Recent News & Accomplishments
2024
Mel Coles received the MVP Impact Award and Caitlin Rudy received the Terrapin Innovation Award for exceptional contributions to the university.
The University of Maryland recently recognized the accomplishments of two Department of Computer Science staff members. Mel Coles , who serves as the department’s special events coordinator, received the MVP Impact Award, and Caitlin Rudy , the program manager of industry partnerships for the Iribe Initiative for Inclusion and Diversity in Computing (I4C) , was honored with the Terrapin Innovation Award. These awards celebrate their noteworthy contributions to the department and the broader university community. The MVP Impact Award and the Terrapin Innovation Award are part of the University... read more
The eight grants announced on January 24, 2024 were awarded to interdisciplinary teams of faculty associated with the institute.
The Institute for Trustworthy AI in Law & Society ( TRAILS ) has unveiled an inaugural round of seed grants designed to integrate a greater diversity of stakeholders into the AI development and governance lifecycle, ultimately creating positive feedback loops to improve trustworthiness, accessibility and efficacy in AI-infused systems. The eight grants announced on January 24, 2024—totaling just over $1.5 million—were awarded to interdisciplinary teams of faculty associated with the institute. The projects include developing AI chatbots to assist with smoking cessation, designing animal-... read more
The student organization supports members by nurturing talent and bridging the gap to professional opportunities in tech.
Since the App Dev Club at the University of Maryland's Department of Computer Science launched last fall, it has grown to 105 members and emerged as a hub for students to gain app development experience and marketable knowledge that will help them stand out in the job market. A two-pronged approach underpins the club's strategy. The club teaches students technical skills—such as JavaScript, HTML, CSS and back-end frameworks—and networking skills. Students employed at companies like Google and Microsoft share advice on crafting a LinkedIn profile, building a resume and leveraging local events... read more
George Li and Aditya Ranjan receive recognition from the Computing Research Association for their contributions to computing research.
University of Maryland senior computer science and mathematics double major George Zhaoqi Li received a 2023-2024 Computing Research Association (CRA) Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award . This prestigious award, which has only four awardees, recognizes Li's exceptional contributions to the field of computer science. In addition to Li, Aditya Ranjan (B.S. ’23, computer science) received an honorable mention award. The CRA Undergraduate Researcher Award, sponsored this year by Mitsubishi Electric Research Labs (MERL) , honors undergraduate students in North American colleges and... read more
QuICS achieves strong presence at a top quantum computer science conference with five papers and a plenary talk invitation.
Research by fellows, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students and alumni of the Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science (QuICS) will once again be featured in talks at the annual conference on Quantum Information Processing (QIP), held this year from Jan. 13–19, 2024, in Taipei, Taiwan. Five papers by current QuICS members were accepted for talks and one will be featured in an invited plenary talk—a mark that continues a strong history of QuICS representation at the premier conference dedicated to quantum computer science. Other talks feature research by QuICS alumni,... read more
Akash Magoon hopes his $180K gift will help Terps ‘take the path less traveled’.
Akash Magoon (B.S. ’18, computer science) who is a member of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS) Board of Visitors, recently made a $180,000 donation to establish undergraduate student scholarships for four students per year. The need-based scholarships will be awarded to two BSOS students and two Department of Computer Sciences students, with a focus on those who grew up and reside in Baltimore at the time of enrollment. The scholarships will cover each recipient’s tuition costs for one year, with the possibility of being renewed, starting in fall 2024. Magoon—who is the co-... read more
Ng's story is marked by unwavering commitment and exceptional skill.
Data-driven innovation is shifting landscapes in every sector and University of Maryland alum Raymond Ng (Ph.D. '92, computer science) is at the forefront of this holding the baton of academic excellence and real-world impact. Being a veteran professor of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia, Raymond is not just an educator—he’s a visionary. His journey is as illustrious as his career, spanning continents and disciplines, culminating in his pivotal role as the Director of the Data Science Institute (DSI) established in 2017 within UBC’s Faculty of Science. Raymond’s tale is... read more
2023
His work aims to revolutionize how people of all skill levels engage with the digital arts.
Songwei Ge , a computer science Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland, recently received one of 10 NVIDIA Graduate Fellowships for his work on "Learning Artificial Creativity to Enhance Human Creativity." This project focuses on developing generative models for images and videos and aims to augment human creativity, enabling individuals to produce artistic content effortlessly, regardless of their skill level. The NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship supports the research of promising students in the field of computer science and related areas. The award includes a scholarship of up to $60,000... read more
Undergraduate research in robotics teaches computer science students to fail forward
The fish was floundering. Bobbing precariously at the edge of University of Maryland’s neutral buoyancy tank, a robotic catfish struggled to swim as the students coaxed its motor. The device should have been cruising along the surface of the 367,000-gallon pool; but despite countless tests, hours and design reboots, something had gone very wrong. That’s sort of the point, said Assistant Clinical Professor Lena Johnson ’14, M.S. ’16, Ph.D. ’22. “The creative process is all about iteration; that’s how everything gets better,” she said. “But also, it’s going to fail. Sometimes that’s the goal... read more
Manocha has been recognized for his significant impacts on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society.
Distinguished University Professor Dinesh Manocha has been named a 2023 Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) in recognition of his outstanding work in technology research and education and his contributions to academia and industry. Throughout his career, Manocha has successfully transitioned his research into marketable technology through his research groups and startup companies. His outreach has resulted in software systems, robot operating systems and computer-aided design to be employed by over 60 companies, including a number of Fortune 500 companies. “Congratulations to... read more