Christopher Nurre was named director of professional services of Case Western Reserve University’s Institute for Smart, Secure and Connected Systems (ISSACS).
ISSACS was created in 2016 to educate and empower faculty, students and partners to conduct research and accelerate breakthroughs in the emerging technology known as the “Internet of Things” (IoT)—the network of devices with the technology to communicate and interact over the Internet, such as factory automation, remote medical patient monitoring, and systems that monitor transportation and utility infrastructure.
“When faculty require custom IoT technology—devices, sensors, software, apps—to support their research, they either have to locate a vendor to provide it or build it themselves with their students,” said Nick Barendt, executive director of ISSACS. “These are not always the most time-effective or cost-effective solutions.”
An ISSACS consultant since 2019, Nurre will lead the professional services group to work with faculty to identify and customize or build the best approach. The professional services group also will provide an additional mechanism for engaging faculty and students on industry-sponsored projects, particularly short-term, proof-of-concept or pilot projects.
The added option of working with the professional services group also will provide additional hands-on opportunities for students, working with industry professionals to solve real-world problems, Barendt said.
Nurre, who earned a degree in software engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology, brings broad experience in project management and technology development—web, mobile apps, custom electronics and more.
Nurre has led the development of mobile, web and embedded applications, including developing one of the first iPad applications in the Apple App Store. He’s coached enterprises, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, as they adopted new engineering practices.
“I am looking forward to applying technology to solve real-world problems collaboratively with faculty, students and industry partners,” Nurre said. “We aim to innovate in both the solutions we build and how we build them.”
ISSACS is supported by The Cleveland Foundation, through the IoT Collaborative, a partnership between Case Western Reserve and Cleveland State University.