Recent News & Accomplishments

 2024

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Lee, a UMD graduate student, explores the future of communication through extended reality and shares her WiGRAPH Rising Stars experience.
Geonsun Lee , a Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland’s Department of Computer Science, has been recognized as a rising talent in her field, earning a spot in the WiGRAPH Rising Stars program . This two-year mentorship and workshop program, part of the ACM SIGGRAPH community, is designed to support women and other underrepresented genders in computer graphics research as they transition from academia to the professional world. Lee's path to this achievement is shaped by her multicultural experiences, early academic decisions and a fascination with technology’s potential to connect...  read more
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Yang joins UMD with a focus on data-driven computational models and human-computer interaction.
Fumeng Yang has joined the University of Maryland’s Department of Computer Science as an assistant professor. As a new tenure-track faculty member, Yang will focus her research on data-driven computational models, particularly how individuals and groups perceive, use and develop these models. “I am excited to join UMD’s Department of Computer Science,” Yang said. “It’s a place that combines academic excellence with a dynamic atmosphere. In my short time here, I’ve noticed a very collaborative environment and a talented, diverse student body. I look forward to contributing to this vibrant...  read more
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Nichols is recognized for contributions to machine-learning performance modeling and the application of large language models in high-performance computing.
University of Maryland Department of Computer Science graduate student Daniel Nichols has been named the recipient of the 2024 ACM-IEEE CS George Michael Memorial High-Performance Computing (HPC) Fellowship . This prestigious award acknowledges Nichols' research at the intersection of machine learning and high-performance computing, specifically in advancing machine-learning-based performance modeling and adapting large language models (LLMs) for HPC applications. The George Michael Memorial HPC Fellowship, established in honor of George Michael—one of the founders of the SC Conference series...  read more
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The National Science Foundation-sponsored program offered practical computer science research experience to students from across the nation.
The University of Maryland's Department of Computer Science has successfully concluded its 12th annual Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program , sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF). From June 3 through August 9, the program brought together 18 undergraduate and three high school students from across the United States, providing them with hands-on research experience in cutting-edge projects that focus on machine learning, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and algorithms. Participants worked on various projects under the mentorship of UMD faculty and...  read more
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The new program expands quantum course offerings, allowing students to explore the field from multiple angles.
The University of Maryland will offer a new minor in quantum science and engineering beginning in spring 2025. Students in the minor will learn about quantum computing technologies, algorithms for quantum computers, characteristics of quantum materials, and sensing and noise in quantum systems. “Our new quantum minor complements our well-recognized strength in quantum research and helps prepare our undergraduate students to join the workforce in this emerging field or attend graduate school and contribute to future quantum research,” said Sennur Ulukus, chair of UMD’s Department of Electrical...  read more
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Childs will receive the award for his work in quantum algorithms at the September 18 Convocation.
University of Maryland Computer Science Professor Andrew Childs will receive the 2024 Kirwan Faculty Research and Scholarship Prize . He will receive the award at the Faculty & Staff Convocation on September 18, 2024, in the Memorial Chapel. A leading scientist in the field of quantum algorithms, Childs has helped develop both theoretical foundations and practical applications for quantum computers, which have the potential to address problems that are beyond the reach of traditional computational methods. Childs earned his B.S. in physics at the California Institute of Technology and his...  read more
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Levi Burner, a sixth-year doctoral candidate, balances research, service and mentoring as the lab manager for the University of Maryland's Perception and Robotics Group.
Tiny autonomous drones designed to mimic and support bee populations. Larger drones that can navigate difficult terrain with the agility of a hummingbird. Robots that learn to cook by watching YouTube videos. These projects, and many more, were conceived, developed and tested by the University of Maryland’s Perception and Robotics Group , co-led by Yiannis Aloimonos , a professor of computer science, and Cornelia Fermüller , a research scientist in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS). A common thread in much of the group’s work is the ability to build...  read more
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Tao will join UMD in August 2024, focusing on quantum computing and programming languages.
Runzhou Tao will join the University of Maryland’s Department of Computer Science as an assistant professor in August 2024. Tao's research focuses on the intersection of programming languages, operating systems and quantum computing. "I am very excited to join the prestigious Department of Computer Science at UMD," Tao said. "I look forward to collaborating with talented colleagues and contributing to cutting-edge research." Tao earned a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Columbia University and a bachelor's degree from Tsinghua University, where he conducted research on theoretical computer...  read more
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Twenty-six Maryland high school students completed a two-week AI and programming camp at the University of Maryland.
Twenty-six high school students, most from Maryland, recently completed a two-week camp at the University of Maryland focused on developing skill sets needed to navigate the constantly expanding world of artificial intelligence (AI) and computer programming. A joint effort between the Institute for Trustworthy AI in Law & Society (TRAILS) and the Iribe Initiative for Inclusion and Diversity in Computing (I4C), the TRAILS AI Summer Academy featured mentoring from UMD faculty, a field trip to an interactive museum focused on language, and group projects that covered hot topics like neural...  read more
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In his new role, Porter will co-lead UM-IHC, an academic health research institute that serves as a hub for health computing innovation and collaboration in Montgomery County.
Adam Porter has been named co-executive director of the University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing (UM-IHC), effective July 28, 2024. Porter is a professor of computer science at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) and has served since 2015 as executive director of the Fraunhofer USA Center Mid-Atlantic , an applied research center affiliated with UMCP. In his new role, Porter will co-lead UM-IHC, an academic health research institute in North Bethesda, Maryland, that serves as a hub for health computing innovation and collaboration in Montgomery County. Founded in...  read more