Biological Intelligence (BI) research at the Institute develops understanding of intelligent systems by studying the diverse ways in which neurally based systems become capable of intelligent behavior. Programs extend from biochemical, molecular, and cellular level studies of how neurons work, through integrative and computational neuroscience, to cognitive science.

Research in the Human-Computer Intelligent Interaction (HCII) area improves the ways a human operator interacts with a computer by studying not only input-output techniques, but also human factors involved in the interchange. Programs include artificial intelligence, robotics, computer vision, cognitive science, human perception and performance, to virtual reality environment experiments.

The general goal of the Molecular and Electronic Nanostructures (M&ENS) Research Initiative is to develop a fundamental understanding of chemical and physical processes involving structures on the nanometer scale. Programs range from computational electronics and scanning tunneling microscopy, to semiconductor nanostructures and photonics, to efforts to synthesize and characterize new materials.