Research Labs

Computational Social Dynamics Lab

At the Computational Social Dynamics Lab (PICSO LAB), we are working toward modeling and analyzing patterns of change within complex social systems, with a focus on patterns of change that emerge from citizen activities, interactions and relationships, and their sensemaking processes. Our research mission is to use data, big and small, in the service of humanity. Lead faculty member: Yu-Ru Lin.

Geoinformatics Lab

Geoinformatics encompasses a collection of special techniques, technologies, and tools for the acquisition, processing, management, analysis, and presentation of geospatial data. Learn more about the Geoinformatics Lab. Lead faculty member: Hassan Karimi.

The Human-Autonomy Teaming (HAT) Lab

This lab aims to improve human performance, safety, and well-being in intelligent systems, with applications ranging from transportation, healthcare, to military domains. By applying both data-driven and theory-driven methods, the work (1) analyzes how humans interact with technologies; (2) develops computational models to simulate and predict human behaviors; and (3) proposes and evaluates design ideas to enable effective and safe collaborations between humans and intelligent agents. Lead faculty member: Na Du

Information Retrieval, Integration, and Synthesis (iRiS) Lab

iRiS lab researchers and educators are interested in, and are actively working on various sub-topics areas of IR, which include adaptive and interactive information retrieval, cross-language information retrieval, digital library, information seeking on the Web and in traditional library settings, interface and visualization, and multimedia indexing and retrieval. The goal of the iRiS Lab is to develop effective, efficient and friendly tools for people to access large, distributed, and heterogeneous information collections. Lead faculty member: Daqing He.

Laboratory for Education and Research on Security Assured Information Systems (LERSAIS)

The Laboratory for Education and Research on Security Assured Information Systems (LERSAIS) provides a framework for long-term goals of (1) establishing a premier research program that focuses on the diverse problems related to security and survivable information systems, networks, and infrastructures, and (2) developing and supporting high quality education in security and information assurance. The University of Pittsburgh has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education since 2004 jointly by the US National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). LERSAIS is Pitt’s representative CAE, and it has also been designated as CAE-Research. Lead Faculty Members: Amy Babay, Ahmed IbrahimJames Joshi, Prashant Krishnamurthy, Balaji Palanisamy, David Tipper.

Learning Technologies Lab (LTL)

The Learning Technologies Lab (LTL) at DINS is an interdisciplinary research and development laboratory that fosters innovative research in the area of learning technologies and transformational / serious games. The LTL offers new educational opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students, and catalyzes collaboration among University of Pittsburgh schools and departments. Lead faculty: Peter Brusilovsky, Dmitriy Babichenko.

Quantum Information and Networking Group >>

The QIN research group specializes in quantum information processing and networking technologies, and applications toward developing quantum information technologies and connecting them over a robust quantum internet for applications with deep societal impact. The lead faculty member is Kaushik Seshadreesan.

Resilient Systems and Societies Lab >>

This is a computer systems research group with a focus on dependable infrastructure. The aim of this lab's work is to make the networked systems our society relies on resilient to failures and attacks, and to develop new network technologies that help bring people together. Lead faculty member: Amy Babay

Usability Research Lab

The Usability Research Lab was opened in the mid 1990’s to provide experimental space for Professors Korfhage and Lewis’ NSF-sponsored research in visual information retrieval interfaces as well as to function as a conventional Usability (now User Experience) lab. With an influx of new projects, the lab’s focus shifted to human-agent interaction, interactive simulation and VR, and since 2003, human-robot interaction. Current projects involve human supervision of robotic swarms, trust in automation, and reinforcement learning models for human-machine teaming. Lead faculty: Michael Lewis.