UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Office of the Senior Vice President for Research has announced a transition at the helm of the Institute for Computational Data Sciences (ICDS): Guido Cervone, a renowned expert in computational science and geoinformatics, will become the interim director of ICDS, effective April 1. He will take over from Jenni Evans, professor of meteorology and atmospheric science, who will retire in June after a distinguished career at Penn State.
Cervone, an ICDS co-hire in the Department of Geography, is E. Willard and Ruby S. Miller Professor, Geography, Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, and currently serves as associate director of ICDS.
His research focuses on anomaly detection and prediction related to natural hazards and renewable energy and he leads the development of computational algorithms to analyze large data from remote sensing instruments and in numerical weather prediction models. He is currently the elected president of the American Geophysical Union Natural Hazard Section. Cervone received his doctorate in 2005 from George Mason University in computational science and informatics with focus on artificial intelligence and knowledge mining and he brings a wealth of experience in remote sensing, environmental hazards, geoinformatics, and the innovative use of social media in research.
His appointment marks a new chapter for ICDS as it continues to advance its mission of fostering interdisciplinary research and computational excellence. Evans, who has led ICDS since 2016, will work closely with Cervone on a smooth transition.
"I am excited to see Guido's vision for ICDS realized, taking ICDS to new heights," said Evans.
Under Evans' leadership, in recognition of the pervasiveness of computational and data sciences in society, ICDS has seen significant growth, doubling the number and diversity of ICDS faculty co-hires and increasing interdisciplinary research at Penn State.
Andrew Read, interim senior vice president for research, expressed his gratitude to Evans for her service and his excitement for the future under Cervone's direction.
"Jenni has been an exceptional leader, blending disciplines and pushing boundaries. We are deeply thankful for her contributions. As we look ahead, Guido's appointment promises innovative directions for computational and data sciences, and I am thrilled to see where his leadership will take us."
Cervone shared his enthusiasm for his new role, stating, "I am honored to lead ICDS and build upon the solid foundation Jenni has established. Computing is revolutionizing science, engineering and the humanities, and our research and infrastructure support this at Penn State. Our future lies in breaking down silos between disciplines to tackle society's most pressing challenges with the help of computational and data sciences. I am excited to steer ICDS in exploring new horizons and expanding our impact both within and beyond Penn State."
Cervone's background in leveraging technology and his commitment to interdisciplinary research provides a foundation to lead ICDS as it transitions to its next phase. He said his vision includes expanding ICDS's role as a leader in computational and data sciences, fostering collaboration across departments, and enhancing the institute's contributions to solving global challenges.
Evans' tenure at Penn State has been marked by her ability to merge diverse fields such as mathematics, meteorology and music to address complex scientific and societal issues. A native of Melbourne, Australia, Evans has used her background in applied mathematics to make significant contributions to the understanding of hurricanes and of tropical climate and climate change through advanced computation and innovative statistical and machine learning applications. She was president of the American Meteorological Society and has been a consultant to the Florida State Government on complex modeling of insured risks due to hurricanes and flood.
“As ICDS transitions under the leadership of Guido Cervone, the institute looks forward to continuing its tradition of excellence and innovation in computational data sciences," said Evans. "Penn State remains committed to advancing research that addresses the needs of society, the environment, and the global community."
For more information about the Institute for Computational Data Sciences and its programs, visit the ICDS website.