The mission of the Interdisciplinary Research Institute for the Sciences (IRIS) is to promote and facilitate interdisciplinary research activities in the computational sciences and engineering. This institute facilitates the interaction and collaboration between researchers from applied mathematics, science, and engineering who have common interests in real-world applications. It provides them the necessary infrastructure and environment to carry out research activities.
In addition, IRIS contributes to the education of undergraduate and graduate students, with a goal of preparing them for careers and graduate study in applied mathematics, science, and engineering. The institute seeks to increase the participation of highly qualified undergraduates – particularly those from underrepresented groups – in careers and/or graduate studies in fields that require a strong background in computation and applied sciences. Through these activities, IRIS strengthens the research and education capacity, infrastructure, and culture of CSUN.
The institute accomplishes these goals by conducting interdisciplinary research projects through the participation of faculty members at CSUN, fostering partnerships and collaborations between academic departments, building collaborations with similar institutes and centers at other universities, and proposing joint projects with local and national industries. The aim of the institute is to function as an independent and self-sustained entity. Its proper function depends to a great extent on external funding.
In the arena of education and mentoring, IRIS serves as a bridge between academics and interdisciplinary careers in the mathematical sciences and engineering. It provides highly motivated and dedicated students with solid training in computational sciences by engaging them in group and individualized research projects of an interdisciplinary nature. Participating students will discover the intricacies of real-world scientific problems, and experience the rewards of interdisciplinary work in applied mathematics, science, and engineering.