As the boundaries between the applied sciences, computation, and engineering continue to blur, to maintain a leadership position in global research and education, Brown University must review and improve its structures to support integrative applied research that transcends disciplinary boundaries. Our faculty have been developing multiple organic collaborative proposals in this direction, and several of our peers are re-imagining how they are organized and positioned to address these opportunities.

To that end, President Paxson and I have charged a new Task Force on Facilitating Research in Applied Sciences, Computing and Engineering to evaluate opportunities to enhance and stimulate new, large-scale collaborative research activities between the School of Engineering, the Department of Physics, the Department of Computer Science, the Division of Applied Mathematics and other programs, centers and institutes. The task force is charged with exploring opportunities for new and expanded research directions in applied sciences, computing and engineering that build on the strengths of our programs; identifying resources that would promote new programs; and recommending an administrative and research framework that supports departments and disciplines and creates new structures that can achieve unprecedented scale and impact.

I am grateful to James Russell, deputy dean of the faculty and professor of earth, environmental, and planetary sciences, who has agreed to chair the task force, and to the faculty of key constituent units who have agreed to participate in this important work:

• Miguel Bessa, Associate Professor of Engineering
• Ugur Çetintemel, Khosrowshahi University Professor of Computer Science
• Loukas Gouskos, Christopher M. Barter Assistant Professor of Physics
• Michael L. Littman, Associate Provost for Artificial Intelligence and University Professor of Computer Science
• Govind Menon, Professor of Applied Mathematics
• Brenda M. Rubenstein, Director of the Data Science Institute, Vernon K. Krieble Professor of Chemistry, and Professor of Physics
• Thomas R. Serre, Thomas J. Watson, Sr. Professor of Science, Professor of Cognitive & Psychological Sciences, and Professor of Computer Science
• Kimani C. Toussaint, Senior Associate Dean for Research and Strategic Initiatives in the School of Engineering, Thomas J. Watson, Sr. Professor of Science and Director of the Brown Center for Digital Health

My chief of staff, Cristine Hutchison-Jones, will staff the committee.

I invite you to view the committee’s full charge on the Office of the Provost website.

I have asked the committee to produce a preliminary report outlining high-level opportunities and structures by November 2026, with a final recommendation and implementation roadmap to be presented to the Corporation in February 2027.