Algorithms
The specialisation area studies the algorithmic and theoretical aspects of formulating and solving computational problems in different application areas. The focus is on discovering efficient solutions for specific problems. The interaction between theory and practice is also of central interest. The application of well-motivated algorithms to real-world problems is within the scope of the area.
The basic teaching in the algorithms specialisation area offers courses aimed at all students of computer science. The courses teach the basic algorithms and data structures, with exercises in applying mathematical deduction to computer science problems. The specialised courses of the area develop the students' knowledge of methods in algorithmics and computer science theory. Students can choose a subject from one of the on-going research projects or one of the focus areas, such as computer graphics or combinatorial optimisation.
On the research front the current main focus areas are combinatorial pattern matching and its applications in computational biology, theory and practice of machine learning with interest in the application of the methods to data mining, data structures for biological databases, and computational geometry. An analytical approach to diverse problems is the common factor in the many different research projects within the specialisation area.
Contact persons : Professors Jyrki Kivinen and Esko Ukkonen
Teaching : http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/algoritmit/
Research: http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/research/fdk/