Institutes

Director and Professor: Daniels.

The Biomedical Research Institute embraces the latest advances in biomedical engineering, biotechnology, nanotechnology, neuroscience and bioinformatics and bio-signaling research in medicine, biology, and healthcare. The Institute aims to further enhance the fulfillment of the mission and goal of Idaho State University as the lead among Idaho universities in the health professions.

Established in 2005 to increase the collaboration, efficiency and focus of the University’s biomedical research activities, the Biomedical Research Institute will provide additional resources for faculty to improve research capabilities.

The long-term vision of the Institute is to establish a nationally and internationally recognized interdisciplinary biomedical research environment where scientists, engineers, and health professionals can interact synergistically, without the restrictions of traditional discipline barriers.

The Institute’s four major focus areas are behavioral and neuroscience; bio-signaling and communication; functional genomics and biotechnology; and health science and engineering.

For more information, see IBRI.ISU.EDU.

Director and Professor: Schou
Associate Directors and Professor: Lohse
Professor:  Cady
Associate Professors: Sammons, J. Strickland
Research Associate Professor: Laxminarayan
Assistant Professor: Frost
Affiliate Professors: Leibrock, Longley, Murray
Affiliate Assistant Professors: Moulton, Slay, Willis

The Informatics Research Institute (IRI) is an academic unit providing coordination for several interdisciplinary degrees and research centers across campus. Informatics is an integrative discipline that arises from the synergistic application of computational, informational, organizational, cognitive, and other disciplines whose primary focus is in the acquisition, storage and use of information in a broad spectrum of domains. It includes the study and application of information technology in the arts, sciences, commerce, medicine, and society in general. The IRI has a mission in teaching, research, and service. Activities include:
The IRI coordinates activities among the National Information Assurance Training and Education Center (NIATEC), Simplot Decision Support Center (SDSC), Center for Innovative Technology in Archaeological Informatics (CITI-AI). The IRI charter includes development of interdisciplinary AA, AS, BA, BS, Masters and Doctoral programs as well as concentrations in Information Assurance.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL INFORMATICS
CITI-AI – Center for Innovative Technology in Archaeological Informatics.  The CITI-AI leads research in the organization and analysis of archaeological information. It creates and maintains active partnerships within the archaeological community and serves as an interdisciplinary center of activity uniting basic informatics research and modeling within the Informatics Research Institute, Idaho State University, and its affiliated faculty. The Center is directed by E.S. Lohse, Professor of Anthropology and Division Head for Anthropology, Idaho Museum of Natural History.

SIMPLOT DECISION SUPPORT CENTER
The Simplot Decision Support Center (SDSC) is a facility designed to increase group decision making effectiveness and efficiency.  It is a research and development effort of Idaho State University resulting from the generosity of the Simplot Corporation. The Simplot Decision Support Center is one of a few dedicated facilities in the nation and is available as a resource to both local and national organizations. It has led the national effort in developing information assurance and computer security training and education standards for the federal government.

INFORMATION ASSURANCE
NIATEC – The National Information Assurance Training and Education Center is a consortium of academic, industry, and government organizations to improve the literacy, awareness, training, and education standards in Information Assurance. As the federally designated cornerstone for essential education and training components of a strong Information Assurance initiative, the mission is to establish an effective Information Assurance infrastructure.  NIATEC is associated with Idaho State University Center of Academic Excellence. It is a component in the national plan to establish a federal cyber-corps to defend against cyber-based disruption and attacks.  Key to building such a cyber-corps is the implementation of robust graduate and undergraduate curricula in Information Assurance.

Information Assurance Degree Concentrations
The IRI coordinates the federally designated Center of Academic Excellence in Computer Security Education. The Center of Academic Excellence includes formal concentrations in Information Assurance at the undergraduate and graduate level in cooperation with NIATEC and CITI. In addition, the Informatics Research Institute offers formal concentrations in Information Assurance for Baccalaureate, Masters, and Doctoral Programs. These concentrations may be above the regular degree requirements documented by the DHS/CNSS approved Certificates offered by Idaho State University.

Certificates for Concentrations:

• CNSS 4011 -- National Training Standard for Information Systems Security (INFOSEC) Professionals
• CNSS 4012 -- Senior Systems Manager
• CNSS 4013 -- Systems Security Administration
• CNSS 4014 -- Information Systems Security Officer
• CNSS 4015 – Systems Certification

Program of Study:
Students with appropriate pre-requisites may take courses within the information assurance program as part of a formal information assurance concentration in their degree program. With approval of their advisor and the faculty they may pursue certificates in specialty areas. In addition to courses that support specialized certifications the program offers courses in Computer Forensics and Risk analysis. All courses require preparation of research papers in information assurance topic related to their major field.

• CNSS 4011 -- Students in the Computer Information System major may take CIS 411, a minimum of 6 hours of 419 (Informatics Practicum) or 493 (Internship) and two additional courses in Information Assurance. Students in the CIS minor may take the same series of courses. Students in other majors may have to take additional courses.

All students seeking additional certifications must complete the requirements for CNSS 4011 and the following:

• CNSS 4012 – Students certifying for 4012 must complete CIS 411, CIS 412,  CIS 413, CIS 414, CIS 415
• CNSS 4013 – Students certifying for 4013 must complete CIS 411, CIS 413, and CIS 485
• CNSS 4014 – Students Certifying for 4014 must complete CIS 411, CIS 414 and CIS 413
• CNSS 4015 – Students Certifying for 4015 must complete CIS 411, CIS 415 and CIS 414

Idaho State University established an Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (INSE) with approval from the Idaho State Board of Education in 2003. The INSE objective is to expand research in nuclear engineering and science. The partners in this expanded research are the ISU College of Science and Engineering, the Office of Research, and the Center for Advanced Energy Studies. CAES is a public/private partnership comprised of the three Idaho public universities, private industry, and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). All of the faculty affiliated with INSE are also faculty of the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Health Physics in the College of Science and Engineering. 

Idaho State University’s proximity to INL and the INL’s designation as the premier nuclear energy research laboratory in the U.S. create a great opportunity for nuclear engineering research at Idaho State University. A number of ISU’s nuclear engineering faculty hold joint appointments at INL. Also, several faculty were previously employed at what is today the INL, in research and engineering projects. 

INSE coordinates a scholarship program for students interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in nuclear engineering. Students at Idaho State University, the University of Idaho, or Boise State University may apply as sophomores in engineering. Completion of the Nuclear Engineering degree takes place at Idaho State University, on either the Idaho Falls or the Pocatello campus. Agencies within the U.S. nuclear industry, especially AREVA, the Department of Energy, and more recently, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, have supported scholarships in this program. Participants are encouraged and assisted to find summer positions at INL.  

For further information and a scholarship application, visit the Institute's scholarship web page at http://www.isu.edu/departments/inse/tntp.html