Max Planck Institute for Informatics
The Max Planck Institute for Informatics (MPII) is one of the leading institutes in the world for research in computer science and information technology. MPII conducts a combination of basic and applied research in computer science and information technology and maintains, in particular, a strong research program in Visual and Geometric Computing.
Founded in 1991, MPII will eventually grow to about 160 full-time scientists, with only a small number of senior, tenured positions. MPII is one of the center pieces of a cluster of computer science research institutions in the Saarbrücken area (including the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and the Dagstuhl International Conference and Research Center for Computer Science (IBFI)).
MPII is located on the campus of Saarland University and closely collaborates with their Computer Science Department which has been consistently rated no. 1 in Germany in several recent surveys. MPII has been designated a EU Marie Curie Training Site by the European Community, and has recently established an International Max Planck Research School together with the CS Department. Within the last two years alone, 14 scientists from MPII have accepted offers for faculty positions in Germany and abroad.
Max Planck Society
The research institutes of the Max Planck Society perform basic research in the interest of the general public in the natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences, and the humanities.
In particular, the Max Planck Society takes up new and innovative research areas that German universities are not in a position to accommodate or deal with adequately. These interdisciplinary research areas often do not fit into the university organization, or they require more funds for personnel and equipment than those available at universities. The variety of topics in the natural sciences and the humanities at Max Planck Institutes complement the work done at universities and other research facilities in important research fields. In certain areas, the institutes occupy key positions, while other institutes complement ongoing research.
Moreover, some institutes perform service functions for research performed at universities by providing equipment and facilities to a wide range of scientists, such as telescopes, large-scale equipment, specialized libraries, and documentary resources.
Stanford University
Stanford University is a fully private university.
Its School of Engineering, established in 1925, now is home to about 25% of its students. The Departments of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science are the two largest departments of the School, with together more than 1000 graduate students (studying towards an M.S. or Ph.D. degree), and more than 100 faculty.
Both departments are rated no. 1 in the US in their respective fields by the National Research Council. As a leading “research university,” Stanford strongly emphasizes research.
The Departments of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science have also contributed, in a major way, to building the regional Information Technology industry, by educating many of Silicon Valley’s leaders and spinning off numerous high tech companies, among them Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, Silicon Graphics, and Yahoo!.
Stanford Electrical Engineering
The mission of the Department of Electrical Engineering is to offer an EE undergraduate program that augments the liberal education expected of all Stanford undergraduates and imparts a basic understanding of electrical engineering built on a foundation of physical science, mathematics, computing, and technology.
Graduates of the undergraduate program are expected to possess knowledge of the fundamentals of electrical engineering and of at least one specialty area. The graduates are expected to have the basic experimental, design, and communication skills to be prepared for continued study at the graduate level or for entry level positions that require a basic knowledge of electrical engineering, science, and technology.
Stanford School of Engineering
Stanford’s School of Engineering was founded in 1925 and is comprised of nine academic departments.
Approximately one quarter of all Stanford students are enrolled in the School of Engineering. Undergraduate program ranking and graduate program ranking show evidence of the school’s premier standing.
Its stellar faculty includes a Nobel laureate, winners of the National Medal of Science and other prestigious honors. Additionally, many faculty members are recipients of distinguished endowed professorships. The school’s strong ties to industry are underscored by the membership of the Advisory Council, the Dean’s Strategic Council, and numerous industrial affiliates programs.
Stanford Computer Science
Founded in 1965, the Stanford Computer Science (CS) Department continues to lead the world in computer science research and education. Throughout the past four decades, the Stanford CS Department has influenced society at levels that remain without parallel among academic institutions. Its spin-offs are among the most successful corporate ventures in the world, and many of the leaders in the academic and corporate research world are graduates of the Stanford CS Department.
