- Gradstudents - mailman.cs.vt.edu

Wage-position for a computer vision project
by Hooshangi, Sara 06 Aug '24

06 Aug '24

Dear CS graduate students, We are looking to hire a CS graduate student for a wage-based position ($22 per hour, maximum of 20 hours/ week) for a research project. The project will continue over the next 6 to 8 months to help us develop a video-based evaluation system for surgical procedures. We are looking for either an MS (thesis) student looking for a thesis project for this coming academic year or an MEng student with a strong background in ML/Vision looking for a part-time job. Please note that this is not a GRA position, but the research can be used towards an MS thesis. Project Overview: The development of a video-based evaluation system by using computer vision (CV) and machine learning (ML) techniques could help identify critical structures, and target placement in surgical procedures. In this study, we will process surgical videos captured during Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV) procedure to develop an annotation framework and a user guide for proper identification of tools, structural anatomies, and surgical steps. We will then train a series of computer vision models to identify critical anatomic structures and surgical instruments in a given frame and predict the steps of surgery. Required Qualification: Proficiently in Python. Good working knowledge of ML principles. Knowledge of image processing techniques and computer vision, in particular segmentation, tracking and object detection in videos. Preferred Qualification: Prior work with openCV, vision transformers. Previous work with common libraries used for object detection, and segmentation modeling. How to Apply: Please complete this google form: https://forms.gle/RLrX998dvKKqszT4A Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, until the position is filled. Qualified applications will be contacted with next-steps instruction. Thanks ---------------------------------- Sara Hooshangi, Ph.D. Collegiate Associate Professor Director, MEng Program Department of Computer Science Virginia Tech

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Kylie Davidson's PhD defense
by Bowman, Douglas 05 Aug '24

05 Aug '24

CS colleagues, You are invited to join us for the final PhD defense of Kylie Davidson, tomorrow at 3 PM. All the details are below. Best, Doug Sensemaking in Immersive Space to Think: Exploring Evolution, Expertise, Familiarity, and Organizational Strategies Ph.D. defense of Kylie Davidson August 6, 2024 3:00-5:00 PM Data and Decision Sciences building, room 132 https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/83219440909?pwd=3WV6tDRvXXsrW33bJ7XsLg1VSD4I… Sensemaking is the way in which we understand the world around us. Pirolli and Card developed a sensemaking model related to intelligence analysis, which involves taking raw, unstructured data, analyzing it, and presenting a report of the findings. With lower-cost immersive technologies becoming more popular, new opportunities exist to leverage embod- ied and distributed cognition to better support sensemaking by providing vast, immersive space for creating meaningful schemas (organizational structures) during an analysis task. This work builds on prior work in immersive analytics on the concept of Immersive Space to Think (IST), which provides analysts with immersive space to physically navigate and use to organize information during a sensemaking task. In this work, we performed several studies that aimed to understand how IST supports sensemaking and how we can develop additional features to better aid analysts while they complete sensemaking in immersive an- alytics systems, focusing on non-quantitative data analysis. In a series of exploratory user studies, we aimed to understand how users’ sensemaking process evolves during multiple ses- sion analyses, which identified how the participants refined their use of the immersive space into later stages of the sensemaking process. Another exploratory user study highlighted how professional analysts and novice users share many similarities in immersive analytic tool us- age during sensemaking within IST. In addition to looking at multi-session analysis tasks, we also explored how sensemaking strategies change as users become more familiar with the immersive analytics tool usage in an exploratory study that utilized multiple analysis tasks completed over a series of three user study sessions. Lastly, we conducted a comparative user study to evaluate how the addition of new organizational features, clustering, and linking affect sensemaking within IST. Overall, our studies expanded the IST tool set and gathered an enhanced understanding of how immersive space is utilized during analysis tasks within IST. -- Doug A. Bowman Frank J. Maher Professor, Computer Science Director, Center for Human-Computer Interaction Senior Fellow, Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology Virginia Tech dbowman(a)vt.edu https://wordpress.cs.vt.edu/3digroup/author/dbowman/ Group: https://wordpress.cs.vt.edu/3digroup/ Center: http://hci.vt.edu/ Twitter: @CHCI_VT

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FW: CREATIVITY Online Course (3 CHs) ELECTIVE - grad & undergrad
by Kinder-Potter, Sharon 05 Aug '24

05 Aug '24

This for Grad students if anyone is interested. Sharon From: Matusovich, Holly <matushm(a)vt.edu> Sent: Monday, August 5, 2024 3:04 PM To: coe-grad-coordinators-g(a)vt.edu Subject: FW: CREATIVITY Online Course (3 CHs) ELECTIVE - grad & undergrad Colleagues- This course may be of interest to some of your students so please share if appropriate. Holly M. Matusovich, PhD Associate Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies Professor of Engineering Education 3022 Torgersen Hall Blacksburg, VA 24060 matushm(a)vt.edu<mailto:matushm@vt.edu> she/her/hers Editor-in-Chief for Advances in Engineering Education https://advances.asee.org/ From: McGlothlin Lester, Marlena <marlenal(a)vt.edu<mailto:marlenal@vt.edu>> Sent: Friday, August 2, 2024 10:03 AM To: Stamm, Marcelo <mstamm(a)vt.edu<mailto:mstamm@vt.edu>> Cc: Matusovich, Holly <matushm(a)vt.edu<mailto:matushm@vt.edu>> Subject: RE: CREATIVITY Online Course (3 CHs) ELECTIVE - grad & undergrad Marcelo, Thank you very much for reaching out. It is nice to meet you virtually through email. I will share this with the College of Engineering undergraduate academic advisors who will share it with their students as they deem appropriate. I am also CCing Dr. Holly Matusovich, Associate Dean for Graduate and Professional Studies in the College of Engineering who can share this with graduate program coordinators/graduate students. Have a wonderful day! 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> From: Stamm, Marcelo <mstamm(a)vt.edu<mailto:mstamm@vt.edu>> Sent: Friday, August 2, 2024 9:25 AM To: McGlothlin Lester, Marlena <marlenal(a)vt.edu<mailto:marlenal@vt.edu>> Subject: CREATIVITY Online Course (3 CHs) ELECTIVE - grad & undergrad Dear Marlena, Apologies for the intrusion with mail from Marcelo (Stamm) - Professor in AAD - based in the 'Greater Washington Area' (WAAC) Upon advice from my colleagues in AAD I make contact with you, basically to ask you to consider and kindly forward this missive to all dissemination agents in your College that you deem worthwhile (undergraduate and grad. eligibility) Interdisciplinary Elective on "CREATIVITY" offered fully online this Fall 2024! The course is running under a new WAAC code (in AAD) and allows both for graduate and for undergraduate (!) enrolment - despite being 500 level. * Given that it is fully online, the course is for consideration of Blacksburg students also in the College of Engineering. * Attached a comprehensive description of the course (below the dotted line & also attached to this mail) * Promotional line: "Add the most critical and enduring dimension to your future professional career!" * In case this is not in your portfolio and if you get a minute, let me know who I should best address in the College of Engineering In that spirit , thank you very much in advance, Marlena, for your collegial collaboration. With my very best wishes, Marcelo Stamm Prof. Dr. Marcelo Stamm Washington DC Virginia Tech University University of Calgary (Adjunct) Innovation - Creativity Practice-based Research E-mail: mstamm(a)vt.edu<mailto:mstamm@vt.edu> Phone (US): +1 571 384 0283 Private (US): + 1 202 515 6900 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elective (graduates & undergraduates eligible) Professor Marcelo STAMM (AAD) FALL 2024 - Tuesdays 1.00 - 3.30 pm Title: CREATIVITY - 3 CHs Course Code # ARCH 5134 CRN 92330 Mode: online The course is interdisciplinary by nature and designed for undergraduate and graduate students across diverse fields of study, including the Design Disciplines (3rd, 4th & 5th year, M. Arch thesis students, Urban Design, and Masters students in AAD (School of Architecture, School of Design, School of Visual Arts and School of Performing Arts), but is equally interesting for students from the College of Engineering or from the College of College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. To start with, this creativity course will interrogate common preconceptions regarding creativity. This also means to debunk common creativity myths such as the alleged innate quest for originality and humanity's seeming love of novelty. Through assignments designed as a series of practical exercises and through engagement with select source material we will aim to arrive progressively at a deeper understanding of the creative process and its principles. Contemporary issues such as the "art of invention", "creative problem-solving", "design habits and creativity inhibitors", "creative transformation and its triggers" are at stake. We will scrutinize ways of "fostering conditions of creativity", examine the workings of "creative communities of practice" and critically appraise 'practice routines' and formulaic 'creativity talk' in opposition to the situated and particular 'voice' of the creative individual. The course does not advance through abstract and detached speculations but instead will harness each student's individual creative condition by acknowledging the student as an emergent master in their own right. From that base we will be fostering an interdisciplinary community of emerging masters. For that reason, the exercises in the course are designed to articulate back and forth into each student's maturing design and artistic work as it originates from their emerging practices with particular focus on specific projects (include. Final thesis projects) and/or on the body of work that is starting to surface. The goal is to enhance individual pursuits from a unique 'creativity perspective' which augurs to add a critical enduring dimension to students' future professional careers. Please feel encouraged to contact Professor M. Stamm if interested in taking the course: mstamm(a)vt.edu<mailto:mstamm@vt.edu> Please contact rwsteph(a)vt.edu<mailto:rwsteph@vt.edu> for administrative support Orientation session 1: Tuesday 27th August @ 1 pm (online) Orientation (repeat) session 2: Wednesday 28th August @ 6 pm (online) [cid:image002.jpg@01DAE74A.19956BF0] -- 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 on the web visit https://groups.google.com/a/vt.edu/d/msgid/coe-grad-coordinators-g/CH3PR05M…<https://groups.google.com/a/vt.edu/d/msgid/coe-grad-coordinators-g/CH3PR05M…>. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/a/vt.edu/d/optout.

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Force Add Info – Fall 2024
by Coulson, Sara 05 Aug '24

05 Aug '24

Dear CS Grad Students, We are pleased to announce the launch of a new system for managing force-add requests within the CS Department. All force-add requests will be handled exclusively through the Force-Add Request platform. Please note that faculty members are not authorized to force-add students into their courses. The new system includes a dashboard where you can track the status of your force-add request as it progresses through our process. To ensure efficient processing, we kindly request that you refrain from emailing or calling to inquire about the status of your request. Our goal is to process all requests within 3-4 business days. Each student is responsible for carefully managing their schedule: * Check for Conflicts: Verify that your schedule has no time conflicts before submitting a force-add request. Requests with conflicts will be denied. * Verify for Holds: Ensure that you do not have a hold<https://www.universitystudies.vt.edu/how-to/hdi-hold.html> on your account. * Use Force-Adds Wisely: If you drop a course, you were force-added to, it is unlikely you will be re-added. Additionally, if you are force-added to a section, you will not be moved to a different section later. Our priority is to ensure that you secure the seat you need, and we cannot accommodate schedule changes. Courses at maximum capacity * Courses at maximum capacity will not be included on the form. Please continue to monitor the drop/add period for openings in these courses. * If a course is not listed on the form, it cannot be force-added now. * Please do not email faculty or course instructors for permission to be force-added. Faculty cannot and will not be able to force-add you into a course. Additional Info about Force-Add Request: * Students can access the force-add request system and How to Guide through the CSA Force-Add Page<https://website.cs.vt.edu/Graduate/grforceadd.html> Force-add Request Window: * Opens: Monday, August 5th at 12:00 pm * Closes: Thursday, August 29th at 12:00 pm Sara Coulson Director of Graduate Programs | Computer Science Torgersen 3210C 620 Drillfield Drive Blacksburg, VA 24061 scoulson1(a)vt.edu 540-231-0780

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Rachita Sowle's Ph.D. defense, today@1PM
by Raghvendra, Sharath 02 Aug '24

02 Aug '24

Hello, You are cordially invited to Rachita Sowle's Ph.D. defense today. See details below. Title: Combinatorial Algorithms for Server Allocation Problem Date: Friday, August 2, 2024 Time: 1:00 pm Zoom: https://ncsu.zoom.us/j/92758850743?pwd=iD0D9cSf0iybqjd1dyKISiSQ6hoT90.1 Committee Members: Sharath Raghvendra (Chair), Lenwood Heath, T.M. Murali, Liqing Zhang, Chittaranjan Tripathy (Walmart Labs) Abstract: In the server allocation problem, we are given n requests and k servers both as points in a metric space. A server can serve a request by moving to the request location and each request can be served by exactly one server. The objective is to optimize the allocation of servers to requests such that it minimize the total distance travelled by the serves. In this thesis, we present efficient combinatorial algorithms for three specific problems in the server allocation problem framework. 1) First, we consider the case when the servers are restricted to serve up to one request each. This problem reduces to the well know minimum cost maximum cardinality bipartite matching problem. When the underlying metric is Euclidean, this problem is called the Euclidean bipartite matching problem. We present two efficient algorithms that improve the state-of-the-art for the Euclidean bipartite matching problem. 2) Second, we consider the case when the servers can handle multiple requests. Assuming the requests are given as ordered sequence, then a server can serve a subsequence of the request sequence. We device two efficient divide-and-conquer algorithms for this problem and show empirical performance improvements on New York Taxi data set. 3) Third, we consider the scenario when the requests appear in an online fashion such that on arrival of each request a server must be allocated to it immediately and irrevocably. This problem is the celebrated k-server problem. The work function algorithm is an online algorithm that solves the k-server problem with the best-known competitive ratio. We presented a new faster implementation of the work function algorithm.

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Sakshi Mhatre's Master's Defense
by Luther, Kurt 02 Aug '24

02 Aug '24

You are invited to the MS defense of Sakshi Mhatre. Date/Time: 8/2/2024 11:00AM Location: VT Arlington Research Center room 6-024 Zoom: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/89765920740 Meeting ID: 897 6592 0740 Title: Intersection of Coverage and Crowdsourcing Methods for Bias Detection and Mitigation Committee: Dr. Kurt Luther (Chair), Dr. Erin Lanus (Co-Chair), Dr. Chang-Tien Lu (Committee Member) Abstract: This thesis explores an approach to predicting recidivism by leveraging crowdsourcing, contrasting traditional judicial discretion and algorithmic models. Instead of relying on judges or algorithms, participants predicted the likelihood of re-offending using the COMPAS dataset, which includes demographic and criminal record information. The study analyzed both quantitative and qualitative data to assess biases in human versus algorithmic predictions. Findings reveal that homogeneous crowds reflect the biases of their composition, leading to more pronounced gender and racial biases. In contrast, heterogeneous crowds, with equal and random distributions, present a more balanced view, though underlying biases still emerge. Both gender and racial biases influence how re-offending risk is perceived, significantly impacting risk evaluations. Specifically, crowds rated African American offenders as less likely to re-offend compared to COMPAS, which assigned them higher risk scores, while Caucasian and Hispanic offenders were perceived as more likely to re-offend by crowds. Gender differences also emerged, with males rated as less likely to re-offend and females as more likely. This study highlights crowdsourcing’s potential to mitigate biases and provides insights into balancing consistency and fairness in risk assessments.

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Introducing the CS Graduate Program Newsletter
by Eli Tilevich 01 Aug '24

01 Aug '24

Dear all, We are excited to share the inaugural 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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FW: Request to announce open PhD, MS and Internship Positions
by Kinder-Potter, Sharon 31 Jul '24

31 Jul '24

From: Pereira da Silva, Aloizio <aloiziops(a)vt.edu> Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2024 2:28 PM To: Pereira da Silva, Aloizio <aloiziops(a)vt.edu> Subject: Request to announce open PhD, MS and Internship Positions Dear Colleagues, Currently I have a couple of GRA and Internship open to work under my advisory. Attached are the job descriptions. I would appreciate if you could advertise them in your department. Thanks ---------------------------------------- Dr. Aloizio P. da Silva (PhD, MBA, PMP, MSc) CCI xG Testbed Director Virginia Tech ECE Research Faculty

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PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR A STUDY INVESTIGATING ESSAY WRITING AND CHATGPT
by Jelson, Jelson 31 Jul '24

31 Jul '24

We are looking for participants who will be asked to write a paper with the assistance of ChatGPT. Participants will also answer a pre- and post-study survey. The findings from these surveys will be used to better understand the query process behind using ChatGPT in the context of essay writing. The study was reviewed and accepted by the IRB (# 24-325) and is being conducted under the supervision of Dr. Sang Won Lee (sangwonlee(a)vt.edu<mailto:sangwonlee@vt.edu>). Participants must be 1) 18 years or older. If you are interested in participating, please start the study at the following link: https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/GPTWritingPreSurvey. If you have any questions, please contact Andrew Jelson at jelson9854(a)vt.edu. The research team will enter the essays into a random drawing and compensation will be given to approximately twenty percent of participants as a $10 gift card. Odds of being selected will be maintained as 1 in 5. The participants will be contacted separately. Andrew Jelson jelson9854(a)vt.edu

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Leonardo Pavanatto's PhD defense
by Bowman, Douglas 31 Jul '24

31 Jul '24

CS colleagues, You are invited to join us for the final PhD defense of Leonardo Pavanatto, tomorrow at 11 AM. All the details are below. Best, Doug Design and Evaluation of Virtual Displays to Enable the Future of Work from Anywhere Ph.D. defense of Leonardo Pavanatto August 1, 2024 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Gilbert Place 3211 https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/6308162212 The future of work is rapidly evolving, particularly in knowledge-based professions such as programming, engineering, and scientific research. These fields traditionally rely on physical monitors in office settings. However, with the rise of hybrid work models fueled by technological advances and the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a growing need for flexible and portable display solutions. Workers can now operate from remote settings, their homes, or mobile scenarios while still requiring substantial screen space to complete their tasks. This dissertation investigates the design and evaluation of virtual displays rendered through head-worn displays (HWDs) as a promising alternative, aiming to optimize them for productive work. These displays offer flexibility, allowing users to achieve large monitor spaces in virtual or augmented reality environments, adaptable to any location. We aim to answer three research questions: (1) ``How does replacing or extending physical monitors with virtual displays using current technology impact the user experience of productivity tasks?'', (2) ``How can we take advantage of the spatial flexibility property of virtual displays to eliminate screen boundaries and increase the amount of space available to users?'', and (3) ``How can we leverage properties of virtual displays to design techniques that minimize overhead in window management tasks without reducing user freedom?'' Through careful interface design and empirical user studies, we seek to understand how to leverage the unique capabilities of HWDs to enhance productivity, preparing the groundwork for future virtual display systems as technology advances. -- Doug A. Bowman Frank J. Maher Professor, Computer Science Director, Center for Human-Computer Interaction Senior Fellow, Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology Virginia Tech dbowman(a)vt.edu https://wordpress.cs.vt.edu/3digroup/author/dbowman/ Group: https://wordpress.cs.vt.edu/3digroup/ Center: http://hci.vt.edu/ Twitter: @CHCI_VT

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