ICDS directly supports a number of research centers at Penn State that are dedicated to researching problems of societal and scientific importance through the application of computational and data sciences. Other centers affiliated with ICDS use the institute’s resources or perform work relevant to the ICDS mission.

ICDS Centers

Center for Artificial Intelligence Foundations and Scientific Applications (CENSAI)

The Center for Artificial Intelligence Foundations and Scientific Applications (CENSAI) aims to foster collaborative, interdisciplinary research across Penn State and beyond aimed at addressing the AI grand challenge of accelerating scientific progress through synergistic advances across multiple areas of AI, including literature-based discovery, scientific knowledge representation, experiment planning and optimization, machine learning and causal inference, and human-AI collaboration.

Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to Industry (AIMI) Research Center

The Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to Industry (AIMI) Research Center enhances the creation, development, and refinement of industry-sponsored Penn State AI and ML research to empower science and society through digital innovation.

Center for Artificial Intelligence Foundations and Engineered Systems (CAFE)

The Center for Artificial Intelligence Foundations and Engineered Systems (CAFE) focuses on accelerating advances by synergistically advancing AI foundations and the techniques to deploy them efficiently toward applications focused on engineered and defense systems. CAFE provides opportunities for research partnerships, faculty/student recruitment, and technology transition to practice.

Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence (CSRAI)

The Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence aims to enhance interdisciplinary education, research, and outreach in artificial intelligence; its applications; and its impact on work, society, and all aspects of our daily lives. The Center promotes the development and application of AI to all areas of human endeavor, with an emphasis on understanding the social and ethical implications of these activities. The Center also supports and encourages activities that enhance social good through the ethical use of AI and efforts that can mitigate threats from its misuse.

Center for Immersive Experiences (CIE)

Geoinformatics and Earth Observation Laboratory (GEOlab)

The Geoinformatics and Earth Observation Laboratory was established to advance GIScience and cyberscience by developing new computational methodologies and cyberinfrastructure solutions for the analysis of geospatial “big data.” Our focus is on geoscience and Earth science problems with high impact to society, such as environmental hazards and renewable energy.

Center for Big Data Analytics and Discovery Informatics

The Center for Big Data Analytics and Discovery Informatics aims to address emerging challenges in realizing the full potential of big data. Such challenges include organizing, storing, retrieving, and analyzing big data, gleaning useful information from large data sets through automated approaches, representing scientific knowledge in a form that can be processed by computers and also accessible to humans, and creating tools that can dramatically accelerate scientific progress in a wide range of fields.

Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (CCBB)

The Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (CCBB) supports research in developing and applying computational biology and bioinformatic approaches across a wide range of biological questions. In order to enhance Penn State’s recognized strength in this area, the Center continues to foster collaborations and contribute to education and training. The Center’s diverse membership of both experimental and computational scientists reflects the importance of experimental validations of the bioinformatic predictions.

Other Affiliated Centers

Institute for Gravitation and the Cosmos (IGC)

The Institute for Gravitation and the Cosmos (IGC) is dedicated to fostering the highest quality education and research in cosmology, general relativity, gravitational wave astronomy, particle astrophysics, quantum gravity and string theory, focusing on the highest energy phenomena and fundamental issues in the science of the cosmos. IGC has synergistic interactions with Penn State’s Schreyer Honors College, the College of Information Science and Technology, the World University Network, and four departments in the Eberly College of Science.

Center for Geomechanics, Geofluids, and Geohazards (G3)

The Center for Geomechanics, Geofluids, and Geohazards (G3) crosses departmental boundaries and integrates current activities in rock and fluid physics. Earthquake nucleation and recurrence, the triggering and timing of volcanic eruptions, the dynamics of ice sheets, the fate and transport of contaminants in groundwater, and the generation of submarine landslides are all influenced by the interaction of rocks and fluids.

Materials Computation Center (MCC)

The primary aim of the Materials Computation Center (MCC) is to support Penn State faculty working in computer-based simulations of materials- across the various length and time scales. This support includes building connections with experimental and industrial partners, specifically connecting to the Nanofabrication and Materials Characterization Laboratories within the Materials Research Institute (MRI) at Penn State.

Microbiome Center

The Microbiome Center supports transformative, interdisciplinary research in microbiomes by fostering long-term working relationships while simultaneously providing infrastructure and resources needed for increasing diversity and breadth of interdisciplinary microbiome research at Penn State.