Hao Zhang: Database Querying in C#◦Takashi Binns: DB Systems for Geographical

Applications◦Shishir Kaushik: Online Marketing◦Sruthi Cherukuri: Utilities for Data

Warehouses◦Kartheek Chiluka: Rapid Application

Development Frameworks◦Sudha Palivela: NoSQL Databases,

Exemplified by MongoDB

Current and Recent Independent Studies

Prof. Catherine Helwig

Projects

Develop algorithm visualizations along with mini-tutorials for computer aided instruction in Data Structure and Algorithm classes.

Visualizations as a mini-tutorial with animations portraying different parts of the algorithm.

Sample of five animations of ADT’s (and looking for more) http://www.csc.villanova.edu/~helwig/index1.html

Graph algorithms at http://algoviz.org/fieldreports AlgoViz.org is supported by the National Science

Foundation under a grant

Algorithm Visualizations for Teaching and Learning

J2 Micro Edition (J2ME) which is the version of the Java 2.1 platform that is designed for use with smaller devices such as PDA’s, mobile phones etc.

Since the size of small devices varies greatly, there are two profiles provided by the J2ME. The first,CLDC configuration , has a unique profile for Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP toolkit).

Lab for Data Structures and Algorithms III developing a small app for the Blackberry.

Developing applications (games) on Mobile Phones and Small Devices

Dr. Giorgi JaparidzeProjects

Computational Theory Artificial Intelligence Logic Projects

◦ Computability Logic◦ Interactive Computation

Interests and Projects

Dr. Daniel JoyceProjects

Interests and Projects Department Web Team Lead Programming Team Coach Graduate Independent Study / Grand Challenges Coordinator

◦ http://csc.villanova.edu/academics/gradIS ◦ have contacts/ideas BEFORE your final semester starts

Research Interests◦ Software development/engineering◦ Web programming◦ Security◦ Computer Science Education

Research Project Ideas◦ Collecting and analyzing data related to the software development

process◦ Report on the use of a new technology to create a system, perhaps

comparing it to use of a different technology Development Project Ideas

◦ Camp Registration Site◦ Use of Kinnects

Dr. Frank KlassnerProjects

AI, Robotics & Simulation

Virtual Reality◦ CAVEs◦ Immersive Video◦ Web-based Experiences

Mobile Apps

Interests and Projects

Dr. Anany LevitinProjects

Anany Levitin

Algorithm design techniques are general strategies for algorithmic problem solving (e.g., divide-and-conquer, decrease-and-conquer, greedy, etc.)

paramount for designing algorithms for new problems provide a framework for classifying algorithms by design idea

Algorithmic puzzles are puzzles that requires design or analysis of an algorithm

illustrate algorithm design and analysis techniques as general problem solving tools (computational thinking)

some puzzles pose interesting and still unanswered questions entertainment technical job interviews

Anany Levitin (cont.)

Algorithm design techniques projects thinking backward; design by cases how to solve it (G. Polya) vs.

how to solve it by an algorithm

Algorithmic puzzles projects a few specific puzzles (research and visualization) taxonomies of algorithmic puzzles

63

Dr. Paula MatuszekProjects

• Artificial Intelligence– knowledge-based systems– ontologies and the semantic web– knowledge capture and sharing– Machine learning

• Natural Language Processing/Text Mining– Computer understanding of natural (human) languages– Finding, extracting, summarizing, visualizing information from

unstructured text• Project

– Broader and Earlier Access to Machine Learning: NSF project to develop machine learning materials for non-computer science students.

Interests and Projects

Prof. Najib NadiProjects

Systems Programming Systems Administration

◦ Linux◦ Solaris◦ Mac OS X

Web Application Development Current projects:

◦ Systems setup for upcoming programming contest◦ IBM ThinkPad Linux configuration for cityteam

ministries◦ Thin Client performance analysis◦ VU community Dropbox

Interests and Projects

Dr. Mary-Angela Papalaskari

Projects

Artificial Intelligence: - Augmented reality - Conversational agents - Reasoning with incomplete information  - Machine learning - Computer Vision

Computer Science Education: - Teaching and learning computer science through service to the community - Computing for non-CS majors - Computer science through media computation - PACSE: Philadelphia Area Computer Science Educators

Interests and Projects

Dr. James SolderitschProjects

Cyber Security◦ Adaptive Network Defense◦ Data Protection and Privacy◦ Security within the Smart Grid◦ Ethical Hacking

Modeling and Simulation◦ Software Architectures as Executable Models◦ Security Modeling for Service Oriented

Architectures◦ Discrete Event Simulation

Interests and Projects

Dr. Tom WayProjects

Department of Computing Sciences 72

Active Projects

Parsing & Translation Nanocompilers & Nanocomputers (Nanotech)

Sentiment Analysis & Tracking (AI)

Tremor Filtering Wii Pointer (Rehab Engr)

SNITCH plagiarism analyzer (Sim & Tools)

CS Education Distributed Expertise learning modules (CS

Ed) Machine Learning modules (CS Ed)

ACT Lab (CS Education)

Department of Computing Sciences 73

ACT Lab Research GroupsApplied Computing Technology Laboratory

Director of Research

Dr. Tom Way

Com. Sci.

Education

High Perf.

Computing

Rehab. Engineeri

ng

Simulation & Tools

Information

Fluency

Databases

Other Groups..

.

Nanotech

Department of Computing Sciences 74

Back-burner Projects

Using Magic to Teach CS (CS Education)

Green Computing (Green Comp.)

Speech Recog. for note-taking (Rehab Engr)

Info. literacy using science satire (Info. Fluency)

Many other ideas

actlab.csc.villanova.edu

Department of Computing Sciences 75

Student –Ready Projects Sentiment Analysis Sentiment Tracking Tremor Filtering Wii Pointer Plagiarism detection ACT Lab web site renovation Machine Learning education modules SMS question answerer