Recent News & Accomplishments
2024
UMD students Samai Patel, Nand Vinchhi, and MIT’s Veer Gadodia leverage AI to help companies modernize outdated systems.
For many companies, decades-old software code can be more of a liability than an asset. As technology rapidly advances, maintaining these outdated systems—built using programming languages that are no longer taught and supported—has become an expensive and time-consuming challenge. In today’s fast-paced environment, businesses struggle to keep up with competitors due to the constraints of legacy systems that were once at the forefront of innovation but are now holding them back. Axal , a startup formed by University of Maryland students, seeks to address these challenges. Led by UMD computer... read more
Bahar Asgari, Pierce Darragh, Christopher Kauffman, Elizabeth Qiu and Logan Stevens received teaching awards in four categories.
The University of Maryland's Department of Computer Science recognized its outstanding educators for the 2023-24 academic year, awarding Bahar Asgari , Pierce Darragh , Christopher Kauffman , Elizabeth Qiu and Logan Stevens for their contributions in four distinct categories. Each year, the department honors professors, instructors, STIC facilitators and teaching assistants through a nomination and selection process designed to identify exceptional teaching and mentorship. The recipients were chosen through student nominations, typically collected mid-spring, followed by a review and... read more
Researchers in the University of Maryland’s Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (CBCB) have just published research that may soon help doctors better diagnosis patients with Parkinson’s disease. Their work, done in tandem with researchers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and others, uses machine learning algorithms to analyze data from wearable sensors that track movement. Ultimately, the researchers say, this can lead to more accurate and earlier diagnoses of people suffering from Parkinson’s, which in turn can lead to earlier therapeutic interventions. Rana Khalil, a... read more
The physician assistant program at UMB will introduce new technology for stroke assessment.
The 76-year-old patient in the doctor’s office suddenly becomes mute and can’t move her right arm—classic symptoms of a stroke. Cheri Hendrix, director of the physician assistant (PA) program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore goes into assessment mode, her voice growing urgent. “Tell me what day it is,” she says as she checks for a heart rate. “Tell me where you are.” The scene isn’t playing out in real life. It’s a 3-D training simulation representing a common stroke scenario. Soon, PA program students outfitted with virtual reality (VR) goggles will be able to immerse themselves in... read more
The startup incubator selected four student-led teams for support and mentorship opportunities.
The Mokhtarzada Hatchery Program at the University of Maryland's Department of Computer Science has selected the student teams for the 2024-2025 academic year. Now in its fourth year, the program is designed to support students in launching startups and provides annual funding of up to $10,000 per team. The Hatchery provides selected teams with resources to help them progress from idea to implementation. In addition to funding, teams will have access to shared workspaces at the Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering and will be paired with mentors, typically experienced... read more
The team, which includes Professor Tom Goldstein and Associate Professor Furong Huang, is designing algorithms for adaptable and robust autonomous systems.
As autonomous robotic systems continue to integrate themselves into our daily lives—flipping burgers, navigating vehicles, sorting parcels, and much more—the need to increase human-like cognitive reasoning within these AI-driven platforms is also growing. Researchers in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS) are exploring this topic, leading a multi-institutional effort aimed at enhancing how robots reason, plan and engage in complex, real-world scenarios. The UMIACS team— Furong Huang, an associate professor of computer science, and Tom Goldstein , a... read more
The event offered computer science students job and internship opportunities from 67 government and private employers.
The University of Maryland’s Department of Computer Science organized its long-standing Fall Career and Internship Fair on September 23 at the Adele H. Stamp Student Union . This signature event held biannually, has become a cornerstone for students seeking to prepare for careers in the rapidly evolving tech industry. With 67 companies in attendance, the fair offered a range of opportunities to approximately 2,750 students eager to connect with potential employers. For many students, the fair serves as a vital stepping stone to internships and full-time positions, providing direct engagement... read more
The University Career Center survey reveals strong job outcomes and competitive salaries for the class of 2023.
The University of Maryland’s Department of Computer Science reported a 96% job placement rate for the class of 2023, according to a survey conducted by the University Career Center . The data, which includes graduates from August and December 2022 and May 2023, shows that most students entered the workforce with competitive salaries. The survey collected responses from 562 of 840 graduates, with 84.7% joining the workforce. Most secured full-time positions, while 11.2% opted to continue their education. Only 1.2% of graduates remained unplaced, and 2.7% were still seeking employment or... read more
The department also ranks among the country’s best universities in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and computer systems, according to U.S. News & World Report.
The University of Maryland’s undergraduate computer science program ranks 19th overall in the 2025 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges.” UMD also ranks in the top 20 in three undergraduate computer science specialties: Artificial Intelligence: 12th Cybersecurity: 13th Computer Systems: 18th Undergraduate computer science programs have been ranked by U.S. News & World Report for the past five years and UMD has ranked in the top 20 every year. UMD’s graduate computer science program ranks 17th overall according to U.S. News & World Report. “We are proud of these... read more
Alum couple takes a fluctuating, ever-changing, up-and-down journey to gaming success.
Andy Looney (B.S. ’86, computer science) sometimes wonders what his life would look like if he’d been born with a different last name. Would he have devoted his personal and professional ambitions to the wide world of whimsy as a Jones or a Smith? Which came first—the name, or the yearning for an off-kilter existence? Either way, Looney’s fate was sealed during the summer of 1986 when he met a “hippie chick who doesn’t wear shoes” named Kristin Wunderlich (B.S. ’88, computer science) working at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Her path was preordained as well: In German, “Wunderlich” means... read more