CS&E Profile: John Carlis

Database systems

Ph.D. 1980, Business Administration, University of Minnesota

M.S. 1971, Computer Science, Industrial Engineering, Pennsylvania State University

B.S. 1969, Computer Science, Pennsylvania State University

About

Professor John Carlis specializes in the practice of and extensions to Database Management Systems, focusing on interdisciplinary bio-medical applications such as microbiology (HIV), neuroscience (Alzheimer's disease), and proteomics (oral cancer), and in visualization techniques driven by those applications. His academic record includes one book, several dozen refereed journal, and conference papers -- two of which were honored with bast paper awards.

Carlis's professional service has included numerous conference program committee menberships and both program and general chair positions. He has served on institutional review boards and on Oracle's life sciences advisory board. He serves on several National Institutes of Health (NIH) review panels.

Research

My main research interest is database management systems (DBMS). Within DBMS I am interested in data modeling, language extensions, and scientific applications.

Successful scientific database projects drive database research, forcing the invention of new ways to analyze and to visualize data. I am working with biologists and other computer scientists on genome, brain, and chimpanzee databases.

Data models are the focus of much of my work. I have built data models for a number of real, complex systems, thereby tempering theory with practice. These experiences enrich my classes. They have been captured in my recently published book Mastering Data Modeling: a User-Driven Approach.