College of Computing and Informatics

Since childhood, Dené Logan has been fascinated with computers, building websites and blogs. In fact, she spent hours creating layouts for her Xanga blog without realizing she was actually, “coding.” Today, her hard work and determination is paying off as her fascination becomes her career. 

For the first time in the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s nearly 80-year history, a faculty member has won a NASA Exobiology grant. Assistant Professor of Bioinformatics and Genomics Richard Allen White III will use the ultra-competitive grant in his research on microbialites, a kind of “living rock” that could hold the key to how life formed on Earth.

Srijan Das and Xiang Zhang, two first-year faculty researchers in the College of Computing and Informatics, have received funding from the National Science Foundation to investigate how artificial intelligence can benefit older adults and others in health care settings.

Globally, the population aged 65 and older is growing. By 2050, the UN projects one in six people will exceed the age of 65. In North America and Europe, the number could be one in four.

The most important digital currency in ecommerce is data. As personal information is collected and shared, risks to individual privacy climb, and UNC Charlotte computer scientist Liyue Fan is researching novel ways to better protect individuals’ personal data.

A World with Equity in Computing and Humanity in Technology

Mary Lou Maher, professor of software and information systems in the College of Computing and Informatics, has received the 2023 Harrold and Notkin Research and Graduate Mentoring Award from the National Center for Women and Information Technology.

Bojan Cukic has been named dean for the College of Computing and Informatics, effective Dec. 1. Cukic has served UNC Charlotte for eight years, most recently as interim dean of the College of Computing and Informatics.

UNC Charlotte is partnering with online open course provider Coursera to offer students free access to Grow with Google career certificates. Certificate programs in digital marketing and ecommerce, IT support, data analytics, project management and UX design will be available to supplement coursework in academic programs as well as give Charlotte students a competitive workforce advantage.

UNC Charlotte, recognized for more than two decades as national leader in cybersecurity education and research, has been redesignated by the National Security Agency as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education through the 2027-28 academic year. 

North Carolina legislators heard first-hand how UNC Charlotte is powering the state’s technology talent during a committee session on campus Thursday, Oct 6.