Faculty

COMBINE Leadership:

Michelle Girvan(PI; Physics/IPST/Biophysics/AMSC) Expertise: Network science, modeling, biological systems. Prof. Girvan’s research focuses on complex networks, operating at the intersection of statistical physics, nonlinear dynamics, and computer science and has applications to social, biological, and technological systems. While some of the research is purely theoretical, Girvan has become increasingly involved in using empirical data to inform and validate mathematical models.
Daniel Butts (Co-PI; Biology/AMSC/NACS) Expertise: Computational neuroscience. Research in Prof. Butts’ NeuroTheory Lab is concerned both with developing larger theories of system-level function in the visual and other sensory systems, as well as working closely with neurophysiologists to design and perform experiments that can guide and/or validate these theories. The Butts’ Lab also develops new analytical tools to facilitate these new experiments, as well as increase what can be learned from existing experiments.
William Fagan (Co-PI; Biology/AMSC) Expertise: Ecological networks, eco-informatics. Prof. Fagan’s research involves meshing field biology with theoretical models to address critical questions in community ecology and conservation biology. Ongoing research falls in several areas that illustrate this melding of theory and problem-solving, including 1) spatial ecological dynamics, 2) ecoinformatics, biodiversity databases, and conservation planning, and 3) biological stoichiometry and paleoecostoichioproteomics.
Amitabh Varshney (Co-PI, UMIACS/CS) Expertise: Visual informatics for biological applications. Prof. Varshney’s research focus is on exploring the applications of graphics and visualization in engineering, science, and medicine. He has developed new algorithms for automatically generating multiresolution object hierarchies, image-based rendering, parallel computation and simplification of radiosity meshes, and fine gesture recognition for virtual environments. He is currently exploring applications in general-purpose high-performance parallel computing using clusters of CPUs and Graphics Processing Units (GPUs).
Gili Marbach-Ad (Internal Evaluator, CMNS Teaching & Learning Center) Prof. Marbach-Ad is leading the overall assessment effort by developing annual assessment goals; reflecting on progress, successes, and challenges, and implementing effective and measurable assessments tools.
Daniel Serrano (Research Educator, IREAP) Dr. Serrano assists NRT faculty to develop and execute the training elements of the program. In addition, he works directly with NRT trainees in the context of the program elements to improve their communication skills.

COMBINE Faculty by area

CS/Engineering:

Physical and Mathematical Sciences:

Life Sciences:

Partner Participants: