The IACR runs a wide range of collaborative research supporting and growth activities including
- networking events,
- seminars,
- regional collaboration activities,
- interdisciplinary & convergent “seed” funding programs,
The IACR’s Research group is led by Michael Puerrer and includes Abdeltawab Hendawi, Joan Peckham, Marco Alvarez, and Wenchao Ge.The Institute does not have its own research agenda or program — rather it serves as a focal point for computational researchers at URI and in the region with the goal of strengthening research collaboration and networking. A quick snapshot of the IACR resources is available here: IACR at-a-glance. For details on the broad topic of Generative AI, and the relevant university-wide efforts and guidelines, please visit the URI Provost’s AI page.
Faculty researchers from across the university engage with the IACR in a wide variety of ways. A partial list of the affiliated faculty appears below.
Arts & Sciences
Big Data • Quantum Computation • Computational Relativity & Astrophysics • Machine Learning Applications • Digital Humanities & Art • Mathematical Modeling
Department of Physics
- Aidan Chatwin-Davies
- Rob Coyne
- Gaurav Khanna
- Len Kahn
- Peter Nightingale
- Michael Pürrer
- Vanita Srinivasa
- Wenchao Ge
- Jaewoong Jung
- David Heskitt
- Derek Davis
- Deborah Ferguson
Department of Computer Science & Statistics
- Joan Peckham
- Sarah Brown
- Abdeltawab Hendawi
- Noah Daniels
- Nina Kajiji
- Gavino Puggioni
- Marco Alvarez
- Lutz Hamel
- Natallia Katenka
- Lisa DiPippo
- Haihan Yu
- Kaleel Mahmood
- Krishna Venkatasubramanian
- Shaun Wallace
- Jing Wu
- Jungjun Choi
- Alina Barnett
Department of Mathematics & Applied Mathematical Sciences
- Nancy Eaton
- James Baglama
- Tom Bella
- Lubos Thoma
- Jonathan Chavez-Casillas
- Vasilije Perovic
- Mustafa Kulenovic
- Mark Comerford
- Kelum Gajamannage
- Nhu Nguyen
- Pengyu Liu
- Ayse Sharland
Department of Chemistry
Harrington School of Communication & Media
Department of Art & Art History
Department of Sociology & Anthropology
Business
Big Data • Computational Finance • Machine Learning Applications
Department of Finance
Department of Business Analytics & Information Systems
Department of Accounting
Department of Supply Chain Management
Department of Marketing
Engineering
Materials Research • HPC • Engineering Optimization • Molecular Dynamics • Computational Mechanics
Chemical, Biomolecular & Materials Engineering
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Electrical, Computer & Biomedical Engineering
- Resit Sendag
- Bin Li
- Yalda Shahriari
- Hui Lin
- Tao Wei
- Qing Yang
- Kunal Mankodiya
- Sungho Kim
- Yeonho Jeong
- Dhaval Solanki
- Megan Chiovaro
- Rahul Singh
- Guoyi Xu
Mechanical, Industrial & Systems Engineering
Ocean Engineering
- Lora van Uffelen
- Stéphan Grilli
- Reza Hashemi
- Jason Dahl
- Bradford Knight
- Che-Wei Chang
- Jim Miller
- Stephen Licht
Environment & Life Sciences
Big Data • Computational Molecular Ecology • Computational Evolutionary Genetics • Machine Learning Applications
Department of Natural Resources Science
Department of Fisheries, Animal & Veterinary Sciences
Department of Biological Sciences
- Jason Kolbe
- Chris Lane
- Carlos Prada (a.k.a. Carlos Prada Montoya)
- Jon Puritz
- Hollie Putnam
- Andy Davies
- Alison Roberts
Department of Cell & Molecular Biology
- Bethany Jenkins
- Kathryn Ramsey
- Matthew Ramsey
- Lenore Martin
- Ying Zhang
- Jodi Camberg
- Nic Fisk
- Laura Eme
- Claudia Fallini
- Rachel Schwartz
- Niall Howlett
- Caitlin Murdoch
Institute for Immunology & Informatics (I‑Cubed)
Department of Environmental & Natural Resource Economics
Department of Geosciences
Nursing
Health Sciences
Big Data • Computational Social Science • Machine Learning Applications
Department of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Department of Psychology
Department of Human Development & Family Science
Oceanography
Big Data • Physical Oceanography • Seismology • Machine Learning Applications
Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO)
- Roxanne Beinart
- Tatiana Rynearson
- Susanne Menden-Deuer
- Steve D’Hondt
- Isaac Ginis
- Chris Kincaid
- Yang Shen
- Meng Wei
- Peter Cornillon
- Brice Loose
- Kelton McMahon
- Tetsu Hara
- Lew Rothstein
- Keisuke Inomura
- Jaime Palter
- Colleen Mouw
- Kristy Lewis
- Kathleen Donohue
- Nicholas Pizzo
- Robert Campbell
- Jeremy Collie
- Russell Shomberg
Pharmacy
Big Data • Bioinformatics
Department of Pharmacy Practice & Clinical Research
Department of Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Christopher Hemme
- Matt Bertin
- David Rowley
- Chang Liu
- Anne Reid
- Bailey Miller
- Amanda Alker
- Merina Varghese
Email us at iacr-group@uri.edu with questions, comments, suggestions — anything!
News
IACR Lightning Talks — March 6th - LIGHTNING TALKS & NETWORKING AI & ADVANCED COMPUTATIONALLY ENHANCED RESEARCH APPROACHES MARCH 6. 2026. 11:15 am – 12:45 pm ANCHOR ROOM, URI WELCOME CENTER Contact: jpeckham@uri.edu Hosts: Intended Audience: Faculty and graduate researchers. Hear from URI Researchers who have harnessed AI and Advanced Computation to enhance research in multiple disciplines. Included will be lightning talks […]
Rhode Island’s AI Task Force Report - Rhode Island Governor’s AI Task Force has completed its work and has released a detailed report that highlights the recommended actions the state should take to leverage the advances in AI and protect against the potential downsides. The RI Current has a summary: https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/28/rhode-island-releases-its-roadmap-for-ai-some-boundaries-have-yet-to-be-drawn/ Here is the whole 75-page document: https://etss.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur466/files/2026-01/Final-Rhode-Island-AI-Action-Plan-Report-2026-01-26.pdf
AI and Quantum computing Summer Camp 2026 - This summer camp introduces students to foundational concepts in AI and quantum computing through guided activities, demos, and discussions led by URI faculty and students. Details here: https://web.uri.edu/iacr/summer-camp-2026/- Spring ’26 semester workshops - The details of our Spring ‘26 semester workshops appear below. These are open to faculty, staff, and students and are totally free. https://docs.unity.uri.edu/news/2026/01/uri-spring-26-workshops/You can also find these on the URI events calendar (and subscribe): https://events.uri.edu/group/ai This semester we have a new workshop on “Quantum Algorithms for Engineers and Scientists”. PS: Previously recorded versions are available here: https://its.uri.edu/research-training/
Set Sail for Innovation: Hack@URI 2026 - The IACR is supporting a student-led Hackathon initiative. Additional information about the event is available here: https://hackaturi.com/. The IACR is actively seeking industry partners, mentors, and judges across the various tracks. We are also interested in identifying potential guest speakers who may be willing to participate. Please reach out to us if you’re interested.