Dr. Xin Liang, assistant professor of computer science, is a key developer of data-compression software that won an R&D (research and development) 100 Award from R&D World magazine. The compression software reduces scientific datasets while keeping critical information for scientific analysis and discovery. Compared to other products, the software has a wider range of use-cases and applications and demonstrates better performance in compression ratios, speed and accuracy in most cases.

Liang has also won a $175,000 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Computer and Information Science and Engineering Research Initiation Initiative (CRII) to support further research on the project.

Established in 1963, the R&D 100 Awards is the only science and technology awards competition that recognizes the technological significance of new commercial products, technologies and materials available for sale or license. The R&D 100 Awards have long been a benchmark of excellence for industry sectors as diverse as telecommunications, high-energy physics, software, manufacturing and biotechnology.