News and Events
Recent News & Accomplishments
2025
The Fall 2025 event brought nearly 2,000 students face-to-face with recruiters seeking talent in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and software engineering.
Students filled the Adele H. Stamp Student Union on September 22, eager to take their next step toward careers in the technology field. The University of Maryland Department of Computer Science’s Fall 2025 Career and Internship Fair attracted 1,994 students who met with 223 representatives from 58 employers. For many, the fair was an opportunity to move beyond online applications and make meaningful, in-person connections. “Beyond coursework, I look for students who show initiative outside of the classroom,” said Lam Bui (B.S. ’07, computer science), an alum now working as a software engineer... read more
He advanced scientific computing, led interdisciplinary programs and mentored generations of students at UMD.
University of Maryland Professor of Computer Science Howard Elman passed away on September 18, 2025. Elman joined UMD in 1985 and became a leading figure in scientific computing, developing numerical algorithms to solve large-scale mathematical models of real-world problems such as fluid dynamics and reactive flows. His work advanced methods used to study phenomena ranging from the behavior of sound waves to the strength and stability of buildings and how water or air flows. He also held a joint appointment in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS), where... read more
He was recognized at KDD 2025 for his co-authored work, which used open-source data to predict global events.
University of Maryland Professor of Computer Science and Distinguished University Professor Aravind Srinivasan has been recognized with a Test of Time award at the 2025 ACM Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (KDD) for a paper on forecasting civil unrest using open source data. Initially published in 2014, the paper—titled “Beating the News with EMBERS: Forecasting Civil Unrest using Open Source Indicators”—was coauthored by Srinivasan, his former Ph.D. student Khoa Trinh, now a researcher at Google, Naren Ramakrishnan and other collaborators. The project was part of a broader... read more
The program now ranks 16th nationwide, No. 9 among publics.
The University of Maryland’s undergraduate computer science program climbed three spots to 16th overall in the 2026 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges.” UMD ranks No. 9 overall among public institutions and in the Top 10 among publics for the specialties of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. “Our students are at the heart of this success. Their passion for learning, creativity in solving problems and commitment to making an impact are what drive our program forward. We are proud to provide them with an environment where they can thrive and launch meaningful... read more
University, State Officials Celebrate New Partnership During Quantum World Congress
The University of Maryland will soon be home to a major new Microsoft quantum research lab, further strengthening the university’s position as a global leader in quantum science, innovation and commercialization. Gov. Wes Moore announced the project on Wednesday while addressing hundreds gathered for the Quantum World Congress (QWC), a global event focused on the future of quantum science and innovation being held this week in Tysons, Va. The announcement results from a partnership between the state of Maryland, the University of Maryland Enterprise Corporation and Microsoft, one of the world... read more
The event introduced students to mentorship, funding opportunities and peer collaboration through the university's entrepreneurial incubator.
The University of Maryland’s Department of Computer Science held its annual Fall Mokhtarzada Hatchery Kick-Off Event on Monday, September 8, 2025, offering students an overview of the department’s incubator for student-led startups. Hosted at the Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering, the event featured presentations about the program with mentors and UMD alums Haroon (B.A. ’01, economics) Idris (B.S. ’10, computer science) and Zeki Mokhtarzada (B.S. ’01, computer science) and Manpreet Singh (B.S. ’03, finance), who discussed how the Hatchery can support students’... read more
Sujay Konda, Danny Mittal and Kelin Zhu place 14th in the global programming contest in Baku, Azerbaijan.
T he University of Maryland’s Department of Computer Science reached its highest placement at the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) World Finals , finishing 14th at the competition held Sept. 4 at ADA University in Baku, Azerbaijan. The World Finals brought together 139 teams from universities worldwide that had advanced through earlier regional rounds. Nineteen teams represented North America, including those from Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Carnegie... read more
Undergraduate fellows in TRAILS created VerifAI, a prototype app that adds verification layers to improve accuracy and usability for blind and low-vision users.
Blind and low-vision (BLV) individuals face daily challenges accessing visual information. AI tools can assist with tasks like reading medication labels, identifying objects in photos, or interpreting images—but they are sometimes unreliable, with some AI tools providing answers that sound realistic but are not always correct. To address this, undergraduate summer research fellows in the Institute for Trustworthy AI in Law and Society (TRAILS) built a system that adds a verification layer beneath the surface to provide BLV users with more reliable AI-generated answers in real time. The work... read more
He will lead a $1.2M project aimed at sparking early STEM interest through hands-on and mixed reality tools
As the United States works to expand its semiconductor workforce, educators and researchers are seeking ways to interest students in the field well before they enter college. At the University of Maryland, Assistant Professor Huaishu Peng has received a $1.2 million award from the National Science Foundation to design informal learning experiences that make semiconductors more accessible to middle school students. The award is supported by two NSF programs: Advancing Informal STEM Learning , which funds projects that test new approaches to science education outside traditional classrooms, and... read more
Associate Professor Pratap Tokekar and his RAAS Lab team are developing models and algorithms to ensure AI-driven robots act reliably and safely.
There’s a lot of promise and expectations at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, and a lot of work yet to be done to safely incorporate these systems into our everyday lives. Dr. Pratap Tokekar , an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Maryland, is studying the science behind what AI-driven systems can and can’t do, to help determine if and when they are reliable. In his Evening@SMART presentation on September 3, Dr. Tokekar explained that a type of AI system called a foundation model, like OpenAI's GPT series, Google's... read more
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