Recent News & Accomplishments
2020
How 2020 Ph.D. graduate Brian Brubach found his niche by making his interests in social good, fairness and diversity a part of his research
As a boy growing up in Carroll County, Maryland, Brian Brubach (Ph.D. ’20, computer science) struggled with academics due to a learning disability, but he loved computers. “We had a family computer at home when I was growing up,” Brubach said. “And I was able to kind of explore it on my own and become part of that generation of people who knew more about computers than their parents.” A lot has changed since then. In May 2020, Brubach was awarded a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Maryland and got a job in academia. He’s now in his first year as an assistant professor in the... read more
Senior Yaelle Goldschlag developed a course called “Law and Computer Science” as a part of the university's Student Initiated Courses (STICs) program.
Senior Yaelle Goldschlag realized during her time at Maryland that working with computers can create a unique set of legal issues that often don’t get much attention in CS classes. So she decided to do something about it. She created her own class. “I've always been really interested in the intersection of law and policy and computer science,” said Goldschlag, who is also pursuing a second degree in mathematics. “We have these decisions that we need to make in terms of how we want technology to function in society and what we want the future of technology to look like. To make these decisions... read more
A University of Maryland expert in machine learning has been funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop a program that can identify the origin and sophistication level of adversarial attacks on artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Soheil Feizi , assistant professor of computer science with an appointment in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS), is lead principal investigator of the $971K award. He will collaborate with three researchers from the John Hopkins University Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering on... read more
A University of Maryland expert in the technical aspects of human-computer interaction has been funded to develop new tools that enable blind and visually impaired (BVI) coders to create visual layout and frontend programs independently. Huaishu Peng , an assistant professor of computer science with an appointment in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS), was awarded $25K from the Division of Research’s New Directions Fund , which aims to enable new lines of research and creative work with high potential for impact. Peng notes that there has been an... read more
International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems - From 25 Oct, 2020 until 29 Nov, 2020
The virtual 2020 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) brings together robotics experts from across the globe for a month of paper presentations, invited speakers, workshops, and forums. IROS is a premier flagship academic conference in robotics. The theme for this year is “Consumer Robots and Our Future” showcasing the cutting edge research in all areas of robotics. A total of 16 papers will be presented by UMD researchers of which 11 are by Computer science faculty who are also part of the Maryland Robotics Center (MRC). The conference is free to access... read more
From exploring technology used in autonomous vehicles to detecting censorship on the internet, undergraduate women and non-binary individuals who are focused on computer science are collaborating this week with leading experts on these topics—and more—at a three-day workshop hosted by students and faculty at the University of Maryland. “ Tech + Research: Welcoming Women to Computing Research ” brings together more than 80 undergraduates from across the country interested in meaningful computing research. The October 23–25 workshop, now in its third year, is being held entirely online due to... read more
Just like the rock walls she scales multiple times a week, Kelsey Fulton knows that any challenge—mentally or physically—takes patience, perseverance, and quick thinking. Fulton, a fourth-year computer science doctoral student in the Maryland Cybersecurity Center (MC2), is an avid rock climber who likes to stay physically active, often lifting weights twice a week to maintain her strength and help prevent climbing injuries. She excels in putting that same level of discipline and determination into her research, which explores the human factors of information security with a focus on software... read more
Computer science alumnus Jagdeep Singh’s 30 years of successful Silicon Valley startups
After 30 years of launching companies, there’s one thing Jagdeep Singh (B.S. ’86, computer science and economics) never forgets: there are no guarantees. “I think one thing you need to have is a healthy realization for the fact that you can fail,” Singh explained. “This is not a company job where you have a lot of stability. And that’s what keeps the best entrepreneurs going, because it forces you to not relax, kind of stay on your toes.” Case in point, his most recent startup QuantumScape . Though it could end up being his biggest entrepreneurial success ever, it didn’t always feel like it... read more
The senior computer science major finds inspiration in women helping women
Whether it was middle school robotics club or high school computer classes, Gesna Aggarwal was used to being one of the only girls in the room. But during her freshman year at the University of Maryland, the computer science major stepped into Reckord Armory and was suddenly surrounded by a sea of more than 800 girls, women and nonbinary computer and technology enthusiasts. She had found Technica, UMD’s student-run hackathon. “It was empowering to see that sort of representation,” said Aggarwal, a senior who also participates in the QUEST Honors Program and is pursuing a minor in general... read more
More than 100 CS students, faculty, staff and alumni attended these conferences, which promote diversity in computing.
For CS students, attending conferences and networking events that promote diversity in computing—like the Grace Hopper Celebration and Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference —can be life-changing experiences. And while COVID-19 moved events like these online this fall, CS Terps were still able to surround themselves virtually with thousands of individuals who shared their passion for technology and computing. This year, 200 undergraduate and graduate students from UMD—including 100 from computer science—attended the virtual Grace Hopper Celebration from September 29 to... read more