computer science phd washington state

Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science

• Fall January 10th
• Spring July 1st

International students may need to surpass the Graduate School’s minimum English language proficiency exam scores for this program. If the graduate program has unique score requirements, they will be detailed below. Otherwise, please refer to the Graduate School’s minimum score guidelines.

• 93 TOEFL Minimum score

Degree Description:

As the largest unit within this College, the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science is instrumental in determining competencies and preparing students at all levels (B.S., M.S., and Ph.D.) for technological productivity. The success of our graduate students in industry and higher education reflects the excellence of the School of EECS and its programs. In industry, our graduate degree holders are presidents, CEOs, CIOs, vice presidents, directors, and division and department managers. Some have founded at least one company and initiated and promoted new technologies, operations and sales strategies. Others have excelled as senior designers, project managers, senior scientists, and lead engineers. In higher education, they are professors, deans, and research directors. Graduate degrees have enriched their lives and careers, while affecting positively the economy of the state and nation. All are excellent role models for their peers and our students. The program of study should consist of approximately 35 credits of graded course work plus 30 or more research credits (Cpt S 800). A maximum of 6 credits of Directed Study (CptS 595) may be included. A maximum of 9 credits of 400 level graded course work approved by the EECS GSC may be included. In general, undergraduate courses REQUIRED for the BS/CS, BS/EE or BA/CS and undergraduate courses listed as pre-requisite for admission into the MS/PhD in CPT SCI program will NOT BE allowed.

Admission Requirements:

3 Letters of Recommendation and a Statement of Purpose. All Transcripts from past schools. GRE

Student Opportunities:

Research positions in National Laboratories, positions in teaching, positions at top companies across the country.

Career Opportunities:

In industry, our graduate degree holders are presidents, CEOs, CIOs, vice presidents, directors, and division and department managers. Some have founded at least one company and initiated and promoted new technologies, operations and sales strategies. Others have excelled as senior designers, project managers, senior scientists, and lead engineers. In higher education, they are professors, deans, and research directors.

Career Placements:

Western Digital, Telecom, Hewlett Packard, PNNL, SEL, WSU PJM Interconnection, LLC, Transmarket Group, MicroSoft, Intel, Carnegie Institution for Sci. California ISO, Expedia, Verizon and Amazon

Contact Information:

• Smitha Bose [email protected]

• SET Advisory Board
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science & Systems
• Electrical Engineering
• Information Technology
• Mechanical Engineering
• Minor in Applied Computing
• M.S. in Computer Science & Systems
• M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering
• M.S. in Information Technology
• Master of Cybersecurity & Leadership

Ph.D. in Computer Science & Systems

• Graduate Certificate in Software Development Engineering
• Data Science Certificate
• Industry Capstone Program
• Undergraduate Scholarships
• Graduate Fellowships and Funding
• CyberCorps®: Scholarship for Service
• Vicky L. Carwein and William B. Andrews Endowment for Graduate Programs
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Advance computing knowledge through inquiry, critical thinking and abstraction

Main content.

Ph.D. in Computer Science and Systems (Ph.D. CSS) students focus on computing principles to become experts in one of many interdisciplinary areas in science and society characterized by substantial engineering and technology challenges.

Ph.D. CSS graduates are scholars and contributors to local growth and use-inspired innovation. They possess advanced computing knowledge, critical thinking skills. Through inquiry, questioning and abstraction towards tool development, they contribute to theoretical advances in chosen areas interest.

All students admitted to the Ph.D. program are expected to have competency in the following areas:

•  Object-Oriented Programming (equivalent to TCSS 142, TCSS 143 and TCSS 305)
•  Discrete Mathematics (equivalent to TCSS 321)
•  Data Structures (equivalent to TCSS 342)
•  Algorithms (equivalent to TCSS 343)
•  Program Management/Software Engineering (equivalent to TCSS 360)
•  Computer Organization (equivalent to TCSS 371)
•  Computer Architecture (equivalent to TCSS 372)
•  Calculus
•  Science (Physics preferred)

Effective Autumn 2024, students must have a secured faculty advisor before they can be admitted into the program. Students interested in applying should refer to the faculty roster to find faculty contact information. 

The Ph.D. in CSS curriculum includes courses in traditional areas of computer science, such as advanced algorithms and distributed computing, as well as courses and a doctoral thesis in high demand fields where SET’s faculty have strong expertise, such as machine learning, cryptography, cloud computing, and bioinformatics.

To earn the Ph.D. in CSS, students must complete 90 credits as follows:

• TCSS 543 Advanced Algorithms or TCSS 540 Theory of Computing (5 credits)
• TCSS 558 Applied Distributed Computing (5 credits)
• TCSS 598 Master Seminar in CSS (5 credits)
• 15 credits of 500-level TCSS elective courses (510 or above;  see course catalog )
• TCSS 700 Master’s Thesis (10 credits)
• 20 credits of 500-level TCSS elective courses, choses from at least 3 different concentration tracks
• 30 credits of doctoral dissertation TCSS 800

In addition, Ph.D. candidates need to successfully pass:

• General examination
• Final examination

Learning Goals

The Ph.D. in Computer Science and Systems program prepares students for a research career in industry or academia. Graduates of the Ph.D. in Computer Science and Systems program have a broad, comprehensive knowledge of computer science core areas, including algorithms and architecture. They have deep knowledge and expertise in a specific area of computer science research that enables them to create solutions that can change the world.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Ph.D. in Computer Science and Systems program, graduates will be able to:

Read, understand, and evaluate professional literature on advanced topics in computer science.

Use current techniques, skills, and tools necessary for computing practice.

Independently conduct original research by identifying important computer science problems (e.g. performing a gap analysis), developing solutions through creative problem-solving and rigorous design, designing and performing experimental evaluation, and conducting rigorous analyses of results.

• Communicate computer science concepts in verbal and written forms to effectively disseminate results to a technical audience.

Find current tuition information on the UW Tacoma's Office of the Registrar site, under  Tier III . Note that costs are different for Washington State Resident and Non-Resident, as shown in the tuition tables.

Most applicable fees are included in the listed tuition rate, but some courses will require additional fees .

Applications are accepted through the  UW Graduate School . The process includes:

• Creating or updating your graduate applicant profile (one profile for all program applications)
• Making sure required documents have been submitted
• Paying the application fee

For more details, see SET Graduate Program Application Process .

If you're interested in applying for the Ph.D. in CSS, or have any questions, please reach out to your Graduate Advisor, Rachel Crook . 

Schedule an in-person or virtual advising appointment

Dr. Ankur Teredesai - CSS Graduate Committee Chair 

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Ph.D. Advanced Data Science Option

The Advanced Data Science option aims to educate the next generation of thought leaders who will both build and apply new methods for data science. This option will help to educate and recognize PhD students whose thesis work focuses specifically on building and using advanced data science tools. The goal of this option is not to educate all students in the foundations of data science but rather to provide advanced education to the students who will push the state-of-the-art in data science method.

The Advanced Data Science option replaces the previous Big Data track introduced in 2014. This is an official UW degree option which will appear on your transcript.

Students enrolled in this option can expect to interact with students enrolled in similar Advanced Data Science PhD options in Genome Sciences, Statistics, Oceanography, Chemical Engineering and Astronomy.  Formally, the option is affiliated with an NSF IGERT training award in Big Data , and PhD students in the track are eligible for funding via that award. 

Description

The Advanced Data Science Option is an overlay on top of our regular quals requirements. Hence students must make sure to satisfy the regular quals requirements in addition to the option requirements. The latter impose some extra constraints on the course selection. These constraints apply to both pre-quals and post-quals courses, and are designed to help you organize your coursework towards research in Big Data.

Course requirements

1. Quals-level requirements

Successfully complete the department's PhD qualifying coursework requirements, and  satisfactorily complete three out of four of the following core courses in Big Data ( some of the courses listed below may also be counted towards the qualifying coursework requirements, if allowable in the standard requirements) :

- Data Management : CSE 544 (satisfies the “Programming Systems” quals category).

- Machine Learning : CSE 546 (satisfies the “AI” quals category)

- Data Visualization : CSE512 (satisfies the “Applications” quals category).

- Statistics : STAT 509 (Introduction to Mathematical Statistics).  Alternatively, for a more advanced sequence, you may choose to take STAT 512 (Statistical Inference), but, in this case, we strongly recommend that you also take STAT 513, the second course in this sequence.  

In general, quals course waivers may not be applied in lieu of one of these core Big Data courses.  However, a student may petition to substitute a requirement by *a more advanced course in that area, taken at UW*.  Petitions should be sent to Magda Balazinska.  

2. Post-quals requirements

Satisfactorily complete one additional course with explicit emphasis on advanced “Big Data” techniques:

• A fourth core course from the list above
• CSE 547 / STAT 548 - Machine Learning for Big Data
• STAT 513 - Statistical Inference
• A new Big Data Management course planned for for the future (Magda Balazinska and Dan Suciu)
• EE 578 - Convex Optimization
• STAT 527 - Nonparametric Regression and Classification
• STAT 538 - Advanced Statistical Learning
• CSE 552 - Distributed and Parallel Systems Data
• CSE 599C -  Big Data Management Systems (Spring 2017 offering)

3. eScience Community Seminar

To further expand students’ education and create a campus-wide community, students will register for at least 4 quarters in the weekly eScience Community Seminar .

4. eScience Institute

Students interested in data science should also check out other activities that we are carrying out in the eScience Institute . The eScience Community Seminar is one of those activities. Other relevant activities include various tool and method-oriented workshops as well as speaker series. Visit http://data.washington.edu for more information

In addition, the track is designed to complement the activities of the eScience Institute and to leverage ongoing activities associated with the Moore/Sloan Foundation Data Driven Discovery Initiative , involving the University of Washington, New York University and the University of California, Berkeley.

CSE Ph.D. students who choose to enroll in the Advanced Data Science Option must have approval of their research advisor. Email this approval to the Graduate Program Advisor (Elise Dorough, elised@cs ). There is no additional admission procedure.

If you have any questions about the Advanced Data Science Option, please email Magda Balazinska.

PhD in Computer Science

The PhD in Computer Science program provides students with the advanced coursework and groundbreaking research opportunities they need to contribute at the forefront of the world’s fastest-growing fields. Forging knowledge in 15 core areas like artificial intelligence, data science, programming languages, and human-centered computing, you’ll gain significant expertise in conducting and presenting the results of your research. Ultimately, you’ll produce and defend original work that contributes to critical discourse in your chosen area.

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Khoury College doctorate students gain deep knowledge and invaluable experience—preparing you for a research career in academia or industry.

Khoury Computer Science PhD graduates have found prestigious positions across industry and academia.

Tenure-track faculty:

• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• University of British Columbia (UBC)
• Indiana University
• University of Maryland
• University College London
• NC State University
• UMass Boston
• City University of Hong Kong

Postdoc research scientists:

• University of Paris
• Virginia Tech
• Microsoft Research
• GE Global Research

Senior software engineers and industry leaders:

Students graduating with a PhD in Computer Science will:

• Gain a broad understanding of computer science fundamentals, spanning a substantial portion of the following core areas: artificial intelligence and data science, human-centered computing, software, systems, and theory
• Gain significant expertise in at least one research area in computer science
• Produce and defend original research in an area of computer science
• Be able to communicate research results effectively in both oral and written forms

Our flagship campus in Boston is just minutes away from esteemed universities, exciting start-ups, and leaders in tech, finance, health care, and more.

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Phd in computer science or computer engineering.

Students can choose to pursue a PhD in Computer Science or a PhD in Computer Engineering. The requirements vary for each degree. Here are the core requirements:

• Complete 72 units of regular — including graded — courses (at least 33 units, of which 9 must fulfill breadth requirements), seminars (at least 3 units), and research credits (at least 24 units).
• Satisfy fundamental teaching requirements by participating in mentored teaching experiences and complete scholarly communication requirements by participating in the Doctoral Student Research Seminar.
• Pass milestones that demonstrate the ability to understand research literature, to communicate orally and in writing, and to formulate a detailed research plan. These milestones include an oral qualifying examination, a dissertation proposal defense, and a dissertation defense.

For more information, please refer to the Doctoral Program Guide available on the Computer Science & Engineering website .

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Graduate Programs

PhD in Computer Science or Computer Engineering

We offer unique, cutting edge degrees in either Computer Science or Computer Engineering. Our faculty's diverse research interests and multidisciplinary approach allow you to customize your PhD experience and find solutions to real-world problems in a collaborative environment.

Application Deadline: December 15

Start your PhD application

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• MS in Computer Science
• MS in Computer Engineering
• MS in Cybersecurity Engineering
• MEng in Computer Science & Engineering
• Graduate Certificate in Data Mining & Machine Learning
• Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Engineering
• Turner Dissertation Award
• Current Graduate Students

Full Support & Funding

Our PhD students are fully funded , including full tuition support and health insurance.

As a doctoral candidate, you will also receive a generous stipend to cover living expenses and a new, high-end Apple laptop computer. This support is guaranteed as you continue to make satisfactory progress towards your degree.

Additionally, doctoral students may also qualify for one of the fellowships:

• The Ann W. and Spencer T. Olin – Chancellor’s Fellowship
• McDonnell International Scholars Academy
• Dean's International Award

Work-Life Balance

Compared to other major cities, you will be able to pursue your professional goals without getting bogged down by the demands of every day life.  See how the cost of living in STL compares (Nerd Wallet)

Faculty & Research Spotlight

Research is the lab of Ning Zhang has found new way to ensure safety from cyber attacks on everything from pacemakers to autonomous vehicles

Read the story

I-Ting Angelina Lee, assistant professor of computer science & engineering, seeks to boost speed on cloud platform apps with CAREER Award

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Talented Faculty Mentors

Our department covers the full breadth of computer science and engineering, with no two faculty members researching the same topic. Each focuses on unique problems and collaborates across disciplines to develop practical solutions and advance understa nding . Many of our faculty members are also ACM and IE EE Fellows as well as members of the National Academy of Engineering and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Many of our faculty are recipients of the NSF CAREER Award, as well as other prestigious awards such as the Sloan Fellowship and have been named to Popular Science Magazine’s 100 Best Innovations. Our faculty publish papers at top notch conferences and prestigious journals such as the ACM, IEEE, SIAM Journals, and the Journal of Computational Biology.

Freedom in Research

Students are not immediately paired with a research adviser (though they do have an academic adviser from day one). Matching students to research advisers takes place after participating in "rotations". During your first semester, you will learn on small research projects with different faculty members, allowing you the freedom to select a research topic and adviser that truly meet your unique interests.

Professional Experience & Exposure

Many of our students present papers at international conferences and attend doctoral consortiums with top researchers. As a doctoral candidate in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, you will contribute groundbreaking research, gain exposure, and invaluable experience that will translate to an exciting, challenging, and well compensated career.

Options After Graduation

A PhD from WashU opens doors to a variety of careers in either academia or industry with high-growth potential. Graduates can start their own company or pursue careers in research and engineering at top companies such as Amazon, Boeing, Facebook, Google, Microsoft , or join universities such as Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, UT Austin, etc. , in an academic (tenure-track or teaching) position. 

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PhD in Computer Science

Program Snapshot

• Program Format:   Face-to-Face
• Number of Credit Hours: 72 Hours
• Entry Terms: Fall Only
• Time to Complete: 4-5 Years
• Application Deadline: Feb 1

Interested?

Please fill out the form below to indicate your interest in the Computer Science Ph.D. program. As a thank you, you’ll receive links for a downloadable flyer and other program specifics.

Attend an Info Session

Get answers to your questions at a virtual information session. Check back for future scheduled dates.

Career and Salary

Program Benefits

Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science – Ph.D.

The innovative Computer Science Ph.D. program blends the highest level of theoretical foundations in Computer Science with the study of real-world problems. The curriculum is designed to prepare you for a career as a cutting-edge researcher or an experienced educator who can meet current and projected market demands for technological advancements in computing. You can apply expertise from this CS program to a future career in academia, research, business and industry, and government.

This degree is best suited for those with a background in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering or Game Design (bachelor’s or master’s degree). If you come from a non-computer science undergraduate or graduate background, the program offers foundation courses to prepare you for the essential demands of this doctoral program.

Major Research Areas

• Algorithm Design and Analysis of Networks
• Artificial Intelligence
• Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality
• Big Data Analytics
• Cloud Computing
• Computer Vision
• Computing Education
• Cryptography
• Cyber Physical Systems
• Data Mining
• Deep Learning
• Edge Computing
• High Performance Computing
• Internet of Things – IoT
• Machine Learning
• Operating Systems
• Parallel Computing Systems
• Quantum Computing
• Sensor Networks

Computer Science Degree Benefits at Kennesaw State  

• Customized Research – Conduct innovative research projects tailored to your specific professional goals, whether in academia or the applied research needs of industry.
• Study Flexibility – Gain valuable expertise in advanced areas of study, including artificial intelligence, data engineering/science, computer and network security, information technology, software engineering and project development.
• Internships – You will have many opportunities to gain hands-on, real-world experience by participating in internships during your time in the program, preparing you to advance in your career.
• Practical Skill Application – Develop the practical CS and research skills that can be applied to high-paying industry fields immediately upon graduation.
• Graduate Research Assistantships – Admitted full-time students typically receive a full tuition waiver and a competitive stipend as a Graduate Research or Teaching Assistant. A part-time study option is also available.

Computer Science Salary and Career Information

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Median Salary: National $126,830; Metro Atlanta $105,740 Job Growth by 2030: National 22%

Computer Systems Engineers/Architects

Median Salary: National $92,870; Georgia $86,960 Job Growth by 2030: National 9%; Georgia 14%

Computer Science Professors, Postsecondary

Median Salary: National $85,540; Metro Atlanta $79,720 Job Growth by 2030: National 7%; Georgia 24%

*Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*Net Online

Computer Science Contact Information:

680 Arntson Drive, Room J 377, MD 9047 Marietta, GA 30060

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Abhishek Parakh  Director of the Computer Science PhD Program and Associate Professor of Computer Science Email: [email protected]

Kaytlin Graham Program Coordinator College of Computing and Software Engineering Email: [email protected] Phone: (470) 578-3889

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Three Science Terps Named 2024 Goldwater Scholars

Three undergraduates in the University of Maryland’s College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (CMNS) have been awarded 2024 scholarships by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation , which encourages students to pursue advanced study and research careers in the sciences, engineering and mathematics. Over the last 15 years, UMD’s nominations yielded 49 scholarships—second in the nation only to Stanford.

Junior physics and mathematics double-degree student Yash Anand, sophomore atmospheric and oceanic science (AOSC) and physics double-degree student Malcolm Maas, and junior biological sciences and mathematics double-degree student Jerry Shen are among 438 Goldwater Scholars selected from 1,353 nominees nationally. Goldwater Scholars receive one- or two-year scholarships that cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to $7,500 per year.

“The Goldwater Scholarships awarded to Yash Anand, Malcolm Maas and Jerry Shen are a result of their years of diligent effort, commitment, and seizing the research and extracurricular opportunities available at Maryland,” CMNS Dean Amitabh Varshney said. “These experiences have distinguished them among the nation's top STEM candidates.”

The Goldwater Foundation has honored 82 UMD winners and five honorable mentions since the program’s first award was given in 1989.

“Our 2024 Goldwater winners are reflective of the tremendous young research talent that is incubating at UMD,” said CMNS Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education Robert Infantino , who has led UMD’s Goldwater Scholarship nominating process since 2001. “They continue a legacy of winners that have gone on to leading graduate programs and are pursuing careers that greatly impact science and society.”

Anand, a student in the Gemstone program in the Honors College , has been investigating quantum materials in UMD Physics Professor Johnpierre Paglione ’s lab since 2021.

He has grown, characterized and fine-tuned several new quantum materials that have unusual magnetic and physical properties. As part of this work, he spent time at TRIUMF, Canada’s particle accelerator facility. To fill in the long periods it takes to grow these materials, Anand took on another project studying the properties of sperrylite, the natural source of platinum. His work in Paglione’s lab resulted in two co-authored papers submitted for publication and a presentation at the 2024 American Physical Society March Meeting.

“Yash’s efforts in quantum materials synthesis and characterization have helped us advance several extremely promising avenues, including a new project on high-entropy alloys that is forging a path to a new research avenue for our team that will likely form the basis for future grant proposals,” said Paglione, who also directs the Maryland Quantum Materials Center . “His contributions have shown strong potential and have supported several facets of our research program, and I am excited to see where this work takes him next.”

Anand joined UMD Physics Associate Professor Zohreh Davoudi ’s group in April 2023 to study the speed limit at which information propagates in a quantum system. More recently, he joined UMD Physics Professor Jay Sau ’s group to analyze a proposed theory on non-linear quantum mechanics using phonons in crystal lattices.

A Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar, Anand received the Angelo Bardasis Scholarship from the Department of Physics. He serves as treasurer of UMD’s Society of Physics Students chapter .

After graduation, Anand plans to pursue a Ph.D. in condensed matter physics.

“I am particularly interested in magnetic structures, such as skyrmionic bubbles, due to their potential to introduce innovative approaches for data storage and transfer, thereby advancing current electronic systems,” he said. “I also want to study the evolving field of superconductivity and the use of superconductors to reduce energy dissipation and cost of medical equipment.”

Malcolm Maas

In high school, Maas helped build the first global tornado climatology database. He gathered and processed historical data for over 100,000 tornadoes that occurred around the world. The project’s website raked in 160,000 page views during its first year.

When Maas arrived at UMD, he joined a group of AOSC students installing and managing a micronet —a small-scale network of weather sensors—across the university’s campus. Five weather stations now provide minute-by-minute updates on the temperature, wind speed, pressure, dew point and rain rate on campus. Maas helped create the data collection system and user-friendly graphs to visualize the data, which are displayed on the UMD Weather website .

When the university and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management installed their first weather tower as part of the Maryland Mesonet in October 2023, they asked Maas to quickly adapt his micronet visualization tools to work with the mesonet data. The eight towers operational now around the state—with more than 70 planned in total—help to advance localized weather prediction and ensure the safety of Maryland's residents and visitors.

Since December 2022, Maas has been working with AOSC Assistant Professor Jonathan Poterjoy on fundamental challenges associated with environmental prediction and validation of atmospheric modeling systems. Specifically, he is quantifying the degree to which commonly used data assimilation methods shift models away from physically plausible solutions due to commonly adopted but incorrect assumptions.

“I have been very impressed with Malcolm’s level of understanding of the abstract concepts we are working with and his ability to take the lead on a project,” Poterjoy said. “Malcolm always comes to me with excellent questions and directions for our research and he has demonstrated an impressive depth of knowledge for such a young scientist.”

Last summer, Maas participated in the undergraduate summer intern program at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and worked on a project with Kostas Tsigaridis , a research scientist at Columbia University and the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Maas used an extremely large dataset of Earth system model simulations to explore the effects of volcanoes on climate and atmospheric sulfur. Using machine learning, he developed a tool to estimate where unidentified historical eruptions happened based on ice core data. He has two papers in preparation on this work, which has been presented at three conferences.

For his Gemstone honors research project, Maas and 11 teammates have been working with UMD Mechanical Engineering Professor Johan Larsson to optimize the shape of marine propellers.

Outside of class, Maas plays the pipe organ, advocates for infrastructure with the Student Government Association, serves as webmaster for UMD Weather and is a member of the Ballooning Club. He received a National Merit Scholarship, a President’s Scholarship and the Angelo Bardasis Scholarship from the Department of Physics.

After graduation, Maas plans to pursue a Ph.D. in atmospheric science.

“I’m excited about applying advanced data science methods to problems in the physics of the

atmosphere,” he said. “Modern atmospheric sensing and simulation capabilities continue to increase in fidelity and the power of implementing sophisticated big-data processing techniques grows accordingly.”

Shen began his research career in high school with John Strang , director of the Gender and Autism Program at Children’s National Hospital . He developed a psychometric measure to quantify gender identity that is available in the public domain for use by clinical providers and researchers. Shen co-authored a paper on the work in The American Psychologist .

Since 2021, he has been working in Maureen Goodenow ’s lab at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) using bioinformatics to identify genetic and immunogenic factors that contribute to HIV viral suppression. Shen submitted for publication a co-authored paper on this work, which was presented at the 2024 Congress on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, one of the premiere international HIV conferences. He is also preparing a paper on his work exploring how THC and tobacco use can modulate gene expression in people with HIV.

“Jerry is thriving as a developing researcher in a real-world environment,” said Goodenow, chief of the Molecular Host and HIV Interactions Section in the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. “He is intellectually curious and highly motivated to understand all aspects of the projects and to integrate across-disciplines approaches.”

Since 2022, Shen has been working with UMD Physics Professor Wolfgang Losert and UMD Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor John Fourkas to explore the role of surface characteristics in modulating the assembly of actin filaments, which are proteins that keep cells connected. Using advanced computer vision techniques, Shen showed that cells can mechanically sense their environment through subcellular actin dynamics localized to the surface of nanotextured ridges. This work, which he presented at the 2024 American Physical Society March Meeting, is motivated by a desire to better understand cancer cell dynamics—a crucial element for developing new therapeutic strategies.

Shen was named a Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar and received a Banneker/Key Scholarship and M3 Math Modeling Challenge Silver Technical Prize. At UMD, he volunteers as an EMT and hospital patient care advocate. He is also the founder and president of UMD’s American Physician Scientist Association , treasurer of the UMD Science Olympiad and a member of a group called Science Competitions Advocating for Learning Equity .

After graduation, Shen plans to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. in molecular medicine with a focus on cancer therapeutics.

“Designing cancer therapeutics requires careful consideration of biochemical, immunological and patient care-related factors,” Shen said. “My Ph.D. training will provide me with the skills to evaluate the efficacy of treatments and the M.D. will equip me with the skills to apply these treatments effectively in a clinical setting, taking into account factors such as treatment timing, patient responses and drug side effects.”

About the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences

The College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland educates more than 8,000 future scientific leaders in its undergraduate and graduate programs each year. The college's 10 departments and six interdisciplinary research centers foster scientific discovery with annual sponsored research funding exceeding $250 million.

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Dave Levin Opens Doors to Undergraduate Research

Hands-on research for undergraduates enriches the learning experience and often provides valuable insight into future career or graduate-level interests. But for students that have never set foot in a lab or undertaken a large scientific project, it can be an extremely daunting prospect.

Dave Levin , an associate professor of computer science, has made it his academic mission to showcase the value of undergraduate research to students that may never have considered it.

Much of this philosophy stems from his own experience, Levin says.

“I do have this sort of unique perspective, having been an undergrad, grad student, research scientist, and then a faculty member at Maryland,” he says. “So, I've seen the full pipeline, and the exposure—or lack thereof—to varying levels of research opportunities that students can experience.”

Levin graduated from the University of Maryland in 2002 with dual bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and computer science. He then worked as a software engineer at Space/Ground System Solutions in Southern Maryland, but eventually discovered that he was more interested in pursuing a career in research. Levin returned to UMD to pursue a doctoral degree in computer science, earning his Ph.D. in 2010.

Graduate school ended up being just what he needed, says Levin, who has a joint appointment in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies and is a core faculty member in the Maryland Cybersecurity Center (MC2).

“I love the idea of doing something nobody’s done before—being able to feel like I’m expanding the frontiers of knowledge,” he says. “I'm teaching people something with my research. Like, they’re thinking one way, and then my results show that you have to stop thinking that way.”

No matter the subject area, or level of academic coursework, research is imperative for expanding one’s knowledge base and guiding their career path, Levin says.

He recalls a conversation he had more than a decade ago, after he had completed his Ph.D. and was working at UMD as an assistant research scientist.

Levin was speaking to a talented undergraduate computer science major who was approaching graduation. The student said they were not planning to pursue graduate-level research, assuming it was all just theoretical and not necessarily something that could be put into practice.

“It’s funny because here was a student telling me he definitely did not want to pursue research, and then proceeded to tell me about this exciting project he was working on with another faculty member which in fact was research ,” Levin says, admitting he does not know where the student ended up after graduation. “It taught me that many undergraduates do not know what computer science research is—even if they’re actively doing it. I felt that that was a huge missing piece of our curriculum. That is, that there are these many rewarding, fascinating, and impactful aspects of research, but students did not even know to try to pursue it.”

Launching Breakerspace Lab

Looking to expand research opportunities for computer science undergraduates, Levin opened Breakerspace in Fall 2018. Located in the Computer Science Instructional Center, the lab has at least a dozen students working on research at any given time, with most focusing on network and systems security.

Breakerspace has served as an incubator for projects that have garnered international attention and awards. Geneva, a genetic algorithm that discovers ways to evade nation-state internet censorship, was created by Kevin Bock, a UMD adjunct faculty member who received his Ph.D. in computer science in 2022 with Levin as his adviser.

The Geneva research had strong participation from undergraduate students, Levin says. Another project that received media attention, uncovering privacy risks in cell phones won at police auctions , also had substantial input from undergraduates working in Breakerspace, he adds.

Michelle Mazurek , an associate professor of computer science and director of MC2, says that Breakerspace provides UMD undergraduates a unique and valuable opportunity.

“They’re not just participating in activities at the lab, they’re leading projects that result in high-quality publications, a role that is often reserved for graduate students,” Mazurek says. “Our cybersecurity center—and UMD’s undergrads—are lucky to have Dave.”

Advocating for Underrepresented Groups

Beyond giving undergraduates exposure to research opportunities, Levin is also a strong advocate for increasing a broader representation of people interested in computer science. As chair of his department’s Computer Science Honors program, Levin is continuously making a conscious effort to reach out to women and other underrepresented groups.

The national average for women undergraduates majoring in computer science is 19%, and at UMD it’s 24%, thanks in part to a range of diversity initiatives and programs like the ones Levin is active in.

“I’m just trying to open up the world of computing research to a broader community,” he says. “We could all stand to benefit from their ideas and talents, but underrepresentation is very difficult to overcome for many reasons.”

Levin believes there is still a lot of imposter syndrome and embedded bias in so many aspects of the tech-world system, which is one reason he continues to play an active role in activities like the Tech + Research workshop , where undergraduates from around the country are invited to take a deep dive into computer science research projects.

The annual workshop, hosted by the Department of Computer Science and the Maryland Center for Women in Computing , is run in tandem with Technica, the world’s largest hackathon for underrepresented genders.

Levin has been involved with the workshop since its launch in 2018, leading projects and offering his expertise and advice to participants.

His work and advocacy has not gone unnoticed. In 2020, Levin received the Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award from the National Center for Women & Information Technology, which recognizes individuals who provide outstanding mentorship and high-quality research opportunities for undergraduate students, and are active in the recruitment of women and minority students in computing-related fields.

Passing on a Passion for Mentorship

Levin is quick to admit that his own journey with academic research is not unique, and that his passion for promoting scientific discovery to others will require a team effort.

Part of that effort may come from Sadia Nourin, who graduated from UMD in May 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in finance and computer science, having joined Breakerspace as an undergraduate after hearing a talk about the Geneva censorship project.

“The policy issue of internet censorship resonated with me, and I was fascinated by the challenge of discovering computational tools that would expand the frontier of knowledge and make the internet safe and secure for users around the world,” says Nourin, who is currently pursuing a master’s in computer science with Levin as her adviser.

Last year, she received an Internet Society Pulse Research Fellowship for her groundbreaking work to measure censorship in smaller countries with repressive regimes and limited internet access.

Nourin is now mentoring undergraduate students herself. She doesn’t think she would love research as much as she does if it was not for mentors, including Levin, who helped her along the way.

“I want to pay their kindness forward,” says Nourin, who is planning to pursue a Ph.D. “During my mentoring sessions with undergraduates, I can actually see some of them have the same epiphanies and experiences that I had when I had just discovered research. It's very fulfilling to know that I played some role, however small, in fostering their interest in research.”

—Story by Melissa Brachfeld, UMIACS communications group

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