Jim Kurose, new assistant director for National Science Foundation Directorate

06 October 2014

Jim Kurose to head Computer & Information Science & Engineering Directorate of US National Science Foundation.

---

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has selected University of Massachusetts (UMass, USA) Professor James F. Kurose to serve as assistant director for the American Directorate for Computer & Information Science & Engineering (CISE). Jim Kurose is a member of the Board of Trustees and of the Scientific Council of IMDEA Networks Institute since 2006.

Arturo Azcorra, Director of IMDEA Networks, said, “I heartily congratulate Jim. This is an impressive recognition and we are all proud of him. He has been highly supportive of IMDEA Networks from its inception and he’s considered by all here a valued mentor and an indisputable leader in his field. His vision and perspective will do much to bring forward crucial issues for the computing research community worldwide.”

CISE’s mission is to promote the progress of computer and information science and engineering research and education and advance the development and use of cyberinfrastructure; promote understanding of the principles and uses of advanced computer, communication and information systems in support of societal priorities; and contribute to universal, transparent and affordable participation in a knowledge-based society.

Kurose is Distinguished Professor at UMass Amherst’s School of Computer Science (USA), a position he has held since 2004. He has also served in a number of administrative roles at UMass including chair of the Department of Computer Science and interim dean and executive associate dean of the College of Natural Sciences, and senior faculty advisor to the vice chancellor for research and engagement. With Keith Ross, he coauthored the textbook, Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach, which is in its sixth edition. Kurose’s research interests include computer network protocols and architecture, network measurement, sensor networks, multimedia communication and modeling and performance evaluation.

“I’m honored to have been selected for this opportunity to serve the research community and the country,” Kurose said from the US. “The role of computing in cybersecurity, infrastructure, networking, big data, and more continues to be of national importance. And NSF plays a crucial and fundamental role in contributing to our understanding of these and other issues.”

Kurose will begin his NSF appointment in January 2015.