About the Institute for Systems Research

The Institute for Systems Research (ISR) is a permanent, interdisciplinary research unit in the Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland. It is home to cross disciplinary research and education programs in systems engineering and sciences, and is committed to developing basic solution methodologies and tools for systems problems in a variety of application domains. ISR-based projects are conducted through partnerships with industry and government, bringing together faculty and students from multiple academic departments and colleges across the university.

ISR faculty conduct research at the forefront of many disciplines. Some of our current research emphases include:

-- Network security
-- Mobile and sensor networks
-- Hybrid communication
   networks
-- MEMS sensor/actuator design
   and fabrication
-- Nanotechnology
-- Manufacturing and product
   realization systems
-- Neuroscience and
   neuromorphic engineering

-- Systems engineering
   methodologies
-- Signal processing and
   multimedia systems
-- Advanced control systems
   techniques
-- Supply chain management
-- Transportation systems; air
   traffic management

ISR began as one of the National Science Foundation's first Engineering Research Centers in 1985. It attained permanent institute status at the University of Maryland in 1992 and graduated from the NSF program in 1996.

Assistant Professor Pamela Abshire (r) and her student work on cell-based biolabs on a chip. This project combines electrical and computer engineering with neuroscience and is an example of ISR's interdisciplinary research.