University at Buffalo joins NSF biometrics research center

The National Science Foundation has made the University at Buffalo a member of its Center for Identification Technology Research, based on its work with biometrics.

According to the University, this new designation is expected to bring the school more than $1 million over five years for biometric research and its inclusion is based largely on the work of the university’s Center for Unified Biometrics and Sensors.

Classified as a “NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center,” CITeR was established more than 10 years ago to bring together academia, industry and government to collaborate on biometrics research. UB’s proposal to join CITeR was supported in 2012 by the Western New York congressional delegation.

The National Security Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, Qualcomm, Raytheon BBN Technologies and CUBRC – are partnering with UB in CITeR and have agreed to contribute about $200,000 combined annually to support the center. NSF, meanwhile, will provide $300,000 over five years.

“The University at Buffalo’s designation as a Center for Identification Technology Research is another exciting advancement for Buffalo’s academic community,” said U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. “This designation will allow UB to become an integral player in the field of biometrics, creating safer borders, and offering new and exciting opportunities in science and technology to its students.”

Reported previously, University at Buffalo researcher Venu Govindaraju has recently been elected to SPIE, an international society for optics and photonics.

Govindaraju will direct UB’s CITeR site.

Article Topics

biometrics  |  CITeR  |  government  |  national science foundation  |  NSA  |  research  |  University at Buffalo