Dr. Muscarello is currently an Associate Professor in DePauls College of Computing and Digital Media with appointments in both the School of Cinema and Interactive Media (CIM) and the School of Computing(SOC). He specializes in the areas of cinema technology and distribution, business development, technology infrastructure management, and project management. He spent 4 years working in the University Presidents Office as Director of External Research and Programs creating and funding special technology development projects, building strategic relationships with business and government, and positioning CTI as a vital force in the economic and social fabric of the city and state. He was founder and served as executive director, of DeTech (the DePaul Technology Business Incubator) and was a charter member of Chicagos Mayors Council of Technology Advisors. As a Council member he worked with educational, business, and industry leaders on coordinating and delineating career pathways in technology related areas. He also worked on building a next generation Internet infrastructure and on creating an environment to assist in digital production, the commercialization of new products, and the development of new businesses. He is currently DePauls governmental liaison to the Internet2 consortium and regularly attends or follows developments at various film festivals, LA Dealmakers, San Diego CONNECT, SIGGRAPH, Internet2, Cinegrid, GLIF, Streaming Media, Digital Hollywood, VideoNuz, and other cutting edge media technology and distribution conferences and events.
Tom has a 30+ year history with graphics technology and media and is adept at using both sides of his brain. He has worked on digital compression technology and techniques and fractal image generation and analysis in the Electronic Visualization Lab at UIC, created and delivered the rollout system training of end users on the initial UIUC NCSA supercomputer visualization systems, created the interactive online training for the DOD J-8 Arsenal Exchange Management simulation program, way back in the SDI era, and developed visualization architectures, and techniques for use in medical informatics. He also spent time as a freelance writer and editor (of words) in the distant past. His digital artwork weasels rip my flesh (inspired by a true master of the surreal) was a surprise popular hit on a European online arts poll a number of years back. Tom has also assisted and currently assists media/entertainment startup companies in getting launched as a technical, content, and business advisor.
He now teaches Topics in Digital Cinema, various production classes, Storytelling with Machinima, Modes of Digital Distribution, and Computers & Human Intelligence, among others.
He is working on the following projects in the Digital Cinema technology/business areas.
Development and testing of cutting edge infrastructure, methods, and equipment for digital production and distribution of films and games
Use of digital cinema/animation as persuasive technology for marketing and education
Development of IPTV and digital content distribution architectures and business models
Serves on Board of Directors and as acting CTO to West Coast entertainment content/distribution startups
He is working with others to initiate the following projects:
Use of new Internet capabilities in the Digital Cinema program
Live performance productions using mixed digital media, multi site broadcast, live acting
Formation of a DC virtual business incubator program for independent film makers
Research Area
High Performance and Scientific Computing, Artificial Intelligence
Specific Research Areas
Computational Biology
Digital Media Distribution
Data Mining and Business Intelligence
Professional Associations