Delayed Gratification

ASEE Prism, Summer 2008 by Grose, Thomas K

COMPUTER SCIENCE

MICROSOFT isn't a company always beloved by consumers. But engineers and scientists may feel more kindly disposed, since the software giant is one of the few big firms that invests in basic research-the kind that may not pay off for years. In July, Microsoft is opening its sixth basic research lab in Cambridge, Mass., next door to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with the idea of forging links to the many top schools in that region.

The multidisciplinary lab will focus on core computer science, particularly algorithms, and on bringing CS closerto the social sciences.lt will also feature a small design group. JenniferTourChayes, a former math professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, who will direct the lab, says it will conduct "fundamental research that can lead to deeper insights and better computing experiences in an increasingly online world."-TG