CSAIL by the Numbers

CSAIL is committed to pioneering new approaches to computing that will bring about positive changes in the way people around the globe live, play and work.

The largest research laboratory at MIT, CSAIL hosts over 1,700 members, 130+ distinguished researchers, approximately 1,200 graduate students, 119 postdocs, 60 research groups and over 900+ active projects. Our lab overflows with innovative and impactful ideas in computer science and artificial intelligence, focusing on novel ways to make systems and machines smarter, easier to use, more robust, efficient and more secure.

Faculty and researchers represent all five schools at MIT and 11 different departments.  Well-known CSAIL researchers include Ron Rivest  (inventor of RSA security), Tom Leighton (co-founder of Akamai), Rodney Brooks  (founder of iRobot), emeritus member Fernando Corbato (inventor of the computer password), and Tim Berners-Lee (inventor of the World Wide Web) among others. Additionally, our lab is home to nine of the world’s Turing award winners and nine MacArthur fellows as well as many distinguished members of the academies.

10 Departments

CSAIL’s 130+ principal researchers have departmental appointments in all five MIT schools and 9 departments, including:

  • Aero/Astro Engineering
  • Biological Engineering
  • Brain & Cognitive Studies
  • Comparative Media Studies/ Writing
  • Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences
  • Electrical Engineering/Computer Science
  • Mathematics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Finance
~1,200 Students and 119 postdocs

CSAIL students include PhD, Masters in Engineering and some undergraduates associated with the Lab through research projects.

 

Researcher Awards
  • 99 Professional Society Fellows
  • 45 NAE/NAS/IM Members
  • 9 MacArthur Fellows
  • 10 Turing Awards
  • 3 Nevanlinna Prizes
  • 1 Millennium Technology Award
  • 1 Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)
900+ Projects

At CSAIL we have over 900 active research projects. Through Alliances, your organization will have the opportunity to connect with the latest technologies in computer science and artificial intelligence.

500+ Startups

CSAIL has over 500 startups that have spun out of the lab with focus areas in AI, Machine Learning, Data Science, Software Development, Robotics, Big Data, 3D printing, IoT, and more.

Some of the industry areas our startups impact include: Insurance, Healthcare, Transportation, Security, Technology.

Alumni Success

After graduation, CSAIL alumni go into industry, academics and other careers, including startups.
 

CSAIL Alumni Success
Impact to Industry

The research at CSAIL applies to many industry sectors. Principal investigators (PIs) – CSAIL lead researchers- value industry members sharing current issues impacting business. Often research in the lab is driven by this feedback from lab partners. Listed below are the key areas where research and industry needs meet.


    Computing Industry Vertical          Defense Industry Vertical        Energy Industry Vertical      Finance Energy Industry Vertical           Manufacturing Industry Vertical             Media Industry Vertical
Computing       Defense       Energy       Finance       Manufacturing       Media        

Medical Industry Vertical      Retail Industry Vertical          Smart Building Industry Vertical                   Transportation Industry Vertical             Wireless Industry Vertical
Medical          Retail          Smart Cities         Transportation        Wireless

CSAIL Research Focus Areas

Algorithms & Theory
Foundational work that includes complexity, parallel computing and game theory
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AI & Machine Learning
Spanning natural language processing, deep-learning, computer vision and more
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Computational Biology
Understanding disease via epigenomics, gene regulation and bioinformatics
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Computer Architecture
How CPUs, memory and other systems are designed and organized
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Graphics & Vision
Teaching computers to interpret, create and animate visual data
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Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
Software and hardware that let us naturally interact with technology
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Programming Languages & Software Engineering
From compilers and verification to software design and engineering
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Robotics
Vision, actuation, sensing and manipulation of machines
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Security & Cryptography
Developing technologies to prevent and recover from cyber-attacks
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Systems & Networking
From distributed systems and databases to wireless
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