Workshop Title: Making the Most of Undergraduate Research

 

Presenters:

 

Andrea Danyluk (Contact Person)

Department of Computer Science

Williams College

47 Lab Campus Drive

Williamstown, MA 01267

Phone: 413-597-2178

Fax: 413-597-4250

andrea@cs.williams.edu

 

Margaret Martonosi

Department of Computer Science

Princeton University

martonosi@princeton.edu

 

Kathryn McKinley

Department of Computer Science

The University of Texas at Austin

mckinley@cs.utexas.edu

 

Lori Pollock

Department of Computer and Information Sciences

University of Delaware

pollock@cis.udel.edu

 

Susan Rodger

Department of Computer Science

Duke University

rodger@cs.duke.edu

 

Extended Abstract:

Involving undergraduates in CS research has many benefits.  ItÕs an exciting way for students to gain knowledge and independent problem solving skills.  It exposes them to interesting projects and the research process, thereby keeping them in CS, even encouraging them to go to graduate school. And especially in primarily teaching institutions, itÕs a rewarding way for faculty to remain engaged in their own research.  While there are many publications that address mentoring in general, there is less available on mentoring research.  In this workshop we will (1) present proven mentoring strategies for undergraduate research, (2) equip participants with materials to run mentoring workshops for undergraduates, and (3) further develop (1) and (2) by brainstorming with attendees. This workshop is intended for all college-level computer science educators.  The advice and materials apply to both men and women students, and to students with a wide range of abilities and backgrounds.  Undergraduate research need not be limited to ÒsuperstarsÓ. Laptop Optional.

 

Published Abstract:

Involving undergraduates in CS research has many benefits.  ItÕs an exciting way for students to gain knowledge and independent problem solving skills.  It exposes them to interesting projects and the research process, thereby keeping them in CS, even encouraging them to go to graduate school. And especially in primarily teaching institutions, itÕs a rewarding way for faculty to remain engaged in their own research.  In this workshop we will (1) present proven mentoring strategies for undergraduate research, (2) equip participants with materials to run mentoring workshops for undergraduates, and (3) further develop (1) and (2) by brainstorming with attendees. This workshop is intended for all college-level CS educators. For more see www.cs.williams.edu/~andrea/SIGCSE11/.  Laptop Optional.

 

Intended audience: College-level computer science educators from the full range of types of colleges and universities.

 

Materials provided: Each participant will receive both paper and electronic copies of (1) the Òadvice to mentorsÓ presentation, (2) a brochure with pointers to mentoring resources, and (3) descriptions of exercises that can be used in mentoring workshops for undergraduates. The presentation will cover topics such as getting to know your advisee, choosing an appropriate project, anticipating and handling the studentÕs time-management issues, understanding research, communication, and interaction styles, how to organize structure and create community, opportunities for glory, opportunities for funding, and writing letters of recommendation.  The exercises will include ideas such as a literature search scavenger hunt and a ÒTo Tell the TruthÓ style of game in which confederates give research pitches and students compare and critique them.

 

Rough Agenda:

1. ÒAdvice to mentorsÓ presentation (45 minutes)

2. Mentoring workshop exercises (45 minutes)

<15-minute break>

3. Break-out sessions to devise additional exercises (30 minutes)

4. Groups share their ideas for additional exercises (45 minutes)

 

 Presenter Biographies:

 

Andrea Danyluk is a Professor of Computer Science at Williams College, where she has taught since 1994.  Her research interests are in machine learning, especially applications of machine learning, cost-sensitive learning, and statistical relational learning.  She has advised numerous undergraduate research projects and has published with her undergraduate students.  She currently serves as co-director of the CRA-W CREU (Collaborative Research Experiences for Undergraduates) program.

 

Margaret Martonosi is a Professor of Computer Science at Princeton University, where she has been on the faculty since 1994.  She also holds an affiliated faculty appointment in PrincetonÕs Computer Science Department.  Her research interests are in computer architecture and the hardware-software interface.  She has advised nineteen Ph.D. dissertations as well as numerous undergraduate research projects.  In 2010, she received Princeton UniversityÕs Graduate Mentoring Award.  Martonosi is an IEEE and ACM Fellow.

 

Kathryn McKinley is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin.  Her research interests include compilers, memory management, runtime systems, programming languages, debugging, and architecture.  She was the director of FirstBytes, a UT one week computer science camp for high school girls.  McKinley is an ACM Fellow.

 

Lori Pollock is a Professor in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at the University of Delaware, where she has taught since 1991.  Her research focuses on program analysis for building better software maintenance tools, optimizing compilers for modern computer architectures, and software testing.  She was awarded the University of DelawareÕs Excellence in Teaching Award in 2001 and the UniversityÕs E.A. Trabant Award for WomenÕs Equity in 2004.

 

Susan Rodger is a Professor of the Practice in the Department of Computer Science at Duke University where she has been on the faculty since 1994.  Her research is in visualization, animation, and computer science education, and in these areas she has mentored many undergraduate students.  She has published papers with several of these students and has also co-authored a book with one.  She is very active in the SIGCSE community, having served as symposium co-chair in 2008, program co-chair in 2007, and currently as secretary of the SIGCSE Board.  Rodger is an ACM Distinguished Educator.

 

All of the presenters are members of the CRA-W, where their projects include the CREU program, as previously mentioned, regional mentoring programs, and the graduate cohort mentoring program.  They have extensive experience mentoring undergraduate students at their home institutions, through the CRA-W distributed mentor program, and through regional and national mentoring events.