Recent News & Accomplishments
2026
The Department of Defense-funded award will support research in neuromorphic and unconventional computing systems.
University of Maryland Department of Computer Science Ph.D. student Ian Whitehouse has received a 2026 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship , a three-year award that supports graduate study in fields related to national defense. Whitehouse, co-advised by Professor of Computer Science William Regli and Professor of Physics Wolfgang Losert , studies neural and neuromorphic computing, focusing on systems inspired by biological processes. His work is situated within broader conversations about the limits of current computing models, particularly as artificial intelligence... read more
He discusses his path into computer science, current research in AI and high-performance computing, and the challenges of scaling on modern systems.
University of Maryland Associate Professor of Computer Science Abhinav Bhatele traces his interest in computing to early classroom experiences, where exposure to programming languages shaped his academic direction. His work now focuses on the intersection of high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence, with an emphasis on cross-domain collaboration. In this Q&A, Bhatele discusses his career path, research priorities and the broader implications of his work. Was there a defining moment that shaped your career path into computer science? I don’t know if there was a single... read more
Nine current students and recent alums of the University of Maryland’s Department of Computer Science received prestigious 2026 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships, which recognize outstanding graduate students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Since 2014, 174 current students and recent alums from CMNS have been awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowships. This year’s awardees are: Anirud Aggarwal (B.S. ’25, computer science; B.S. ’25, mathematics) Vatsal Baherwani (B.S. ’25, computer science), New York University Nathan Constantinides (B.S. ’25,... read more
Meta is using a University of Maryland–led safety framework to test its new multimodal AI model, underscoring how academic research is shaping the evaluation of advanced systems before deployment. The company recently introduced Muse Spark, a large language model designed to process and understand text, images, video, and audio. Before releasing it publicly, scientists at Meta Superintelligence Labs subjected the model to safety testing under simulated operational pressure. That evaluation relied on PropensityBench, a framework developed through a collaboration between researchers at the... read more
She discusses her path into machine learning, current research in AI agents and the importance of adapting in a rapidly evolving field.
University of Maryland Associate Professor of Computer Science Furong Huang focuses her research on developing robust and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems, with work spanning machine learning, reinforcement learning and robotics. Her research aims to ensure that AI systems, both digital and physical, operate reliably and remain aligned with human intentions and social values. Her lab recently expanded to include a dedicated physical space with robot arms, quadrupeds and mobile manipulators, allowing her team to explore real-world applications of AI. In this interview, Huang... read more
A team of University of Maryland researchers has received seed funding for a project that combines lasers with computational biology to explore new methods for tagging cells, with the goal of clarifying the relationship between neural activity and the genetic makeup of individual cells. Rob Patro , an associate professor of computer science with an appointment in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS) , is collaborating on the project with Scott Juntti, an associate professor of biology who specializes in behavioral neuroscience. Their interdisciplinary... read more
Andrew Childs , a professor of computer science at the University of Maryland, will receive the Excellence in Research Award in Computer Science from the Washington Academy of Sciences on May 7, recognizing work that has helped redefine what quantum computers can do and how researchers design algorithms for them. The award will be presented at the academy’s annual meeting at the Center for Naval Analyses in Arlington, Virginia. Since 1940, the Washington Academy of Sciences has honored scientists across the region for achievements in research and leadership, with this award recognizing... read more
More than 1,000 registered participants gathered at Reckord Armory for the annual hackathon, where students built projects across software and hardware tracks.
Rows of laptops, cables and sleeping bags filled Reckord Armory as students settled in for Bitcamp ’s 12th anniversary at the University of Maryland. From April 10-12, high school students and undergraduates spent 36 hours building projects, attending workshops and working through ideas. The annual event drew more than 1,000 registered participants, including over 100 from outside UMD. Considered one of the East Coast’s largest collegiate hackathons, Bitcamp brought together programmers, designers and builders from across the region to develop software and hardware solutions over the weekend... read more
The annual event connects student founders with experienced entrepreneurs for feedback on early-stage startup ideas.
Student entrepreneurs at the University of Maryland presented business ideas to a panel of judges during the annual Pitch Perfect event, organized by the Department of Computer Science’s Mokhtarzada Hatchery program and Startup Shell . Held at the Idea Factory , the event allowed students to pitch startup concepts and respond to questions from entrepreneurs with experience in business and investing. This year’s judges included Manpreet Singh (B.S. ’03, finance), chief investment officer at Singh Capital Partners, and Zeki Mokhtarzada (B.S. ’01, computer science), a co-founder of the Hatchery... read more
From human health to environmental sustainability, microscopic communities play a critical role in shaping the world around us. But understanding these complex ecosystems remains a major scientific challenge. At the University of Maryland, bioinformatics engineer Nazifa Ahmed Moumi is working to bridge that gap by developing faster, more accessible tools to analyze vast amounts of genetic data. Moumi’s research focuses on metagenomics, the study of genetic material collected directly from environmental samples. Unlike traditional approaches that examine a single organism in isolation,... read more