- Gradstudents - mailman.cs.vt.edu

Graduating this semester?
by Roxanne Paul 02 Feb '21

02 Feb '21

Dear CS graduate students, We hope your semester is going well. This email is addressed to those of you who are planning to graduate this semester. If you are not planning to graduate this semester, you can either delete or look it over for future reference. We will be sending out a similar email in the fall. If you are planning to graduate this semester, the first thing you need to have is an approved Plan of Study. If you have not submitted a Plan of Study to Sharon, Samantha or Roxanne, please contact us as soon as possible*. *If you do already have an approved Plan of Study or are not sure, go into HokieSpa and look under Degree Menu-Graduate Students-Plan of Study. This will tell you if you have an approved POS. You should look it over to make sure it is still accurate. If you need to make a change of a class or a committee member, please contact Sharon, Samantha or Roxanne, depending on your campus and degree (see list at bottom). If you do have an approved POS, then you need to *Apply for Degree* by *March 1*. You also do this in HokieSpa under Degree Menu-Graduate Students-Application for Degree. Please visit this web page on the Graduate School website https://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/degree_completion_faqs.html and take a look at the “What do I need to receive my degree?” list. Please make note of the Dates & Deadlines page. If you are an MEng student, you will receive more information about scheduling your final exam in March. For MEng students, there is no actual exam required but you still need to schedule a time for it per Graduate School requirements. Samantha will provide you with that information in early March. MS students need to schedule their final exam for May 12 at latest and submit their thesis by May 28. PhD students need to schedule their final exam by March 26 at latest, if they want to participate in Commencement. If they don’t wish to participate in Commencement, the deadlines are the same as for MS students. Final exams are scheduled in ESS (Electronic Signature System) at https://ess.graduateschool.vt.edu/pages/login.php . *You must schedule your final exam at least 2 weeks before the date of the exam*. This allows the Graduate School and the committee members time to formally approve the date and later send in the results (Pass or Fail) of the exam. If you are a thesis student and find near the end of the semester that you cannot finish on time, you do have the option of the SSDE (Start of the Semester Defense Exception), if you are certain you can defend within the first 5 weeks of the spring semester. You can learn more about this option at the degree completion web page listed above. We know this is a lot to read and digest. Please let Samantha, Sharon or Roxanne know if you are planning to graduate this semester and we will answer any questions you may have. Good luck and congratulations on your upcoming graduation. *All MEng students: *Samantha Pipkin samanthap(a)vt.edu *Blacksburg MS & PhD students: *Sharon Kinder-Potter skpotter(a)vt.edu *NCR MS & PhD Students: *Roxanne Paul roxpaul(a)vt.edu Roxanne Nersesian Paul Administrative & Program Specialist Computer Science and Electrical & Computer Engineering Northern Virginia Center 7054 Haycock Road, Room 312A Falls Church, VA 22043 703-538-8370 roxpaul(a)vt.edu

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a Feb 18 CCI seminar on usable security/privacy
by Daphne Yao 02 Feb '21

02 Feb '21

Just FYI. Prof. Lorrie Cranor is a great speaker. Need to register. https://cyberinitiative.org/events/2021/human-side-seminar-series-lorrie-cr… [image: image.png] Best, Daphne Yao Professor Elizabeth and James E. Turner Jr. '56 Faculty Fellow CACI Faculty Fellow Department of computer science Virginia Tech http://yaogroup.cs.vt.edu/ https://twitter.com/yaogroup1

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COVES Fellowship
by Cliff Shaffer 02 Feb '21

02 Feb '21

>From the grad school: *COVES Fellowship Applications Now Open* Interested graduate students may apply for the Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) summer fellowship until March 1. The COVES Fellowship is a 12-week full-time summer fellowship program (May 17-August 6) operated by the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine (the Academy) and open to STEM graduate students. According to the Academy, the aim of the program is to strengthen ties between the scientific community and Virginia’s state government, and to encourage and train more scientists and engineers to be effective advisors for public policy and programs in the Commonwealth. During the program, fellows will receive training in science policy and science communication, spend time in legislative offices, executive agencies companies or nonprofits in the state, and will be paired with an Academy mentor and involved in briefings, meetings and the Academy’s annual summit in August. The program begins with a week-long boot camp on science policy, governance and policy making in Virginia. Thereafter, fellows spend their time with the entity with which they are matched, and also are paired with a mentor. The program includes a stipend. The Graduate School will submit three finalists for the fellowship program to the Academy, which will then choose one to represent the university in the program. The Academy will hold two information sessions in February 2021 about the fellowship program. Both are virtual and registration is required: *Info Session #1: *Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021 at 3 p.m*. *Register in advance for this meeting with this link <https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIrcO-urDsqHtEw5lnU0L8AaAkuzz4aTVqK>. *Info Session #2: *Monday, Feb. 8, 2021 at 4 p.m*. *Register in advance for this meeting with this link <https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUkfuivrzIqGN026dVsxRflbi5rU69G04iI>. To learn more about the program and to access the application materials, visit the COVES Fellowship webpag <https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-sponsored-by…>e on the Graduate School website. The application deadline is March 1. -- Dr. Cliff Shaffer Professor and Associate Department Head for Graduate Studies Department of Computer Science Phone: (540) 231-4354 Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 WWW: www.cs.vt.edu/~shaffer

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Fwd: Accepting Proposals - 2021 Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant
by Cliff Shaffer 02 Feb '21

02 Feb '21

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Microsoft Research Grants <msrgrant(a)microsoft.com> Date: Mon, Feb 1, 2021 at 8:17 PM Subject: Accepting Proposals - 2021 Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant To: shaffer(a)vt.edu <shaffer(a)vt.edu> As someone in the academic community, we are reaching out to let you know we are accepting proposals for the 2021 Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant through *March 22, 2021*. You can read more about the grant and find instructions to submit a proposal on our website: Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant <https://aka.ms/dissertation-grant-arap>. We encourage you to share this announcement within your communities either directly with your student and faculty contacts, via topically relevant email lists, or on social media: Twitter <https://aka.ms/twitter-2021-dissertation-grant-arap>, Facebook <https://aka.ms/facebook-2021-dissertation-grant-arap>, and Instagram <https://aka.ms/instagram-2021-dissertation-grant-arap>. Broadening participation in computing is a core part of Microsoft's values; accordingly, we are excited to continue the Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant that aims to recognize and support diverse doctoral students as they complete their dissertation research in computing-related fields. This grant is open to doctoral students in their fourth year or beyond at universities in the United States and Canada, who are underrepresented in the field of computing. This includes those who self-identify as a woman, African American, Black, Hispanic, Latinx, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and/or person with a disability. The program allows students to submit a proposal of up to $25,000 USD to support their dissertation research; grant recipients can also participate in a two-day career workshop later this year. For questions, please contact Microsoft Research Grants: msrgrant(a)microsoft.com. For more information on our offerings for students and faculty visit our Academic Programs <https://aka.ms/academic-programs-arap> page. Sincerely, Meredith Ringel Morris & Bongshin Lee Chairs, Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant *Unsubscribe* <msrgrant(a)microsoft.com?subject=Unsubscribe%20from%20Grant%20Program%20Emails>* | **Privacy Statement* <https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/privacystatement> *Microsoft Corporation* *One Microsoft Way* *Redmond, WA 98052* -- Dr. Cliff Shaffer Professor and Associate Department Head for Graduate Studies Department of Computer Science Phone: (540) 231-4354 Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 WWW: www.cs.vt.edu/~shaffer

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seminars Feb 2 and 3
by Cal Ribbens 01 Feb '21

01 Feb '21

CS Grad students, There are two seminars scheduled this week. Tuesday, 9:30 am Ahmed Saeed (MIT) "Building Scalable Network Stacks for Modern Applications" abstract: https://cs.vt.edu/News/Seminars/AhmedSaeed.html zoom: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/87132658506?pwd=VEhLbDVuTmJXbE5VTC9YemF4aVpX… Wednesday, 9:30 am, Jonathan Kummerfeld (Michigan) "You Are What You Train On: Creating Robust Natural Language Interfaces" abstract: https://cs.vt.edu/News/Seminars/JonathanKummerfeld.html zoom: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/84383014227?pwd=c3UrdGdpMFJ4c21PMnJjWnZ1N1VO… Regards, Dr. R. -- Head, Department of Computer Science Virginia Tech https://cs.vt.edu/People/Faculty/cal-ribbens.html https://twitter.com/CalRibbens_VTCS

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CS Grad Council Meeting Schedule: Thursdays_17:00
by Shakiba Davari 01 Feb '21

01 Feb '21

Dear CS Grad Students, Hope all is well and the new semester is off to a good start. I am sending this email to invite you, the CS graduate students at VT,(Blacksburg, NVC, PhD, MS, MENG, ...] to our first graduate council meeting of 2021. Based on the Doodle poll, the time with most attendance that can include all E-board members is Thursdays at 5 PM. Let's have our first council meeting of 2021 this coming Thursday. What: Graduate Council Meeting <https://csgrad.cs.vt.edu/meetings/#Regularmeetings> When: Thu, Feb 4th 2021 Time: 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM Where: Zoom. Please access the link from the Calendar Event <https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=dnQuZWR1X240bnQ0aGdlNTBrdjdqajFjZD…> The meeting minutes from previous meetings and the agenda for the next meeting will be available in the related folder <https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1ya-o4jvaaPcKaQBRfqqi8XhPz-MWR1uB> on Grad council's GDrive <https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B0b9Zb_kmZenbG1VTnhadTNHVDg?usp=sha…> . The regular bi-weekly grad council meetings are usually 1 hour long. *Please keep in mind, *as an exception, we will have meetings both this and the next week. After that we will be on the regular once every two week schedule. If there are any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. Looking forward to seeing you this Thursday. --- PS1. You can get more information about the grad council from our website <https://csgrad.cs.vt.edu/>. PS2. Add the Grad Council Calendar <https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=dnQuZWR1X240bnQ0aGdlNTBrdjdqajFjZD…> so you don't miss any of our meetings or events. *Stay Healthy and Happy,* *Shakiba Davari* *Ph.D. Student, **3D-Interaction Group, **Computer Science**, * *Virginia Tech* *President, Computer Science Graduate Council <https://csgrad.cs.vt.edu/>* *, * *Virginia Tech* *Pronoun: She/her * *E-mail <sdavari(a)vt.edu> | Website <https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/sdavari>| 3DI-Lab <https://research.cs.vt.edu/3di/> *

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CS|Source Spring 2021 Career Fair Events
by britf91＠vt.edu 01 Feb '21

01 Feb '21

Hi Students, CS|Source career fair events begin a week! Please be sure to get your resume ready and uploaded into Handshake. You'll also need it when you register for the career fair event on Brazen. We have an outstanding group of employers excited to meet you! Events are all virtual through the Brazen and Zoom platforms and you can join with any device. As you prepare, here are some key reminders and resources: Click <https://cs.vt.edu/cs-source/cs-source-events.html> CS|Source to find schedules and helpful information. Click "For students" and under Helpful Links, see two videos with tips for virtual events. Research companies!! Before you talk with any employers make sure you know something about them. Ask questions from the information you've learned on their profiles. Research employers at <https://www.cs-source.cs.vt.edu/assnfe/CompanySearch.asp?MODE=FINDMEMBERS> CS|Source Member Directory. Regretfully, these member companies will be unable to attend the career fair, but will be connecting with students during the semester: Deutsche Bank, Ford Motor Company, Simon Computing, and WillowTree. Student registration for the career fair will begin on Wednesday, February 3. Registration links will follow. Please note, registrations are not interest lists - we need to know if you're actually planning to attend so we and employers can make final preparations. Please use your VT email on all sign-ups and registrations. Update your resume on <https://career.vt.edu/job-search/Handshake/handshake-student-info.html> Handshake by Monday, February 2 to provide employers with enough time to review. Information Sessions also begin this week. Use the links below to register for these events. Please only register if you plan to attend. Company Session Sign up Links: CoStar Group - Monday February 01, 2021 from 12:00pm-1:00pm https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwrcOGgqT0oEtWRgyexUbOmM1ROFP 6peb8s Deloitte - Networking Tips and Tricks with Deloitte - Monday February 01, 2021 from 6:00pm-7:00pm https://deloitte.zoom.us/j/92246707579?pwd=MXgwWTdvYVQ4Z0hMKzltZjlLZldKZz09 Peraton - Friday February 05, 2021 from 12:00pm-1:00pm https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcufuirrj0pHN2zJxx6xOFM5mA8W7 sJ3bVv MITRE - Friday February 05, 2021 from 4:00pm-5:00pm https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0sfumvrTspHd3Rfi-JVsRqQ-Fk09 O_qn9i Bloomberg - Coffee Chat Tuesday, February 2, 2021 from 1:00pm-4:00pm https://tinyurl.com/yaf59acr (you will receive an additional email to select your personal 15-minute time slot) Brazen Resources Brazen support: <https://support.brazenconnect.com> https://support.brazenconnect.com Brazen attendee support: <https://support.brazenconnect.com/hc/en-us/categories/1500000013481-Attende es> https://support.brazenconnect.com/hc/en-us/categories/1500000013481-Attendee s Brazen System Requirements <https://support.brazenconnect.com/hc/en-us/articles/202377628-System-requir ements> Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you, Brittany Rasmussen (Finn) Event Specialist Department of Computer Science 1139 Knowledge Works II 2202 Kraft Drive <https://maps.google.com/?q=225+Stanger+St.+Blacksburg,+VA+24061&entry=gmail &source=g> Blacksburg, VA 24061 Phone: (540) 231-1369

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Virginia Tech researchers garner two major awards in COVID-19 forecasting challenges
by Cal Ribbens 01 Feb '21

01 Feb '21

Congratulations again to the students and faculty of the Sanghani Center who led these challenge submissions. See the article in today's VT News: https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2021/02/virginia-tech-researchers-garner-two… -- Head, Department of Computer Science Virginia Tech https://cs.vt.edu/People/Faculty/cal-ribbens.html https://twitter.com/CalRibbens_VTCS

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[MS/PhD Students] Student Activity Reports and early graduation
by Cliff Shaffer 30 Jan '21

30 Jan '21

Hello! Those of you who have been in the program since at least last Spring will already be familiar with the Student Activity Reports that MS/PhD students fill out around April. For new students, don't worry -- there will be plenty of emails notifying you about the process later this semester! [For MEng students, we are working out the details of how your evaluation process will work.] This email is primarily intended for students who will schedule their final defense earlier than the standard April due date for the SARs. Since we use these in part for program evaluations, we need to make sure that everyone leaves us with a somewhat up-to-date SAR before the leave. So, if you are an MS or PhD student who will be scheduling your final exam this Spring, I will require you to complete your SAR form before I approve the final exam schedule. When you are ready to schedule your exam, please go to gpc.cs.vt.edu and sign in. Then click on the SAR menu at the top, create or edit your SAR. For those of you who have done one in the past, you should just need to update your last version. -- Dr. Cliff Shaffer Professor and Associate Department Head for Graduate Studies Department of Computer Science Phone: (540) 231-4354 Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 WWW: www.cs.vt.edu/~shaffer

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Introducing: Trey Mayo
by Cliff Shaffer 30 Jan '21

30 Jan '21

Hello! I want to introduce and welcome Trey Mayo. His official title is Director of Graduate Programs for the CS Department. He will be assisting Dr. Hooshangi and myself with many aspects of running our various graduate programs, most importantly helping us to plan for and roll out new initiatives. Many of you will interact with him during your time in our department going forward. -- Dr. Cliff Shaffer Professor and Associate Department Head for Graduate Studies Department of Computer Science Phone: (540) 231-4354 Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 WWW: www.cs.vt.edu/~shaffer

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