POTSDAM -- The National Science Foundation has designated Clarkson University as the lead site for its Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR), one of NSF's Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers.

CITeR advances the technology of identifying people by physical characteristics focusing on biometric systems and what they call credibility assessment.

The center performs research on emerging technologies, interdisciplinary training of scientists and engineers, and technology transfer to the private and government sectors through its affiliates.

According to a news release from the university, Clarkson's site focuses on biometric vulnerabilities and intelligence; West Virginia University is the center's founding site, focusing on biometrics and related identification technology and systems; the University of Arizona is the center's second site, focusing on credibility assessment systems.

CITeR is led by Professor Stephanie A. Schuckers, one of America's top experts in biometric computer security. She has been a leading contributor to CITeR's research since 2001.

Today, more and more of the electronic world is secured by biometric verifiers, like one's fingerprint, voice, or the iris of the eye. As criminals work to get around this security, Schuckers and her team of researchers work to prevent this.

Technologies to measure, monitor, and identify humans and human intent are being designed for a broad range of commercial and security applications.

This technology has the potential, among other things, to speed up lines through airports.

Find out more at http://www.clarkson.edu/citer .