Research Labs & Centers

This lab enables the ASL research team to work toward automatic translation of English into American Sign Language, the language of the Deaf in North America. American Sign Language is not English coded as signs but an entirely different language from English with its own unique structure. Automated English-to-ASL translation will increase Deaf access to the hearing world. Recently, the team used the lab to allow members of the deaf community to test software that demonstrates fingerspelling. For more information visit the ASL project website or write asl@cs.depaul.edu.         

The Center for Web Intelligence, directed by Professor Bamshad Mobasher, is a research group that focuses on the development of intelligent techniques and applications for the World Wide Web, including automatic Web personalization, recommender systems, e-business intelligence, Web usage and content mining, and intelligent Web agents for information filtering. The Center conducts and promotes research in these areas, as well as providing a central resource and repository for researchers and practitioners. The Center also aims to generate interaction with industry and peer groups through workshops, joint projects, and technology transfer.         

The Collective Futures Film Lab is dedicated to cultural change through transforming how films are imagined. Through grant-making, mentorship, education, and research, the lab aims to support traditionally marginalized filmmakers while codifying aesthetic and structural innovations that foreground an equitable, inclusive, and sustainable media ecosystem. The lab is co-directed by Anuradha Rana and Jess King.         

The Computational Biology and Applied Bioinformatics (CoBaAB) laboratory’s main research interest is in developing computational processes for analyzing large scale omics data that are of importance to medicine, agriculture, and the environment. Currently, the team is working with sequence (Nucleic & Amino acid) and image data. Some of the ongoing research projects include phylogenomics, pangenomics, biofilm data analysis, and machine & deep learning approaches towards functional annotation of sequence data. This lab is directed by Drs. Thiru Ramaraj & John Rogers. Motivated, hardworking undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in joining the team and researching the field of Computer Science and Biology can email Thiru Ramaraj (tramaraj@depaul.edu) and include a brief description on how their interests align with CoBaAB’s research work.         

DePaul’s CyberCenter, founded in June 2003, is chartered to advance the science, teaching, and practice of computer security, information assurance, network security, and related disciplines. Through affiliated labs, including the Secure Design Lab, Adversarial Cybersecurity Automation Lab (ACAL), Network and Security Lab, and more, the Center aims to increase the awareness of security and produce program graduates who are better able to meet the increasing needs of the nation in the area of information assurance. The Center also works in cooperation with Chicagoland area corporations to assist them in applying information assurance practices into their businesses operations and coordinates with community service organizations to help increase their awareness and implementation of information assurance.         

The Data, Infrastructure, Computation, and Environments (DICE) Lab aims to expand the understanding of issues relating to data, infrastructure, computational problems, and environments. The current focus is on provenance data, systems and infrastructure for computational reproducibility, optimization and decision problems arising within this data and systems, and exploration of a variety of virtual environments that are relevant for establishing computational reproducibility. The lab is managed by Dr. Tanu Malik         

The DeMobile: 5G Cellular Network Lab supports research and experimental learning in the field of cellular networks. Two fully functional LTE/LTE-Advanced networks with additional SDR testbeds for 5G experimentation allow faculty and Ph.D students to explore various types of cellular network attacks, develop cellular network forensics tools, experiment with new radio access types for cellular Internet-of-Things, and create solutions for use of cellular networks for disaster management (e.g. flying cell-on-wheel, cell-on-light-vehicles). The lab is established and directed by Filipo Sharevski, Ph.D..         

The DePaul Center for Data Science (CDS) is a research, educational, and collaborative center that focuses on the applications of data science. The center is a joint venture incorporating faculty from several colleges and disciplines across DePaul University. The research focus of the Center is the development of innovative tools and methods in data mining, predictive analytics, and machine learning, as well as the application of these techniques in areas such as intelligent Web systems, social computing, business intelligence, healthcare, hospitality, marketing, image analysis, and more. The Center seeks partnerships with industry as well as educational and non-profit organizations to plan and conduct joint analytics projects that provide graduate students with an invaluable opportunity to work on real-world problems and to gain problem-solving experience in data science.         

DRAG, directed by Michael DeAnda, focuses on designing and studying games through human centered design approaches and histories. Current projects include archival research on LGBTQ histories and epidemiologies in board games.         

The Divergent Design Lab is a research and design lab that focuses on emerging technology, user experience, and contemporary social landscapes. Current research involves cybersecurity, vulnerability, malware, and social cognition. Divergent Design Lab has been awarded funding from the NSA. The lab co-directors are Paige Treebridge, MFA, and Filipo Sharevski, PhD.        

The Hybrid Experience Lab (HexLab) is directed by Dr. Richard Wetzel and explores novel applications and games that sit at the intersection of opposites. Examples include games with a purpose other than pure entertainment; virtual reality with strong physical components; augmented reality situated in outdoor environments; or board games with digital elements. HexLab investigates how this hybridity shapes the user experience, and how to design effective and engaging hybrid experiences. 

The Innovation Development Lab (iD-Lab) provides students the opportunity to deliver innovative software while gaining practical development experience. We practice the Agile Methodology, to prepare our students for working on real world software development projects. The focal point of our research are the methodologies that foster innovation. The iD-Lab partners with a diverse range of firms such as Allstate and CareerBuilder. The foundation of this partnership is our ability in turning their innovative ideas into functional prototypes.         

The Jarvis Student Center for Innovation and Collaboration is an 8,000 square-foot open space where students and faculty come together to ideate and innovate. The Center focuses on multidisciplinary professional learning and industry partnerships fueled by emerging technologies and projects dedicated to societal needs and innovation. Located on the concourse level of the DePaul Center, the Jarvis Center currently houses DePaul Originals Game Studio and the interdisciplinary design PUSH Studio.         

Laboratory for Interactive Human-Computer Analytics (LIHCA) The Laboratory for Interactive Human-Computer Analytics (LIHCA) studies principally Human-in-the-Loop analytics (sometimes called Interactive Machine Learning or Human-Centered Machine Learning), a new field in understanding data by leveraging machine learning and interactive visualization simultaneously. We study ways to integrate these two types of tool, studying the types of visualization and interaction that can be fruitful for gathering human insight, the types of machine learning algorithm used to take advantage of them, and the implications of this technology for disparate application domains like bioinformatics, medical informatics, journalism, and urban communities. The lab is directed by Eli Brown.         

Matters at Play, directed by Lien Tran, is a transdisciplinary design lab focused on partnering in the creation of interactive advocacy solutions for positive social transformations - especially regarding social justice, health, and environmental issues. M@P both incubates and launches projects for real-world impact as part of a faculty-student collaborative as well as in the classroom context. Partners include advocacy, government, non-government, and/or academic organizations looking to use interactivity in both digital and analog contexts with the goal of informing and transforming society and its people.         

Members in the Mobile Commerce Lab conduct research projects in the general areas of information systems and human computer interaction. Recent research topics include technology adoption, digital innovations, smart home technologies, game enjoyment, and gamification. The lab is directed by Xiaowin Fang          

The Next Generation Networking (NexGeN) lab presents a research hub for novel directions in network development. The communications world is rapidly advancing with novel developments in the Internet of Things, Information Centric Networking and the advent of the Tactile Internet. Research activities in the NexGeN will leverage the international collaborations of its director, Dr. Sharief Oteafy, across the IEEE Communications Society and the IEEE Standards Association, to innovate in this fast-paced field.         

PUSH Studio is an interdisciplinary design studio led by LeAnne Wagner where DePaul University students and faculty partner with industry professionals and social impact organizations to apply human-centered design methods to emerging technology challenges. The studio defines emerging technologies as technologies that are not fully realized in their current applications, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, and voice user interfaces. DePaul is uniquely positioned to provide these services because of the variety of relevant academic programs in emerging technology and human centered design, as well as the various focused labs (AR/VR Lab, Technology for Social Good, DePaul Originals Game Studio, Matters at Play).         

Queering Futures Research Studio uses expanded mixed methods research practices and data-driven speculation to imagine and design systems and experiences. Queering Futures Research Studio is founded and directed by Mx Jess Parris Westbrook (they/them), MFA.               

The goal of the Robotic Assisted Locomotion (RAL) Lab, directed by Umer Huzaifa, is to develop robot devices to help people with limited mobility regain their freedom in movement. Lab members are currently studying locomotion in natural and artificial systems with legs to better understand the physical phenomenon involved in the coordinated movement of the joints transporting our bodies. The lab consists of a collegial group of students and professionals of different levels helping in embedded systems, mechanical design, and user testing of the robots.       

Managed by Dr. Filipo Sharevski and developed as part of a grant from the National Security Agency (NSA) for implementation of the Cybersecurity National Action Plan (CNAP), the Secure Design Lab is equipped with state-of-the-art smart Internet of Things (IoT) home setups with wireless routers, home firewalls and IDSs, voice assistants, smart locks, thermostats, intercoms, CCTV, movement and temperature sensors, smart light bulbs, tablets, and smart phones. The work in the lab focuses on researching user-centered interaction design without compromising cybersecurity of smart devices while preventing the users of these homes to be security fatigued.         

The Technology for Social Good Research and Design Lab brings together faculty, students, and other collaborators to design, build, and study tools with the goal of fostering equitable education and empowerment in urban communities. Taking a human-centered approach, research projects draw from fields such as learning sciences, computer science, human-computer interaction, experience design, data science, and psychology to address social issues, particularly in the areas of empowerment, learning, and human development. For more information, visit: tsg.cdm.depaul.edu.         

Located on the concourse level of the DePaul Center, the Virtual and Augmented Design Lab (VAD) hosts classes and projects to research and develop experimental games on emerging platforms. VAD is equipped with Microsoft HoloLenses, AR headsets/visors, HTC Vives, VR headsets with hand and foot trackers, Oculus Rifts, iPhones for augmented reality development, and Macs and PCs. The lab is directed by Dr. Brian Schrank.         

The Visual Informatics and Data Analytics [ VIDA ] Group focuses on creating data mining and computer vision algorithms and developing systems for data processing, analysis, modeling, and visualization. Two laboratories, the Medical informatics (MedIX) lab and the Intelligent Multimedia Processing (IMP) lab, house state-of-the-art research that combines theory and experimental methodologies to provide novel solutions to challenging data problems. The research conducted in the labs is applied to various domains including medical imaging, neuroscience, cellular biology, psychology, security and urban studies.