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NSF Renews Research Funding for CS Faculty

无忧视频 computer science professors George Monta帽ez and Lucas Bang have received National Science Foundation (NSF) funding for a renewal of the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site at 无忧视频.

Focusing on computer systems, with an eye toward search, artificial intelligence and data science, the REU brings the most compelling aspects of graduate school to a 10-week summer program where HMC students and faculty work as peers on stimulating research questions. Academic and recreational group activities create a strong common-cohort experience. The program develops research ability, improves presentation skills and nurtures student interest in research-related careers. In August 2019, the Computer Science Department completed its fifth three-year REU at HMC and Monta帽ez and Bang are eager to continue the site for another three years.

鈥淥ur REU site encourages students to pursue graduate work in computer science by providing a microcosm of (the best of) the graduate-school research experience. In addition, we aspire to provide our students with the skills and confidence necessary to succeed in graduate school,鈥� says Monta帽ez.

The program goals are to build a sense of joy and empowerment for doing computer science research and graduate study; expose students to the entire research process (literature survey, problem identification, ethical considerations, investigative work and preparation of publishable results); engage all students in developing significant research contributions; and develop excellent teamwork skills as well as oral and written communication skills.

鈥淢embers of the Computer Science Department have learned a great deal through our first five REUs,鈥� says Bang. 鈥淥ur evidence strongly suggests that all our participants found the program to be beneficial, stimulating鈥攁nd even joyful!鈥�

The REU site involves 10 students each summer for a 10-week period. To foster a strong cohort experience, students work in groups of two or three with an experienced faculty mentor. Each group gives three to four presentations on their research during the summer.

鈥淥ur 鈥榳hole-experience鈥� approach provides students with an understanding of research that
is more exciting, compelling and accurate than providing each student with a prepackaged research problem or adding undergraduates as 鈥榚xtra hands鈥� to existing research tasks,鈥� Monta帽ez says. 鈥淚n particular, our approach provides students with a strong sense of investment in鈥攁nd ownership of鈥攖he work that they do, and a better sense of both the joys and challenges involved in real research.鈥�

鈥淲e are excited to build atop past REUs鈥� strengths while addressing areas which provide
opportunity for improvement and experimentation,鈥� says Bang.