News and Events
Recent News & Accomplishments
2025
Priyadarshan Narayanasamy, a computer science and neuroscience double major, earned a spot on the list after winning 19 of 22 hackathons over the past two years.
Priyadarshan Narayanasamy (B.S. '26, computer science; B.S. '26, neuroscience) has been named one of 2025's MLH Top 50 —a list compiled each year by Major League Hacking (MLH) of the organization's most inspiring community members. The recipients are recognized for their exceptional contributions to the tech ecosystem and STEM education. Narayanasamy earned his place on the list through an extraordinary hackathon record, winning 19 out of 22 events attended over two years, including First Place Overall at HackPrinceton, Track Winner at HackMIT, and Third Place at Hacklytics. "What truly... read more
Computer science and immersive media design students build a NASA-inspired game in 24 hours.
A team of University of Maryland Department of Computer Science and Immersive Media Design (IMD) students won first place at the Game Jam held during hackUMBC 2025 on September 27 and 28. Hosted by the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, the 24-hour competition brought together 35 teams, challenged to create a fully playable video game from scratch. The UMD team’s entry, " A.R.C.A.D.E " , inspired by a NASA project that used weather balloons to detect cosmic radiation, stood out for its completeness in both design and execution. The team included senior computer science majors Declan... read more
E-waste—the massive volume of discarded electronics in the form of smartphones, digital screens and other electronic devices—is a global crisis. Less than a quarter of the 62 million tons of e-waste produced annually is successfully recycled. Part of this glut originates from design engineers that prototype electronic circuit boards used for new products. Modern prototyping tools have allowed for the quick production of these testbed circuit boards, often with little afterthought for addressing their end-of-life impacts. Researchers from the University of Maryland, University of Notre Dame... read more
He discusses his path into the field, current projects and the challenges of integrating vision, sound and touch.
Ruohan Gao , an assistant professor of computer science at the University of Maryland, has centered his career on understanding the biological role of vision and its relationship to other sensory inputs. Through the Multi-Sensory Machine Intelligence Lab, he integrates sight, sound and touch to design models that replicate how humans and animals perceive the world. In this interview, he discusses his path into the field, recent research projects, challenges in building multi-sensory systems and the broader societal impacts of his work. Was there a defining moment that shaped your career path... read more
Recent innovations, such as Google's Project Astra, exemplify the potential of proactive agents embedded in augmented reality (AR) glasses to offer intelligent assistance that anticipates user needs and seamlessly integrates into everyday life. These agents promise remarkable convenience, from effortlessly navigating unfamiliar transit hubs to discreetly offering timely suggestions in crowded spaces. Yet, today’s agents remain constrained by a significant limitation: they predominantly rely on explicit verbal commands from users. This requirement can be awkward or disruptive in social... read more
Their breakthrough in network design could help make computer and AI chips more efficient.
A University of Maryland research team has earned the Best Paper Award at the 66th IEEE Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science (FOCS), one of the oldest and most prestigious conferences in computer science, for solving a mathematical problem that had remained open for 35 years. Led by Mohammad Hajiaghayi , the Jack and Rita G. Minker Professor of Computer Science, the team tackled the long-standing Steiner Forest problem , a cornerstone challenge in network design. The problem asks how to connect pairs of points in a network using the least possible total cost, essentially finding the... read more
New paper argues baked-in bias in current models calls for deeper solutions.
Since they became widely available three years ago, artificial intelligence chatbots have been embraced as research assistants, trip planners, writing helpers and more—but they’ve provided some face-palm moments as well. One company’s bot developed a noticeable anti-Muslim bent , while another’s took to praising Hitler . And then there was the ill-fated attempt to reduce bias that resulted in depictions of, among other historical impossibilities, a rainbow coalition of U.S. Founding Fathers. Although each problem was addressed, the trend has persisted, and there’s no reason to believe it will... read more
The four student-led startups focus on mindfulness, financial access, site monitoring and knowledge management.
The University of Maryland’s Department of Computer Science has selected four student teams— Capy’s Journey , Cube, SenseGuard and ThinkEx —for the 2025-2026 academic year of the Mokhtarzada Hatchery Program . Now in its fifth year, the program continues to support students in launching startups, providing annual funding of up to $10,000 per team. The Hatchery equips teams with resources to move projects from concept to implementation. Along with funding, students gain access to shared workspaces in the Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering . Each team is also paired with... read more
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
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