Writtle University College and ARU have merged. Writtle’s full range of college, degree, postgraduate and short courses will still be delivered on the Writtle campus. See our guide to finding Writtle information on this site.

School of Computing and Information Science research

From Artificial Intelligence to cyber security, our research is helping to improve people’s lives. Our smart technologies are increasing productivity and our cyber security and web technologies help keep people safe online. Our research aims to meet the needs of the regional economy and beyond.

At ARU, we maintain close collaborative links with industry to create impactful research and knowledge exchanges opportunities that inform our teaching and create excellent employment prospects for our graduates.

Working with industry

We have a proven track record of collaborating with industry, helping to solve real world business problems for our partners.

Our industrial collaborations include Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), Cisco training, cyber security training for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and consultancy projects.

Research groups

Our School is home to two research groups.

Improving people's lives through AI

The Computing, Informatics and Applications (CIA) research group has a wide remit that includes scientific data processing, smart technology, and web/internet technologies. We are particularly interested in how computational and Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods can be used to improve people's lives and increase productivity.

The group has specific expertise in:

  • image and signal processing
  • data visualisation
  • machine learning
  • 2D/3D modelling
  • distributed computing
  • wireless environments
  • the application of sound and imaging technology in assisted living
  • online virtual environment
  • Internet of Things (IoT) and sensor technology.

Much of the research the group undertakes is applied/collaborative and includes links with industrial partners.

Research that tackles cybercrime

The Cyber Security and Networking (CSN) research group has close working relationships with industry, professional bodies, law enforcement, government agencies and academia in the delivery of operationally focused applied information and application security research.

The primary aims of CSN are to help the UK and partner nations to tackle cybercrime, be more resilient to cyber-attacks and educate its users for a more secure cyber space and operational business environment.

The CSN research group also incorporates the Cisco Networking Academy Programme (CNAP). The goal of this academy is to bring infrastructure technologies and techniques to a wider audience and research new ways of applying them. We are recognised by Cisco Systems as Networking Academy with dual status of Academy Support Centre and Instructor Training Centre.

Postgraduate research

We welcome applications for research degrees in the topics mentioned above and other related relevant areas of research.

The School of Computing and Information Science offers a welcoming, encouraging and stimulating environment for those wishing to pursue a research degree, allowing them to fulfil their potential.

We offer a Computing and Information Science PhD. We've also identified a range of innovative research project opportunities for you as a postgraduate researcher.

Our research strategy

We have outlined a research strategy to cover the period 2021-2016. To facilitate implementation of the school strategy and to achieve growth, an annual research operational plan is produced, defining specific targets.

In computing, we have a good research base (75% academic staff with PhD, host 15 research students). The Director of Research and External Income Generation is Dr George Wilson, REF activities coordinator is Dr Ian Van Der Linde and research students’ coordinator is Dr Cristina Luca.