Computer Science

While technology and algorithms are an important part of computer science, the computing field is centered around helping people and society. In the WPI Computer Science Department, we explore both the theory and practice behind core systems, algorithms, foundations, and design in computing. We apply these capabilities to advance humanity through intelligent tutoring, bioinformatics, human-computer interaction, security and privacy, graphics and animation, and more. Our educational mission helps students learn the core of computing to apply it to help others. Our research mission is to advance humanity's knowledge and create a positive impact in the world.

WPI's Computer Science department is an incubator of interdisciplinary programs, such as in Artificial Intelligence, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Cyber Security, Data Science, Interactive Media and Game Development, Neuroscience, and Learning Sciences and Technology. Our faculty collaborate broadly to integrate computing across disciplinary boundaries.

Our department fully embraces project-based learning both in our classes and as separate endeavors. We help students learn how to identify problems, evaluate potential solutions, and build the structure needed to make those solutions a reality. Our graduates do more than build software tools; they build lasting, positive value.

Dept Head and Professor Craig Shue

Talks about the magic of computer science, his drive to share this passion with students in the classroom, through undergraduate projects and advising graduate research. He also shares what students can expect from the WPI experience.

Assistant Teaching Professor Shubbhi Taneja

Discusses teaching at WPI, her classroom approach, advising undergraduate research projects in collaboration with outside industry leaders and the importance of these partnerships in providing students with real-world experience.

Senior Instructor Joshua Cuneo

Talks about his dedication to first-year students, creating the most up-to-date curriculum, and ensuring that the CS department and WPI community are inclusive to all students, faculty and guests.

Assistant Teaching Professor Sami Sun

Shares his excitement for teaching, helping new students to CS at WPI feel welcome, the importance of learning the skill of teamwork and how to apply what they have learned in the workforce.

Putting Theory into Practice

Project based learning is a pilar of the WPI academic experience. Undergraduate students can work in teams across the globe to make major impacts on our community and beyond. This global project is the Interactive Qualifying Project. The second is the Major Qualifying Project, which is completed senior year focusing on a project in Computer Science.

Our graduate students and faculty work on cutting-edge research in the fields of Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Learning Sciences & Technology and Cybersecurity just to name a few. Click below to hear more!

Undergraduate MQP Poster Presentations

Increasing Accessibility at the Worcester EcoTarium

CS students Joe Fox, Owen McGinley, Dylan Olmsted, Dylan Phillips and Brandon Vuong discuss their project in which they created an app for visually impaired users who visit the EcoTarium in Worcester, MA.

GoatConnect: Connecting WPI Students and Alumni

CS students Owen Lehane, John Mezzo, Isabella Pabon and Harry Rubin share their role in the creation of an app that connects WPI students and alumni in order to create a social and professional network.

Assisting Learning Through Student Mastery Metrics

CS students Justin Weintraub and Noah Goodman talk about their project with sponsor ASSISTments, founded by Professor Neil Heffernan and his wife Christine, in which they enhanced user experience.

Graduate Student Research

Clustering for Confidentiality

Adam Beauchaine presents his cyber security research: Clustering for Confidentiality, An Exploration of Unsupervised Learning for the Security of Data Assets.

Reinforcement Learning for Education

WPI student Morgan Lee presents their CS research: Expert Features for a Student Support Recommendation Contextual Bandit Algorithm.

Data-Driven Optimization of Wire Arc DED Manufacturing Conditions for Improved Bead Shape Prediction

WPI student Stephen Price shared his cutting-edge research in which he is trying to improve additive manufacturing techniques to create more precise and useful technologies.

CS Faculty Highlights

Assistant Professor Roee Shraga

Describes his work to improve the data used by Artificial Intelligence systems and algorithms, specifically efficient ways to find, clean and organize data for better science.

Associate Professor Sherry Sun

Shares her passion for battling cyber security attackers and how to arm defenders with the best possible tools.

Assistant Professor Fabricio Murai

Discusses his current research related to fairer, faster and more accurate Artificial Intelligence models with graph data.

Read about the Accomplishments of our Award Winning Faculty in the Most Recent Edition of SIGBITS

A Summary of Department Happenings in Computer Science

Faculty Spotlights

Associate Professor Erin Solovey

Selected as Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellow for the 2024-2025 academic year. “Stepping into the rich intellectual community created by the Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship will provide the space and platform to engage with the wider world to identify areas where AI and computer science can help humans and the planet as well as where it may open new problems,” Solovey said. “This type of intellectual exchange is much-needed right now in computer science and artificial intelligence research. The field is moving rapidly and its impact on people and the planet is substantial and growing.”

Read the full article here.

Professor Neil Heffernan

Has been awarded a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) Institute of Education Sciences to continue his work developing an artificial intelligence (AI) tutor that can help middle-school students learn math while doing homework.

Read the full article here.

Professor Elke Rundensteiner

Receives the prestigious IEEE Test-of-Time Award for groundbreaking visual data analytics work. This award honors articles published at previous IEEE conferences, in this case in 2003, that have withstood the test of time by remaining useful 20 years later and that have had significant impact and influence on future advances within and beyond the visualization community.

Read the full article here.

Our students do really well in the workforce. They are solving problems, they are able to work quicker, better and more efficiently than their peers.

Amanda Laungani from the Heebner Career Development Center

Careers in Computer Science

The widespread and increasing use of computers and information technology has generated a need for highly trained, innovative workers with extensive practical and theoretical expertise. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics continually predicts a faster-than-average growth rate in computer science jobs, thanks to the continued creation and adoption of new technologies.

Link To The Most Recent Post-Grad Report

Alumni Success Stories

Digging Deep

To aid a fragile planet, alumni trio uses AI to improve scrap metal recycling in the face of growing demand.

Kajsa Cadwell Brimdyr '92

The video ethnographer shows the significance of skin-to-skin contact for babies.

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