- Gradstudents - mailman.cs.vt.edu

PhD defense announcement for Matthew Wilchek
by Luther, Kurt 28 Oct '25

28 Oct '25

Faculty and students, You are cordially invited to the Computer Science PhD defense of Matthew Wilchek. Date/Time: Monday, November 3, 2025, 9:00am ET Location: AB1 room 8402 (Alexandria) or via Zoom: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/83465255902?pwd=uwfDaq7nqeSJBncbRv5VXYHgOMik… Dissertation Title: Human-AI Handshaking: Supporting Extreme Sensemaking through Trustworthy Shared Perception Advisors: Dr. Kurt Luther, Dr. Feras Batarseh (Biological Systems Engineering and CCI) Committee: Dr. Doug Bowman, Dr. Eli Tilevich, Dr. Laura Freeman (National Security Institute), Dr. Wilson Caba (US Army DEVCOM) Abstract: Extreme sensemaking occurs when teams of people must build situational awareness in high-stakes, dynamic environments such as search and rescue, military, or security operations. These contexts are marked by uncertainty, fragmented information, and time-critical decisions that stretch human cognitive and physical limits. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers potential assistance, but distributed AI systems that rely on object detection, such as drone swarms, autonomous vehicles, and large-scale sensor networks, face their own challenges, including fluctuating accuracy, false detections, and fragile resilience under real-world dynamics. This dissertation introduces the "Human-AI Handshake", a novel human-AI interaction technique that incorporates human-in-the-loop (HITL) and crowd-in-the-loop (CITL) components to enhance object detection accuracy and shared perception in distributed systems. The Human-AI Handshake addresses core challenges by combining human feedback with AI model performance to mitigate uncertainties and improve trustworthiness. The foundation of the proposed concept comprises four key components: (1) evaluating HITL concepts for improving computer vision accuracy, (2) enhancing shared perception among distributed AI systems to enable better situational awareness, (3) ensuring AI trustworthiness through a synchronized perception trust framework, and (4) interpreting contextual awareness to help AI systems adapt to diverse, real-time scenarios. The technique is tested in extreme sensemaking applications, including search and rescue, where accurate and reliable object detection is essential. Overall, the Human-AI Handshake provides an assured, scalable solution for improving AI assurance in distributed, dynamic environments, ensuring greater reliability, trust, and performance in critical operations.

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Fw: New GIA Winter Course on Cybersecurity
by Escobar Villatoro, Klaudia 28 Oct '25

28 Oct '25

Forwarding... see below. ________________________________ From: Crist, Kelly <kcrist(a)vt.edu> Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 12:52 PM To: Kinder, Sharon <skpotter(a)vt.edu>; Escobar Villatoro, Klaudia <kescobar10(a)vt.edu> Subject: Fw: New GIA Winter Course on Cybersecurity Dear Sharon and Klaudia I’m not sure if you are the correct contacts, but SPIA would like to share the notice below with Computer Science students, as we think the course may be of interest to them. Would you be able to pass it along, or is there someone else you’d recommend I reach out to? Best regards, Kelly D. Crist Manager, Faculty and Student Affairs School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) | Virginia Tech (540) 231-2291 | kcrist(a)vt.edu | https://spia.vt.edu<https://spia.vt.edu/> she / her / hers Book an appointment here<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/f1d3f9703f9044a88d5cd5037ede463c…>. [cid:80ee42f2-f4be-408e-91e0-f5df72591879] Get social with SPIA: LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/school/vtspia/> <https://www.linkedin.com/school/vtspia/> | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/vtspia/> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/vtspia/?hl=en> My working hours may not be your working hours. Please do not feel obligated to reply outside of your work schedule. ________________________________ From: Crist, Kelly <kcrist(a)vt.edu> Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 3:01 PM To: BBurg MPA (bburg_mpa_internal_list-g(a)vt.edu) <bburg_mpa_internal_list-g(a)vt.edu>; BBurg PAPA PHD (cpap_bburg_phd_internal_list-g(a)vt.edu) <cpap_bburg_phd_internal_list-g(a)vt.edu>; MURP_All (uap_masters-g(a)vt.edu) <uap_masters-g(a)vt.edu>; NCR MPA (cpap_novampa_students-g(a)vt.edu) <cpap_novampa_students-g(a)vt.edu>; NCR PAPA PHD (cpap_novaphd_students-g(a)vt.edu) <cpap_novaphd_students-g(a)vt.edu>; pgg-g(a)vt.edu <pgg-g(a)vt.edu>; Richmond MPA (cpap_richmondmpa_students-g(a)vt.edu) <cpap_richmondmpa_students-g(a)vt.edu>; Virtual MPA <cpap_virtualmpa_students-g-g(a)vt.edu>; mpia_masters-g(a)vt.edu <mpia_masters-g(a)vt.edu> Subject: New GIA Winter Course on Cybersecurity Dear SPIA students, New Government and International Affairs (GIA) full-time faculty, Professor Aaron Brantly<https://experts.vt.edu/6185-aaron-brantly/about> will be teaching a new winter course: GIA/PSCI 6124 Topics in Security Studies: Cybersecurity (3 credits). The CRN for the GIA section is 40212, and the CRN for the PSCI section is 40216. This synchronous, virtual course will take place from Mondays to Fridays, from 9:00 am-12:45 pm. It starts on December 26 and ends on Jan. 16. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about pressing cyber policy issues. Best wishes, Giselle Datz Associate Professor and Chair Government and International Affairs School of Public and International Affairs Virginia Tech Arlington, VA [cid:b85be30d-6926-498d-bee4-a63762ad0a2c]

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Mid-Semester Wellness Resources: Squish Your Stress
by Johnson, Paige 24 Oct '25

24 Oct '25

[cid:image001.png@01DC44FF.060851B0] Virginia Tech | Department of Computer Science Student Services Torgersen Hall, Suite 1160 620 Drillfield Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061

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FW: Please share: 2025 Fall Fluid Mechanics Symposium Abstracts are due on Monday, October 27
by Kinder, Sharon 24 Oct '25

24 Oct '25

On behalf of Dr. Mark Stremler and Dr. Mark Paul: Abstracts for the 2025 Fall Fluid Mechanics Symposium<https://me.vt.edu/news/briefs/ffms-2025.html> are due on Monday, October 27. Please also register by November 2 (for free!) if you are planning to attend so that we can prepare properly for the provided breakfast and lunch. We look forward to seeing you there! https://www.ffms.me.vt.edu<https://www.ffms.me.vt.edu/> Please feel free to pass along this announcement to anyone at Virginia Tech who may be interested in attending or presenting. Mark Stremler Mark Paul ********************************************************************* Renee Renee Cloyd | Engineering Mechanics Graduate Program Coordinator Virginia Tech | Department of Mechanical Engineering 225-B Norris Hall | 495 Old Turner Street, Blacksburg, VA 24061 | MC 0220 540.231.1643 | rcloyd(a)vt.edu<mailto:rcloyd@vt.edu> | Renee's Zoom Office<https://virginiatech.zoom.us/my/rcloyd> Advising appointments for Engineering Mechanics students and Accelerated Masters Program: https://vt.campus.eab.com/pal/CbfxJvGaTp Pronouns: she, her, hers Positivity, Adaptability, Woo, Developer, Achiever -- 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/MN2PR05M…<https://groups.google.com/a/vt.edu/d/msgid/coe-grad-coordinators-g/MN2PR05M…>. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/a/vt.edu/d/optout.

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Time Sensitive! CS|Source: Events, Announcements, and Opportunities
by Hodge, Julie 22 Oct '25

22 Oct '25

[cid:image002.png@01DC4334.6BF83020] Entrepreneurship and Computing Seminar Series -TOMORROW!! CS/Root, (the hub for computer science entrepreneurship at Virginia Tech) is pleased to announce we are hosting a talk from Dr. Srinidhi Varadarajan. We invite you to attend if you are interested in startups and/or in learning how research can be successfully transitioned into practice. Please see the details below, along with the attached seminar announcement. Seminar Title: Have an idea ? Profit Date and Time: October 23rd, 2025, 2pm Location: 1100 Torgersen Speaker Bio: Dr. Srinidhi Varadarajan has more than two decades of experience architecting and building security products, virtualization platforms, advanced networks, high-performance computing environments, scalable file systems, and storage subsystems. He is currently the Co-Founder and Chief of Cyber Intelligence at Elastio. His industry career includes being Founder and CTO of Cloudistics (acquired by Fungible, Microsoft), Founder and CTO of AppAssure (acquired by Dell), Founder and CTO of Librato (acquired by SolarWinds), and the founder and chief architect of SilverDraft Supercomputing. He also served as VP and General Manager of the Data Protection business at Dell after the acquisition of AppAssure. Previously, Srinidhi was an Associate Professor of Computer Science and the founding Director of the Systems Center at Virginia Tech. Srinidhi is the architect of System X supercomputer at Virginia Tech (built-in collaboration with Apple) - ranked # 3 in the world in 2003. He received the NSF Career Award for Internet-scale network modeling and was honored by MIT Technology Review as one of the top 100 (TR100) young innovators transforming technology. He was also named by HPCWire as one of the top researchers in the field of supercomputing. Srinidhi received his Doctorate in Computer Science from Stony Brook, specializing in computer networks. Join us for the MEng Information & Application Workshop (CSA & CPE) programs We will be hosting a short, practical MEng Information & Application Workshop for the CSA and CPE programs Date/Time: Wed, Nov 5 @ 7:00 pm | Location: Torg 1100 * Seniors-There is still time to apply and double count courses for Spring 2026! * Juniors-This is the perfect time to work on your application and get ready to submit next semester. * Sophomores-It is not too early to attend and learn more about the MEng and how to double count courses. Learn how to complete your MEng application, double count up to 12 credits, and explore project-based graduate options that fit your career goals and meet with your Graduate Academic Advisor, Rebecca Stevenson. She will be there to answer coursework questions and assist you with the Course Designation Form. Please see attached announcement. Click here to register: https://applyto.graduateschool.vt.edu/register/?id=f17e53f5-8290-4aaf-afc2-… Deutsche Bank Technology Learn more about career and internship opportunities with Deutsche Bank by exploring the information located here: : https://careers.db.com/students-graduates/index?language_id=1#/graduate/<https://careers.db.com/students-graduates/index?language_id=1%23/graduate/>

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Happening Today at 4pm GLC Room F
by Kinder, Sharon 22 Oct '25

22 Oct '25

From: Graduate and Professional Student Senate <gpss-resc(a)vt.edu> Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 10:22 AM Subject: Could you please share this with your graduate students? This happening today at 4pm! Free Panera will be available: [cid:image001.png@01DC4340.AEB3D020] [A poster for a movie night AI-generated content may be incorrect.] GPSS Executive Board [cid:image003.png@01DC4340.AEB3D020] President | Pooja Bhagawat Vice President | Gyang Chung Director of Advocacy | Poulomi Dey Director of Events | Brian Chan Director of Programs | Megan Grey Director of Finance | Kelsey Jennings Director of Communications | Taylor Peele Advisor | Lauren Surface www.gpss.vt.edu<http://www.gpss.vt.edu/> | gpss(a)vt.edu<mailto:gpss@vt.edu> | Instagram: @VTGPSS<https://www.instagram.com/vtgpss/>

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Ombuds Forum: Navigating Expectations as a Graduate Student
by Eli Tilevich 22 Oct '25

22 Oct '25

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- This happening today at 4pm! Free Panera will be available: GPSS Executive Board President | Pooja Bhagawat Vice President | Gyang Chung Director of Advocacy | Poulomi Dey Director of Events | Brian Chan Director of Programs | Megan Grey Director of Finance | Kelsey Jennings Director of Communications | Taylor Peele Advisor | Lauren Surface <http://www.gpss.vt.edu/> www.gpss.vt.edu | <mailto:gpss@vt.edu> gpss(a)vt.edu | Instagram: <https://www.instagram.com/vtgpss/> @VTGPSS

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Seminar Talk: Friday, October 24, 2:30-3:45pm, Classroom Building, 260
by Zier, Debbie 22 Oct '25

22 Oct '25

Sehrish Basir Nizamani Collegiate Assistant Professor of Computer Science Virginia Tech Friday, October 24, 2025 2:30 - 3:45pm Classroom Building, room 260 Seminar: Unboxing the Black Box: Integrating LLMs into Learning and Usability Evaluation Abstract: In an era where Large Language Model (LLM) can produce polished answers faster than students can think through them, the value of education must shift from output to understanding. As educators, our challenge is not to prohibit use of LLM but to guide students toward discerning and responsible use of it. In teaching computer science, we’ve seen students swing between over-trusting and dismissing LLMs, often lacking the nuanced judgment to know when to rely on an output and when to double-check it. To bridge this gap, we are redesigning our curriculum to help students uncover the logic and limits of these systems, cultivating habits of verification, reflection, and informed reliance rather than blind trust. Our early findings suggest that students who understand how LLMs work tend to view them more as assistants than as experts. I will begin by sharing insights from this curricular redesign and how it has shaped students’ understanding of LLM as a learning partner rather than a shortcut. LLM’s influence extends far beyond the classroom. It is transforming how we design, test, and create across every stage of the computing process. Tasks that once demanded manual expertise are now being reimagined through the lens of automation and intelligent assistance. In usability engineering, for instance, processes that traditionally required detailed human observation, such as identifying design flaws or evaluating interfaces, are increasingly supported by LLMs. What was once a time-intensive, human-centered cycle is now evolving into a hybrid workflow where LLM performs preliminary analyses, freeing experts to focus on deeper interpretation and refinement. In this seminar, I will also reflect on preliminary findings from several ongoing studies, including how LLMs perform when tasked with identifying usability issues directly from code during development, how they can be used to analyze classroom dynamics, and how persona diversity influences LLM-driven usability evaluations. Bio: Dr. Sehrish Basir Nizamani is a Collegiate Assistant Professor of Computer Science and a Faculty Affiliate at the Center for Human-Computer Interaction and the Center for Future Work Places and Practices at Virginia Tech. Her research lies at the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Digital Education. She is particularly interested in how Large Language Models (LLMs) are reshaping both education and interaction design. Her current work explores the integration of LLMs into undergraduate computing courses to foster critical thinking, ethical reflection, and collaborative problem-solving. In parallel, she investigates how LLMs can be applied across various HCI phases to enhance interface design and user experiences. Her ongoing projects also examine the use of LLMs to evaluate classroom dynamics, focusing on posture, spatial layout, and engagement in smart learning environments. Dr. Nizamani has authored and reviewed numerous research papers published in national and international journals and conferences. Additionally, she has played key roles in organizing conferences, including her current position as Chair of ACM CAPWIC 2026. ________________________ Debbie Zier Administrative Assistant and Office Manager Department of Computer Science (0106) 3160E Torgersen Hall 620 Drillfield Drive Blacksburg, VA 24061 541-231-1369

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Entrepreneurship and Computing Seminar Series: Srinidhi Varadarajan, October 23th 2pm.
by Kantarcioglu, Murat 22 Oct '25

22 Oct '25

Dear All, As part of the CS/Root, the hub for computer science entrepreneurship at Virginia Tech, Entrepreneurship and Computing Seminar Series, we are hosting a talk from Dr. Srinidhi Varadarajan. We invite you to attend if you are interested in startups and/or in learning how research can be successfully transitioned into practice. Please see the details below, along with the attached seminar announcement. Seminar Title: Have an idea ? Profit Date and Time: October 23rd, 2025, 2pm Location: 1100 Torgersen Speaker Bio: Dr. Srinidhi Varadarajan has more than two decades of experience architecting and building security products, virtualization platforms, advanced networks, high-performance computing environments, scalable file systems, and storage subsystems. He is currently the Co-Founder and Chief of Cyber Intelligence at Elastio. His industry career includes being Founder and CTO of Cloudistics (acquired by Fungible, Microsoft), Founder and CTO of AppAssure (acquired by Dell), Founder and CTO of Librato (acquired by SolarWinds), and the founder and chief architect of SilverDraft Supercomputing. He also served as VP and General Manager of the Data Protection business at Dell after the acquisition of AppAssure. Previously, Srinidhi was an Associate Professor of Computer Science and the founding Director of the Systems Center at Virginia Tech. Srinidhi is the architect of System X supercomputer at Virginia Tech (built-in collaboration with Apple) - ranked # 3 in the world in 2003. He received the NSF Career Award for Internet-scale network modeling and was honored by MIT Technology Review as one of the top 100 (TR100) young innovators transforming technology. He was also named by HPCWire as one of the top researchers in the field of supercomputing. Srinidhi received his Doctorate in Computer Science from Stony Brook, specializing in computer networks. Best Regards, Murat ==================================== Murat Kantarcioglu, Ph.D. Professor, and CCI Faculty Fellow Virginia Tech, Department of Computer Science www.kantarcioglu.net ====================================

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Managing [Financial] Crises tonight
by asirles＠vt.edu 21 Oct '25

21 Oct '25

The content of this message was lost. It was probably cross-posted to multiple lists and previously handled on another list.

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