My bioinformatics research is supported by the NIH/NCRR Maine INBRE grant.
Most generally, I work in artificial intelligence, but my primary research
area is called machine learning (programs that adapt), and I specialize
in the subarea called classification and data mining (finding patterns in
data), and also in genetic algorithms (programs that "evolve"). I also
work with robotic and virtual agents.
I've been working on a genetic algorithms approach to inferring motifs
(patterns conserved over evolutionary time) in DNA sequences, called
GAMI. This work is done in collaboration with Carolyn Mattingly and Joe
Aman at the Mount Desert Island Biological Lab, with Rex Gaskins and
Gerardo Nava at the University of Illinois, with former students Charles
Fizer and Noah Smith, and with the assistance of Lunn Sawyer.
I've also been working on a genetic algorithms approach to finding
phylogenies -- tree structures used by biologists to explore the evolutionary
relationships among species. (This work has been done with former
students Emily Greenfest, Josh Ladieu, and Kevin Septor, and with the
assistance of Lunn Sawyer.)
I also have a background in studio art, and am dancing around the edges of
exploring such things as interactive art forms and evolutionary art (and
even evolved artists).
My son Ben and I like to program together. :-) This means that he gives
the direction, and I write the program. Here are some
of our explorations into JavaScript and DHTML (which, alas, will run
on only outdated browsers, such as NN4.7).
Courses
CS498: Research in Machine Learning and Bioinformatics, Spring 2006
CS111, Weaving the Web, Fall 2005
CS352, User-Centered Design, Fall 2005
CS393, Seminar in Interactive Art, Spring 2005
CS111, Weaving the Web, Fall 2004
CS328, Machine Learning and Data Mining, Fall 2004
CS352, User-Centered Design, Spring 2004
CS111, Weaving the Web, Fall 2003
CS393, Seminar in Small Robotics, Fall 2003
CS352, User-Centered Design, Spring 2003
BI434 / CS434, Bioinformatics, Spring 2003 (co-taught with Judy Stone)
CS328, Machine Learning and Data Mining, Fall 2002
CS328, Machine Learning and Data Mining, Spring 2001
CS352, Information System Design, Fall 2000
CS117, Explorations in Robotics, JanPlan 2000
CS113, Great Ideas in Computer Science, Fall 1999
CS231, Data Structures and Algorithms, Spring 1999
CS113, Great Ideas in Computer Science, Fall 1998
CS115, Structured Programming and Elementary Algorithms, Fall 1998
Independent Study Projects
Learning Classifier Systems and Evolutionary Robotics (Smith), 2004-05
A Complex Systems Approach to Researching Behavioral Trends (Wrenn), 2004-05
Genetic Algorithms and C (Mwai), Fall 2004
Prediction of Ocean Swells (Goldsmith), Spring 2005
Prediction of Emergency Room Lengths of Stay (Wrenn), Spring 2005
Databases and User-Centered Design (Noiseux), Fall 2003, January 2004
Visual Expectations (Place), 2003-04
Improving Multi-Robot Area Mapping Abilities Using Genetic Algorithms (Sotzing), 2003-04
Hypertypography: JavaScript and DHTML (LaRochelle, Lee, Roberts), Spring
2004
Small Robot Mapping and Navigation (Smith), Spring 2004
3D Interactive Media (Hobart, independent major), 2002-03
