Top research

The research at the department combines theory with interaction with the application fields in a well-balanced whole. Both the department and Basic Research Unit in the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology were awarded the highest grade in the research review carried out in 2005. Algodan (Algorithmic Data Analysis) is a national Finnish Academy centre of excellence 2008-2013.

In research, the following key areas will be emphasized in the 2010-12 period:
 
- Data analysis. Method development and applications in modern data analysis: machine learning, data mining, information-theoretic modelling. The research into this topic has long traditions, and the research at the department is a world leader in this area.
 
- Networking and services. Research into networked systems and their premises: middleware (including service and application platforms, management of middleware, trust, and safety), mobility (independence of technology and location, wireless communications), information networks, service networks, context-awareness and ubiquitous computing. This area combines the department's traditional research into wireless and mobile computing with new emerging research themes such as middleware and ubiquitous computing. The focus of the research is moving from protocols towards the problems of the application level and their solutions.
 
-Software research. The research into this area will grow considerably during the next three-year period, both in applied and basic research. The focus of software research is on the global development and processes of software, systems of open source code and web technologies and their utilisation, parallel programming, sustainable software technologies and their applicability. During the strategy period, we will strive for world-class skills and networking in each key area.
 
It is possible that pioneering key areas will be considered during the strategy period. We have, among other opportunities, two vacant professorships that we can direct into new focal areas.

Created date

05.02.2010 - 11:47

Brain poetry

In the latest research result of the month section, we interview PhD student Jukka Toivanen about his recent work on brain poetry in the Discovery group led by professor Hannu Toivonen. How can humans and machines be creative together?

Kjell Lemström to be new Head of Studies

Since Jaakko Kurhila left the department to head the Open University, we had to find a new university lecturer to act as head of studies in short order. We received a total of 28 applications. Out of these, and after a preliminary qualification round, evaluations, interviews, and a department council hearing, Kjell Lemström (KL) was elected for the post. He started working as the department's Head of Studies on 2 March 2015, so the Head of the department (JP) conducted the following induction interview that very week.

This is by no means the first time Kjell has been employed by the department. He defended his thesis on ‘String Matching Techniques for Music Retrieval’ in 2000, and has held numerous teaching and research positions both before and after that, until he transferred to the Laurea University of Applied Sciences in 2011 (luckily, that was only temporary).

Head of Studies Jaakko Kurhila to head Open University

The Head of Studies at the department, University Lecturer Jaakko Kurhila, has been elected to the post of director of the Open University at the University of Helsinki. It was a tough race: all in all, 39 applicants sought the post, some of them through the Mercuri Urval headhunting process. After a consultant evaluation, interviews, and aptitude assessments, the preparatory committee for the post, the steering committee for the Open University, and the rector of the university came to a unanimous decision to select Jaakko, and the contract is already being drawn up.

Being selected from this prestigious group of applicants, and after such a thorough process, is indisputable proof of the qualifications of Jaakko and the high esteem the academic community has for him. The department extends its warmest congratulations to Jaakko for this career development and is proud of the success of its protégé.

Bridging the Gap Between Research and Standardization

In the fourth research result of the month, we report a joint work between the UH NODES group and the Cambridge NetOS group, lead by Prof. Sasu Tarkoma and Prof. Jon Crowcroft, respectively. Their work recently received the best paper award "Best of CCR" from ACM SIGCOMM.