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Welcome to the UVa Computer Science Department!
here is a
tremendous amount of
activity and excitement in our great and expanding
department. Come and discover us through our Web pages or in person. You
will find students, faculty, and
professional
staff who are pushing the envelope of experimental computer
science in both teaching and research. Our undergraduates
are actively involved in research and are immersed in an integrated CS
curriculum that is becoming a model for other Universities. Our graduate
students are active participants in world-class research projects,
our faculty are leaders in the field, and our facilities
and equipment are first-rate.
Enjoy your visit.
Jack
Stankovic
BP America Professor and Chair
Note: Mary Lou Soffa became Chair of the CS Department in August 2004.
he UVa Department of Computer Science is a
nationally recognized leader in undergraduate CS education, and one of
the top departments in experimental systems,
its main research thrust. Since becoming an independent department in
1984, we have grown to 25 faculty, 15
professional
support staff, 73 graduate
students and 220 undergraduate
majors. Federal research
support exceeds six million dollars annually, and past support
includes a prestigious National Science Foundation Institutional
Infrastructure Award, a five-million-dollar grant which has greatly
enhanced our research capabilities.
Our faculty have garnered an impressive roster of awards and peer recognition: two are members of the National Academy of Engineering and one is NAE President; one is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; one holds a National Science Foundation Young Investigator award; one holds a Packard Foundation Fellowship; four are Fellows of the IEEE; three are ACM Fellows; three hold NSF Career Awards; two are presidents of IEEE societies and another is past Chair of an ACM Special Interest Group; two are University Teaching Fellows; one received an All-University Outstanding Teaching Award; one received a Faculty Mentor Award; four hold endowed chairs or University Professorships, and many are editors or editors-in-Chief of major professional journals. In addition, our faculty and research activities have received considerable popular media and press coverage. We are currently planning a new Information Technology building to house the Department of Computer Science.
We are dedicated to educational excellence as well as to scholarly and research excellence. For example, we have undertaken a complete reform of the undergraduate curriculum that is a National Science Foundation "flagship" project. Its hallmarks include a high degree of mathematical rigor reinforced through use, an emphasis on a philosophy of engineering, hands-on experience with industrial systems in team-oriented laboratories, increased personal attention, undergraduate involvement in research projects, and a carefully crafted progression of material as the students advance through the program.
Our Department is also solidly committed to community service, both inside and outside the University. Recent examples include the Grounds-Wide Tele-Tutoring System that enables students to receive remote interactive help over the Internet, the InterCom project which leverages the World-Wide Web to facilitate electronic commerce and create new information technology-based businesses, and the tele-medicine effort which could save lives by enabling doctors and surgeons to treat physically inaccessible patients remotely.
In summary, our Department is poised to break into the top national rankings, and several visiting review panels have independently concurred with this assessment.
he Department of Computer Science is a community
of faculty, students, and staff engaged in education and research.
One of our strengths is the friendly and collegial
interactions that prevail amongst its members. Students are considered colleagues
and are on a first-name basis with faculty, and members of the
Department share a strong sense of community and
cooperation. Departmental decisions are made by consensus, and
students have representation on many departmental committees.
Students and faculty participate together in a number of sports and
hobbies, including basketball, volleyball, jogging, swimming, weight
training, frisbee, hiking, camping, whitewater rafting, skating, folk
dancing, and many other activities. All of our graduate students have
offices with workstations on their desks, and most of our graduate
students are supported by the Department (including tuition waiver and
a monthly stipend). This productive environment is supported by state-of-the-art computing and laboratory facilities. While the major departmental research emphasis is in experimental systems, departmental research interests span the computer science spectrum. Recent journal publications cover topics in algorithms, computational geometry, computer-aided design of VLSI circuits, computer architecture, parallel and distributed computing, operating systems, real-time systems, programming environments, user interfaces, compilers and programming languages, distributed systems and databases, computer vision, artificial intelligence, scientific computing, computer networks & distributed multimedia, computational biology, combinatorial optimization, information retrieval, and software engineering.
University and School commitment to continued departmental growth is reflected in recent multimillion-dollar equipment grants and current planning for a new Computer Science building. We actively involve our undergraduates in research projects, and many of them co-author technical papers and give conference presentations. Our strong departmental undergraduate and graduate degree programs reflect the emphasis that the University of Virginia places on education. For example, the quality of our graduate program, even at the Master's theses and projects. Another indicator is the multiple awards our faculty have received for innovative and distinguished teaching. Our graduate students attract multiple job offers from industry as well as from academia.
ach Fall, the entering graduate students
participate in a semester-long "orientation seminar", where they are
rapidly acclimated to the Department, and are exposed to issues
related to research, productivity, the hardware and software
infrastructure, and various professional responsibilities. Guest
speakers introduce a wide variety of interesting topics, including
word processors, productivity tools, programming environments,
debuggers, library resources, web searching, the philosophy and
practice of academic research, public speaking, and personal time
management skills. In addition to these talks of general interest,
each faculty member presents a short overview of their research. At
the end of this seminar, students are matched with faculty advisors
based on mutual research interests. This seminar serves as a
mechanism which ensures that students are smoothly transitioned into
graduate life and become quickly involved in research.
he design and study of "end-to-end" experimental
systems is a major research emphasis in the department. This effort
reflects the unusually strong interest in systems in the department.
This emphasis is strengthened and broadened by our close collaboration
with the Center for
Semicustom Integrated Systems in the Department of Electrical
Engineering. The joint program addresses problems associated with the
full spectrum of computer system design and engineering. At one end
of the spectrum is the capability to design, test and fabricate custom
VLSI circuits. Further along the spectrum is the ability to create
board-level systems, using these to build larger integrated
general-purpose or application-specific systems. Finally, the program
supports the development of appropriate software systems for these
artifacts.
The strength and importance of this program were instrumental to the award of a five-year, five million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation under its Institutional Infrastructure Program (IIP). This grant has greatly increased our research capabilities, and in particular, a sophisticated infrastructure has been put into place for support of experimental systems research. It has provided an array of capabilities to support state-of-the-art research in integrated circuits, hardware integration, systems software, and applications. The grant has also supported the expansion and enhancement of general-purpose computing and network resources in both departments.
he Department provides extensive computing
and communications resources in support of its research
activities. Powerful servers (Sun and Intel systems) are
interconnected by a 100 Mbps switched Ethernet which interfaces
directly to the university's main 622 Mbps ATM network ring, which is
in turn connected to the NSF VBNS at 155 Mbps. Desktop machines
include workstations from Sun and SGI, as well as PCs with X-window
client software, all connected by 100 Mbps switched Ethernet to the
cluster servers and a RAID file system. Students and faculty also
have access to central university computing resources and network
facilities that provide high-speed Internet access, including access
to the "Internet 2". The Department's web server is attracting over
one million "hits" per month.
s part of the Legion project, our faculty
have built Centurion, a
leading-edge multicomputer composed of commercial, off-the-shelf
components. Centurion includes heterogeneous processors based on the
DEC Alpha and Intel Pentium architectures, and uses Myrinet
high-bandwidth, low-latency networking hardware. Centurion has over
200 processors, 200 GF peak performance, 32 GB of memory, and over a
terabyte of disk. Centurion will provide the computing power for research projects
across the School, including computer science research in
operating systems and distributed computing, simulations for materials science
and electrical engineering,
and genomics research.
he Systems Integration Laboratory provides
infrastructure for implementing pre-production prototypes of
board-level complex electronic systems. Facilities include
state-of-the-art electronic design/test benches, high-speed logic
analyzers, digital storage oscilloscopes, and a Sierra Research
surface mount reflow station for prototyping fine-pitch components.
In addition, the Electrical Engineering Department's Integrated
Circuits Laboratory provides a complete environment for the design and
testing of prototype analog and digital VLSI systems, including a
clean room, high-resolution plotters, a high speed HP tester, and
dozens of high-end workstations for running complete commercial
electronic design software suites for both IC and FPGA-based designs.
he UVa Internet Commerce Group (InterCom) has developed
several Internet-based systems that promote economic development,
including informational web sites, demonstration systems, and a series
of web-enabled business tools, including: (1) WorkPort, which
addresses the high-technology workforce shortage by providing an
electronic means for companies to list work available for outsourcing,
and for consultants to exhibit their electronic resumes; (2)
MatchMaker, a searchable database containing thousands of
high-technology companies, where companies can find customers,
suppliers, partners, or consultants; (3) SurveySuite, which enables a
user to create, publish, distribute, and tally electronic surveys; (4)
Press Release Distribution and E-mail List Management Tool, which
allows a user to create public and private email lists, and use them
to distribute text, hyper media documents, or web site URLs; and (5)
Web-Based Electronic Publishing, which provides a low-cost alternative
to printed publications by allowing an affinity group to quickly and
easily establish a named "electronic magazine" on a topic of mutual
interest.
he Department maintains a student-run social
lounge that features a continuous supply of snacks, chocolates, tea,
coffee, soft drinks, and juices, in addition to kitchen facilities,
sofas, plants, recent issues of popular magazines, numerous board
games and puzzles, and copies of recently-published research papers
authored by members of the Department. The lounge's informal
atmosphere encourages collegial interactions and lively research
discussions among Department members. Students as well as faculty
regularly visit the lounge to relax, have a snack, engage in
puzzle-solving, or play a friendly game of Chess,
Checkers, Go, Scrabble, and many others. The Department also supports
a student-organized weekly Social Tea event with catered
food, which further helps promote interactions among members of the
department.
he faculty of
the Computer Science
Department is dedicated to educational excellence at both the undergraduate
and graduate
level. Several years ago we decided to create an undergraduate
educational program that was more rigorous and would better
reflect modern computing practice. After much careful planning, we
began a complete revision of our curriculum in accordance with these
goals.
Computer Science has changed rapidly in its brief history, and what once were acceptable skill and knowledge levels are now outmoded. Today's computer professional must have an extensive set of skills, a detailed knowledge of many technical areas, and a rigorous grounding in the mathematical underpinnings of the discipline. These professionals must also be able to communicate clearly and to work in teams. Moreover, the profound effects on society that often result from developments in information processing make it imperative that computer professionals exercise their craft in a responsible fashion. The goal of our new curriculum is to provide the best education in the nation for these professionals. This curriculum reform activity has been partially funded by the National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education and has become a "flagship" project.
Hallmarks of the new curriculum include (1) a high degree of mathematical rigor reinforced through use, (2) an emphasis on a philosophy of engineering beginning in the first course, (3) hands-on experience with industrial systems in team-structured laboratories, (4) a reordering of material to increase comprehension, (5) increased personal attention in the laboratories, (6) including undergraduates in research projects, and (7) a carefully crafted progression of difficulty in the material as the student advances through the program. The new curriculum has been highly successful, providing a superior education for those students who will work in industry, as well as for those who will go on to graduate school.
he Computer
Engineering program is jointly administered by the Departments of
Computer Science and Electrical
Engineering. Students who are interested in computer engineering
can emphasize either computer science or electrical engineering, as
there are two coordinated programs being offered.
he Association for Computing Machinery
Chapter at the University of Virginia is a student chapter of the
parent Association for Computing
Machinery. The Chapter is a Contracted Independent
Organization at the University of Virginia, and serves students,
faculty, and staff of the University as well as members of the
Charlottesville/Albemarle community. Any member of the University or
Charlottesville/Albemarle community may become a Member of the
Chapter. The Chapter is organized and operated exclusively for
educational and scientific purposes to promote an increased knowledge
of and greater interest in the science, design, development,
construction, languages, management and applications of modern
computing. During the academic year, the Chapter sponsors a variety
of events, including presentations by distinguished faculty,
information sessions with leading industry representatives, workshops
on current topics in modern computing, informal panel discussions, and
social gatherings.
he Department of Computer Science is one of nine
departments in the School of
Engineering and Applied Science. The other departments are Biomedical;
Chemical; Civil; Electrical; Materials Science;
Mechanical, Aerospace and
Nuclear; Systems; and Technology, Culture and
Communications. There are 170 faculty members in the
School, and the external research budget of the School exceeds $30
million annually.
The School has 1,800 undergraduates and 600 graduate students. The undergraduate students have the highest SAT scores in the University, with a mean of 1335. The average GRE score for incoming graduate students is 1300. Each of these numbers places the school within the top three public engineering schools in the country in terms of student quality. Approximately 340 Bachelor's degrees, 200 Master's degrees, and over 50 Doctorate degrees are awarded annually by the School.
ounded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the University of Virginia is
widely-recognized as one of the nation's leading institutions of
higher education. The University of Virginia is consistently the
top-ranked public university in the U.S. News & World
Report's annual listing of top
universities. Dubbed a "public Ivy," the University has achieved
national stature for its teaching, research, and public service. At
the heart of the "Academical Village" are the Lawn
and Rotunda, designed by Jefferson. These are now national
landmarks and are considered among the most outstanding achievements
in American architecture.
The University has more than 2100 faculty, including over 330 holders
of endowed professorships. In addition, around 8,000 staff members are
employed in the University and in the University Hospital. There are
approximately
18,000 students: 11,500 undergraduates and 6,500 graduate and
professional students. The students come from 80 countries and all 50
states. As recently as 1970, the undergraduate population was almost
entirely male, but now females are in a slight majority. In addition
to its excellent Engineering
School, the University is renowned for its Medical,
Law, Graduate Business, and Architecture
Schools, and for the quality of many of its humanities and
social sciences departments.
he University is located in Charlottesville, with a
metropolitan-area population of around 100,000. The area is known for
its natural beauty and historical attractions. Charlottesville also
offers a substantial range of cultural resources which includes
symphony orchestras, a light opera company, and other instrumental and
vocal groups, as well as art galleries, museums, and diverse
restaurants. Numerous speakers, musicians and performing arts
professionals visit the community each year.
The area attracts tens of thousands of tourists yearly, who come to see the Grounds of the University, visit the homes of Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe, tour local wineries, and enjoy the scenic views and outdoor recreation offered by the Blue Ridge and Shenandoah mountains. Charlottesville and the encompassing County of Albemarle offer relaxed surroundings, rolling green hills, and pleasant weather; they are consistently ranked in national polls as one of the top few cities in the country in terms of desirability, family life, and cost-of-living value.
he Commonwealth of Virginia has recently undertaken decisive strategic
technological leadership, and enjoyed considerable success in
attracting, creating, and retaining information-technology and
Internet-based businesses. High-technology industries (such as
pharmaceuticals semiconductors, electronics, telecommunications,
biotechnology, and environmental technology), with a heavy emphasis on
research and development and a highly-skilled work force, are also
growing rapidly in Virginia.
These enterprises are supported by new public and private infrastructure and technology resources, such as communications networks, federal and nonprofit R&D institutions, a coherent technology transfer system, highly-developed human resources, and an entrepreneurial climate which supports the creation and expansion of technology-based businesses. The Commonwealth of Virginia now has substantial competitive strengths for the new economy, and the quality of life in Virginia, including cultural and recreational resources, natural assets, and tax regimes, is unrivaled.
