The Institute for Systems Research (ISR) was established as a National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center in 1985 at Maryland and Harvard, and it later received permanent Institute status from the State of Maryland. The Institute for Systems Research develops, applies and teaches advanced methodologies of design and analysis to solve complex, hierarchical, heterogeneous and dynamic problems of engineering technology and systems for industry and government. MSE Professor Gary Rubloff served as ISR Director from 1996-2001. He and R. Ramesh maintain appointments in ISR.