Division and Group Summaries Career Opportunities - MIT Lincoln ...

5
Division and Group Summaries
Group 45 – Advanced Capabilities and Systems
The Advanced Capabilities and Systems Group provides assessments of novel technologies and
system concepts in solution of significant defense and intelligence needs and, where appropriate,
rapidly develops prototype solutions to demonstrate concepts or provide fieldable capability. To
accomplish these goals, the group taps Laboratory-wide knowledge and couples this with the
group’s strong systems analysis expertise. Modeling, often supported by quick measurements and
tests, is used to evaluate the feasibility of proposed solutions to problems, as well as to creatively
develop new alternatives. Products of this assessment process include briefings and proposals for
follow-on development efforts. Where a rapid capability is sought, the group often leads multigroup
coalitions in the execution of these efforts.
Group 46—Advanced System Concepts
The Advanced System Concepts Group conducts systems analysis on a broad range of problems
related to surface surveillance, force protection, and homeland defense. Activities include sensor
and system modeling, mission requirements analysis, and architecture development. A variety of
technologies are examined, including radar, optical, acoustic, biological, and chemical sensors.
Modeling and the analysis of field measurements are used to quantify the ability of current and
proposed technology to meet mission requirements. This work includes analysis, algorithm
development, and field testing.
Group 47—Biodefense Systems
The Biodefense Systems Group works on the design, development, and demonstration of
bioagent and other hazardous material sensing and protection systems that detect and warn
of the presence of organisms of concern in air, water, or environmental samples. The goal of
the sensing component is to increase the speed and accuracy of current detection methods by
improving existing systems or inventing new sensors. The goal of the protection aspect is to
develop methods and systems for mitigating the effect of a bioagent attack on buildings or people
(civilian and military). Research from this group encompasses algorithm development and signal
processing for integration of data from multiple sensors, deployment and modeling of existing
sensors, hardware design for next-generation sensors, applied research in surface chemistry for
organism concentration or detection, and applied biology research to rapidly purify organisms or
their DNA or RNA from complex matrices. Systems analyses, including threat and vulnerability
assessment, modeling of attacks and defenses, and cost/benefit assessment, are performed
to optimize the design of biological or chemical defense systems. The backgrounds of the
researchers in this group span a wide range of disciplines that includes engineering (electrical,
mechanical, chemical, and biomedical), computer science, physics, mathematics, chemistry, and
biology.