James Wolfer

James Wolfer is a Professor in the Computer Science and Information Systems department at Indiana University South Bend (IUSB) since 2001. His research focuses on biologically-inspired computing, medical imaging applications, and computer science pedagogy. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Illinois Institute of Technology and has contributed to fields such as genetic programming, deep learning, and haptic interfaces.

Education:

• 1993: Ph.D., Computer Science, Illinois Institute of Technology
• 1981: M.S., Computer Information Science, Andrews University
• 1975: B.A., Religion, Andrews University

His research interests include applying natural algorithms to medical imaging, remote sensing, and art, alongside innovating computer science education through robotics and haptic technologies. He has served on committees for IEEE EDUCON and the Eurographics Education Committee, and is an executive member of the International Society for Engineering Pedagogy (IGIP).

Key Contributions:

• Developed haptic interfaces for teaching computer graphics and biomedical applications.
• Introduced robotics into the computer organization curriculum via an AT&T/SBC Fellowship.
• Authored over 10 publications on pedagogical models, medical imaging algorithms, and parallel computing.

Awards:

• AT&T/SBC Fellow (for integrating robotics into CS education)

He has advised multiple student projects, including SMART Summer Fellowships focused on self-organizing maps, mammography analysis, and haptic palpation. His work bridges theoretical computing with practical biomedical and educational applications.