Nick Feamster

Nick Feamster is the Neubauer Professor of Computer Science at the University of Chicago and Director of Research at the Data Science Institute. He previously held full professorships at Princeton University and Georgia Tech, directing the Center for Information Technology Policy and the School of Computer Science, respectively. His research focuses on network performance, security, privacy, and equitable internet access, with applications in AI-driven systems, human-computer interaction, and policy. Key roles include leading the Network Operations and Internet Security (NOISE) Lab and co-founding the Internet Equity Initiative.

Feamster holds a Ph.D. and S.B./M.Eng. from MIT (Computer Science/Electrical Engineering). Notable recognitions include the ACM Fellowship, Presidential Early Career Award (PECASE), and multiple best-paper awards. His work bridges academia and policy, collaborating with entities like the FCC and City of Chicago. The NOISE Lab develops data-driven systems for network traffic analysis, addressing human behavior insights and security challenges. Recent projects include deploying Netrics for community internet testing and analyzing encrypted DNS protocols.

Feamster’s research spans machine learning for network traffic analysis, censorship circumvention (e.g., Infranet), and software-defined networking (SDN). His lab emphasizes real-world impact through open-source tools like NetML and nPrint. Personal interests include marathon running, completing iconic races like Comrades Marathon in South Africa.