January 2025 - Gradstudents - mailman.cs.vt.edu

CS Graduate Program Newsletter: February Edition
by Eli Tilevich 31 Jan '25

31 Jan '25

Dear all, We are excited to share the February edition of the Computer Science Graduate Program Newsletter, a monthly publication of the Graduate Program Office. Best regards, Dr. T. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Eli Tilevich, Ph.D. Professor and Associate Dept. Head for Graduate Studies Gilbert Place #4204 Dept. of Computer Science Virginia Tech Zoom: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/my/tilevich (540) 231-3475 http://people.cs.vt.edu/~tilevich

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CS Faculty Candidate Seminars, February 3-6
by Zier, Debbie 31 Jan '25

31 Jan '25

CS Faculty Candidate Seminars, February 3 - 6 ALL Seminars are 9:30 - 10:30am in 1100 Torgersen Hall Monday, February 3: Weiyu Liu Seminar: Building Robots with Commonsense Knowledge<https://website.cs.vt.edu/research/Seminars/Weiyu_Liu.html> Wednesday, February 5: Akbar Rafiey Seminar: Responsible and Data Driven Combinatorial Optimization<https://website.cs.vt.edu/research/Seminars/Akbar_Rafiey.html> Thursday, February 6: Eric Pauley Seminar: Leveraging the Wisdom of Clouds for Internet Safety<https://website.cs.vt.edu/research/Seminars/Eric_Pauley.html> Have a great weekend! Debbie _________________ Debbie Zier Executive Assistant and Office Manager Department of Computer Science (0106) 1180 Torgersen Hall 620 Drillfield Drive Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-1369 [cid:image001.jpg@01DB73F3.C0444B70]

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Reminder: CS Grad Council Meeting Tomorrow - January 29, 12 PM
by Ibn Arif, Kazi Hasan 29 Jan '25

29 Jan '25

Hi Everyone, This is a quick reminder about our next CS Grad Council meeting on Wednesday, January 29, at 12 PM in Gilbert Place (4th floor, Room 4001). We will discuss some ongoing issues, share updates from the council reps and GPSS reps, and talk about upcoming events in the Spring semester. Can’t make it in person? You can join via Zoom: Zoom Link<https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/87009667028>. Looking forward to seeing you there! Best, Hasan Secretary, CSGC 2024-25 -- Kazi Hasan Ibn Arif PhD Student at Virginia Tech Dept. of Computer Science LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kazi-hasan-ibn-arif-8b78a61a3?utm_source=share&…> | Google Scholar<https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=3OhNWLcAAAAJ&hl=en>

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Call for paper for the workshop LLanMER 2025
by Meng, Na 28 Jan '25

28 Jan '25

Hi all, We are excited to announce that we are organizing The First International Workshop on Large Language Model-Oriented Empirical Research (LLanMER 2025)! This workshop will be co-located with the top-tier software engineering conference FSE 2025 in Trondheim, Norway. The workshop date will be June 26th or 27th (tentative). This workshop intends to provide a venue for researchers and practitioners to share ideas, discuss obstacles as well as challenges in LLM-oriented empirical research, brainstorm solutions, and establish collaborations to define reliable LLM-oriented empirical methodologies in cost-efficient ways. The paper submission deadline is Feb 25th. More information can be found on the workshop website https://llanmer.github.io/. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Best regards, Na Meng, Xiaoyin Wang, Chris Brown Organization Committee, LLanMER

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FW: COE Master's Commencement Information
by Kinder-Potter, Sharon 27 Jan '25

27 Jan '25

From: Langford, Becky <guynn(a)vt.edu> Sent: Monday, January 27, 2025 10:42 AM To: coe-grad-coordinators-g(a)vt.edu Cc: Matusovich, Holly <matushm(a)vt.edu> Subject: COE Master's Commencement Information Good Morning Graduate Program Coordinators, Please share the following message with your master's students regarding the COE Master's Commencement. As a reminder, master's students who are planning to graduate in May need to apply for their degree in HokieSpa. Thank you! ________________________________ College of Engineering master's students need to register in order to participate in the Spring/May COE Commencement Ceremonies. Invitations and registration instructions will be sent around March 14, 2025 from commencement(a)mail.eng.vt.edu<mailto:commencement@mail.eng.vt.edu> to students who applied for their degree on Hokie Spa<https://www.registrar.vt.edu/graduation-multi-brief/timeline.html> for fall 2024, winter 2025, spring 2025 and summer 2025. The deadline to register will be April 14, 2025. The College of Engineering main website for commencement is located at: https://eng.vt.edu/commencement.html. The COE Master's Commencement will occur on Saturday, May 17, from 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm, in Cassell Coliseum details for the Master's Commencement are located at: https://eng.vt.edu/commencement/masters-commencement-spring-2025.html. Seating for this ceremony is by college not department. * PhD students will not participate in the COE ceremony; they will participate in the Graduate School Ceremony on Wednesday, May 14 from 3-5 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum. This ceremony is organized and planned by the Graduate School. * Washington D.C. Metro Area graduate students have a Graduate School Commencement on Sunday, May 18. This ceremony is organized and planned by the Graduate School. If you have any questions about the Blacksburg based COE commencement ceremonies, please do not hesitate to let me know. Best, Marlena ___________________________________ MARLENA LESTER, PhD | Director of Advising Virginia Tech | College of Engineering Academic Affairs 540-231-2962 | marlenal(a)vt.edu<mailto:marlenal@vt.edu> Rebecca G. Langford, M.Ed. Assistant Director of Graduate and Professional Studies College of Engineering (540) 231-1508 guynn(a)vt.edu<mailto:guynn@vt.edu> [cid:image001.jpg@01DB70AC.924B0F00] -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "COE Grad Coordinators" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coe-grad-coordinators-g+unsubscribe(a)vt.edu<mailto:coe-grad-coordinators-g+unsubscribe@vt.edu>. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/vt.edu/d/msgid/coe-grad-coordinators-g/IA1PR05M…<https://groups.google.com/a/vt.edu/d/msgid/coe-grad-coordinators-g/IA1PR05M…>. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/a/vt.edu/d/optout.

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Important Spring 2025 Reminders: Deadlines, Credit Hours, and Graduation Info
by Coulson, Sara 26 Jan '25

26 Jan '25

CS Graduate Students, Last Day to Add/Drop a Course * Deadline: Monday, January 27th * This is the final day to: * Add a class * Drop a course for a 100% refund For more details, check out the Academic Calendar and the Graduate School’s Dates and Deadlines. ________________________________ Maintaining Full-Time Status * Students on GTA or GRA support must enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours to maintain full-time status. ________________________________ Research Credits If you need to adjust your research credits, refer to this instructional video on How to change credit hours in Add/Drop<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2mJbh1iO_0> Registration Guidance: * PhD Students: * Register for CS 7994 Research and Dissertation. * Important: CS 5994 does not count toward PhD degree requirements. It is only for MS students. * MS Students: * Register for CS 5994 Research and Thesis. ________________________________ Graduation Information Spring 2025 Graduation * Apply for Degree in HokieSpa: April 1 * PhD Final Exam Card Submission to Graduate School (if participating in the ceremony): May 7 * Submit Electronic Thesis or Dissertation (ETD): Two weeks after your Final Exam date Summer 2025 Graduation * Apply for Degree in HokieSpa: August 1 * Final Exam: August 15 * Submit ETD: Two weeks after your Final Exam date For detailed graduation workflows, check out the Graduate School's What you need to Graduate<https://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/what-you-need-to-graduate.html> and Exam Scheduling Workflow<https://graduateschool.vt.edu/content/dam/graduateschool_vt_edu/process/Exa…> ________________________________ If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out. Best, Sara Coulson Director of Graduate Programs | Computer Science Torgersen 3210C 620 Drillfield Drive Blacksburg, VA 24061

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CS Faculty Candidate Seminars, Week of January 27
by Zier, Debbie 24 Jan '25

24 Jan '25

CS Faculty Candidate Seminars for the week of January 27 All Seminars are 9:30-10:30am in 1100 Torgersen Hall Monday, January 27: Homanga Bharadhwaj Seminar: Watch, Predict, Act: Robot Learning Meets Web Videos<https://website.cs.vt.edu/research/Seminars/Homanga_Bharadhwaj.html> Wednesday, January 29: David Smith Seminar: Supporting Novice Programmers in Transitioning into the Age of Human-GenAI Collaborative Coding<https://website.cs.vt.edu/research/Seminars/David_Smith.html> Thank you, Debbie _________________ Debbie Zier Executive Assistant and Office Manager Department of Computer Science (0106) 1180 Torgersen Hall 620 Drillfield Drive Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-1369 [cid:image001.jpg@01DB6E79.84EB4170]

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GPSS Travel Fund Program Info & Deadlines
by Moussad, Bernard 23 Jan '25

23 Jan '25

Hi folks, Just wanted to make sure you were all aware of funding opportunities for travel to conferences via the GPSS Travel Fund Program! Applications for spring travel (April 1-June 30) open on January 27th and close February 17th. Go to this page on January 27th to download the application and apply: https://gpss.vt.edu/programs/tfp.html Sincerely, Bernard Moussad PhD student CS@VT

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TRAVEL CHANGE: The UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
by Teresa Hall 23 Jan '25

23 Jan '25

PLEASE READ EVERYTHING BELOW! This is NOT something I can assist with. The United Kingdom is introducing an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system to enhance border security and streamline entry process for travelers. The UK ETA is a digital travel authorization required for visitors from visa exempt countries who wish to enter the United Kingdom. It allows the UK government to screen travelers before they arrive and ensures a smoother entry process. *Required Individuals:* * Non- UK and Non-Irish Citizens: Travelers who are not UK or Irish citizens and do not already require a visa to enter the UK. * Citizens of Visa-Exempt countries: This includes nationals from countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and EU member states. *Implementation Timeline:* * January 8, 2025: ETA requirement begins for non-European nationals, including those from the US and Australia. * April 2, 2025: ETA requirement extends to European visitors. *How to Apply:* * Online Application: Complete the application through the UK government's official platform or via the UK ETA app, available on the App Store or Google Play *Information Required:* * Valid passport (will need to upload or take photos) * Face of person applying (will need to take photo) * Personal details, including contact information * Access to your email *Processing Time: * * Typically, decisions are provided within 3 working days. * Travelers are advised to apply well in advance of their trip. *Cost:* * Fee: £10 (GBP) per applicant (reimbursable in the trip expense report). * Payment Methods: credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay * Non-Refundable: The fee is not refundable after application submission. *Duration and Validity:* * Stay Duration: Allows stays of up to 6 months for tourism, business or family visits. * Validity: The ETA is valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. *Entry Requirements with an ETA: * * An ETA is not a visa. Travelers must still meet standard entry requirements, such as showing proof of sufficient funds, accommodation, and the purpose of their visit. *Exemptions:* * Irish Citizens: Do not require an ETA. * Existing UK Visas or Residence Permits: Individuals with valid UK visas or residence permits are exempt. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, refer to the official UK government website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta -- *Teresa Hall** **Fiscal Technician* Virginia Tech| Department of Computer Science Torgersen Hall, 1180E (0106) 620 Drillfield Drive Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-8454 | teresa(a)vt.edu <mailto:teresa@vt.edu> Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, &Thursday Telework:Tuesday &Friday __

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Invitation to participate in a research survey: The Imposter Phenomenon in CS
by Farghally, Mohammed 22 Jan '25

22 Jan '25

Dear CS grad students, The Imposter Phenomenon (IP), has been documented to be a common phenomenon in high-achieving individuals. IP has been particularly well studied in higher education, with students, staff, and faculty all identified as having high incidences of IP. Given the long-standing and yet ongoing issues with minority representation in computing, the IP is a particular issue, as it may be particularly prevalent in minority groups and exacerbate the problem of retaining minority individuals in the field. In collaboration with the university of Toronto, our aim in this project is to understand how CS graduate students experience the Imposter Phenomenon. We invite you to participate in the study by responding to the survey accessible from this link. https://rotman.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7OiS6NcqOP4VTVQ This study is IRB approved (IRB # 24-1117). If you have any question about the study, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. Thank you! -- _____________________________________ Mohammed F. Farghally, Ph.D. Collegiate Assistant Professor Virginia Tech | Department of Computer Science 1220B Torgersen Hall, Blacksburg, VA, 24061 mfseddik(a)vt.edu<mailto:mfseddik@vt.edu> | (540) 231 - 6044 http://people.cs.vt.edu/mfseddik [https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4xqud6nkWyvhmhp7aVBEgn5o8KH…]

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