Computing Research News A Publication of the Computing Research Association

September 2007 Vol. 19/No. 4 GENI Moves Forward By Chip Elliott and Ellen Witte Zegura

In late May, the National Science GENI seeks to serve researchers in The main job of the GPO over the through the rough consensus devel­ Foundation, through its directorate on as wide a range of disciplines as possi­ next few years is engineering and risk oped over the course of on-line and Computer and Information Science ble. People with research needs that reduction. The GPO is responsible for in-person discussions. Working group and Engineering (CISE), and BBN GENI could address should feel free to assembling a complete engineering participants will be collaborating in ar­ Technologies announced a cooperative contact either of the authors (ewz@cc. plan for how to build GENI. Among eas such as: network substrate; resource agreement for BBN to operate the gatech.edu or [email protected]). other things, the plan must include de­ control framework; experiment work­ GENI Project Office. This announce­ tailed costing, a discussion of which flow and services; end-user opt-in; and ment came a few months after the an­ What is the GENI Project technologies will be used, and a de­ operations, management, security and nouncement of the GENI Science Office (GPO)? tailed demonstration that the infra­ integration. New working groups may Council (operating under the auspices The NSF regularly provides funding structure built will support the be created or old ones dissolved as the of the CRA’s Computing Community not simply for research but also for sci­ intended research. Because many parts GENI design advances. The GPO is Consortium). Together the announce­ entific infrastructure. Infrastructure re­ of GENI will be novel or one-of-a-kind ­actively seeking working group par­ ments represent a significant step for­ quiring large investments from NSF technologies, creating a credible engi­ ticipants and chairs. Some financial ward in the GENI’s evolution from an falls under the auspices of the Major neering plan means driving down con­ support may be available for these posi­ idea to reality. In this article we briefly Research and Equipment Facilities struction risks. To that end, the GPO tions. (For information on participat­ summarize the current state of GENI Construction (MREFC) account. will be awarding approximately $7.5M ing in a working group, contact Aaron activities and their expected evolution Under the current plans, GENI per year in risk-reduction projects to Falk of the GPO at [email protected]). over the coming year. will be built as an MREFC project. ­academic and industrial teams whose The GPO will be hosting engineer­ MREFC projects all go through a job it is to propose and test design al­ ing conferences three times a year What is GENI? number of steps to show that the ternatives, to show that key parts of where progress on GENI’s design will The Global Environment for Net­ ­concept for the facility is sound, GENI can be built, and to show how be reported, the working groups will work Innovation (GENI) is an experi­ ­mature, properly engineered and likely different versions of GENI will meet meet, and progress and results from the mental facility intended to support to produce innovative science results. ­researchers’ needs. GPO-funded risk reduction efforts will research in a wide variety of areas in­ One of the early steps in the process is Specification and design of the be reported. Participation at the confer­ cluding communications, networking, creating a Project Office, which works GENI facility will take place collabora­ ences is open to anyone who wishes to distributed systems, cyber-security, net­ closely with NSF to shepherd the tively within several working groups. attend. worked services and networked applica­ ­facility’s design and engineering plans This intense activity is open to anyone Another important GPO role is out­ tions. The goal of GENI is to enable through MREFC funding qualification interested in developing or using the reach. GENI should enable ground­ researchers to experiment with radical steps. Thus, creating the GPO means technologies or services provided by breaking research, and it is important network and system designs in a way that GENI is starting to move from a the GENI experimental platform. The to ensure that the chance to do that re­ that is far more realistic than any alter­ detailed concept to a nuts and bolts (or GPO is committed to an open design search, and to learn from and build native available today. in this case, bits and photons) piece of and evaluation process, where working GENI Moves Forward research infrastructure. group recommendations come about Continued on Page  Inside CRN Note to Expanding the Pipeline...... 2 Undergraduate Awards 2008...... 6 Department Chairs Musings from the Chair...... 3 Board Election 2008...... 7 CRA Service Awards 2008...... 4 CRA Members List...... 8 Taulbee Survey 2006-07 Update on Degree Production...... 5 Professional Opportunities...... 10 Coming Soon! PAID U.S. POSTAGE PERMIT NO. 993 NONPROFIT ORG. Key Appropriations, Authorizations on Track WASHINGTON, DC But Veto Threat Could Put Science Funding in Doubt By Peter Harsha Congress continues to stay on track ­appropriations process despite its turn, allowed the appropriations com­ to honor commitments from the strong support. mittee chairs to approve so-called House and Senate Leadership to Like last year, Congress appears to “302(b) allocations” to each of their ­bolster funding at three key science be on a path to continue to approve subcommittees that also provided suffi­ agencies, but a veto threat from Presi­ significant increases for the three agen­ cient space for increases for science. dent Bush could derail the annual cies that are the focus of the President’s The initial bills reported out of the ­appropriations process, putting gains American Competitiveness Initiative and appropriations committees further for science in doubt. the Democratic Innovation Agenda: The demonstrated this commitment. The At the same time, House and Sen­ National Science Foundation (NSF), House Appropriations Subcommittee ate Leaders have also approved a the National Institute of Standards and on Energy and Water approved its ver­ ­mammoth omnibus innovation and Technology (NIST) and the Depart­ sion of the FY 2008 Energy and Water competitiveness bill that would “ensure ment of Energy’s Office of Science appropriations bill, which includes our nation’s competitive position in (DOE Sci). At each milestone along the funding for DOE Sci, in early June, the world through improvements to appropriations path, the congressional and the Senate followed in late June. math and science education and a leadership has taken steps to ensure Both chambers included increases to strong commitment to research,” that the appropriators would have suffi­ DOE Sci of slightly more than 18 per­ ­according to the bill’s sponsors. cient budget room to include increases cent versus the FY 2007 level, increas­ This apparent rollercoaster of good for the agencies in their respective ap­ ing the agency’s funding by $700 mil­ and bad fortune for federal science propriations bills. In May, the leader­ lion to $4.5 billion in FY 2008. Within agencies is evidence of both Congress’s ship approved a budget resolution that the Office of Science, the Advanced continued strong support for the added nearly $2 billion over FY 2007 Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) ­physical sciences (including math, to the General Science, Space and program would receive an 18 percent ­computing and engineering) and of Technology account, which includes increase in the Senate bill, and a 20 ­science continuing to fall victim to the budgets of NSF, NIST, DOE Sci, as Key Appropriations, Authorizations CRA 1100 Seventeenth Street, NW Suite 507 Washington, DC 20036-4632 ­larger political concerns in the annual well as NASA and NOAA. That, in Continued on Page  Computing Research News September 2007

Expanding the Pipeline Computing Research Association Fifteen Years Later, Caregivers Still an Issue for Board Officers Daniel A. Reed Conference Attendees Chair University of North Carolina By Sarita V. Adve at Chapel Hill In January 1993, Elaine Weyuker Canadian funding agency, already ­below). Check boxes in the conference Lori Clarke wrote an article for this column in ­allows charging for childcare expenses budget forms would remind commit­ Vice Chair University of Massachusetts CRN titled “Childcare an Issue for while a nursing mother or single par­ tees of these practices (e.g., publicity Conference Attendees,” making a ent is traveling1. U.S. federal agencies for the availability of caregiver sup­ Carla Ellis ­powerful case for support for childcare would presumably need to revise port), making such considerations part Secretary Duke University at conferences (see: http://www.cra. ­appropriate regulations to allow such of standard conference planning. org/CRN/online.html; [September ­expenses, and this will not happen Liability is an obvious concern Philip Bernstein 2007, Vol. 19/No. 4]). Almost fifteen ­immediately. Nevertheless, a concerted here. It is therefore encouraging that Treasurer years later, that article remains rele­ effort needs to begin if we are to truly some organizations have successfully Microsoft Research vant. The original article focused on accomplish the goal of broadening dealt with this concern and provide a on-site childcare, but similar observa­ ­participation in computing, as stated model to emulate. For example, the Board Members tions apply for caregiver support for by agencies such as NSF. upcoming Grace Hopper Conference Annie I. Antón other needs, such as those of the physi­ Universities must play a lead role in will provide subsidized childcare North Carolina State University cally disabled. supplementing the funding agencies. through an independent childcare ser­ William Aspray Unfortunately, not much has Junior faculty, in particular, are often vice and sponsored by a company5, Indiana University changed on this issue over the past 15 tight on grant funds. University- and several universities now use agen­ Andrew A. Chien years. In most cases, a researcher who supported awards for caregiver expenses cies to provide backup dependent care Intel Corporation must take a child to a conference (be­ can help such researchers. Princeton for their employees (e.g., Princeton6, Anne Condon cause he is a single parent or because currently has such a dependent care UIUC7). The liability issue is one University of British Columbia his partner also needs to attend the grant program2. Universities can also ­reason why it may be best to tackle George V. Cybenko same conference or because she is proactively seek private donors and this problem through our larger Dartmouth College nursing an infant) still faces experienc­ ­allow such expenses to be charged to ­professional organizations. Richard A. DeMillo es similar to those in the 1993 article. gift funds. Georgia Institute of Technology In the best case, a caregiver is available Companies and professional orga­ The Role of the Research Marie desJardins and the researcher attends the meeting nizations such as ACM and IEEE can University of Maryland, Community Leadership Baltimore County at a hefty out-of-pocket expense. The also contribute by broadening their The research community leadership 1993 article discusses such expenses, travel grant programs to include Eric Grimson must also play a major role. First, we Massachusetts Institute of which can run into a thousand or such expenses. For example, ACM’s need to make clear our acknowledge­ Technology more dollars per trip, and are especial­ SIGARCH provides airfare for a travel ment of the problem and the will­ Mary Jean Harrold ly impractical for junior researchers. companion for nursing mothers and ingness to help. For example, a Georgia Institute of Technology Often, however, it is simply not possi­ disabled researchers3. conference Call for Participation may Laura M. Haas ble to go because it is not possible to Establishing such programs re­ include a statement to the effect that IBM Almaden Research Center find a caregiver. Again, see the 1993 quires working out several details, es­ the local arrangements chair can en­ Michael Jones article for the travails a parent must go pecially whom and what expenses to Microsoft Research able people with childcare needs to get through to find on-site childcare, sum­ support. SIGARCH chose to restrict in touch with each other, or better Peter Lee marized by the author as being “not support to nursing mothers of infants Carnegie Mellon University still, provide pointers to local childcare for the faint-hearted.” It is easy to see and physically disabled researchers as a resources. Currently, many junior re­ J Strother Moore that this issue can be a major detri­ first step. A more comprehensive pro­ University of Texas at Austin searchers will not even ask for help lest ment to the career of junior research­ gram would provide support for single they appear unprofessional. David Notkin ers who most need the connections parents (as NSERC does) and when University of Washington Ideally, the conference committee and visibility provided through travel. both parents need to travel to the member would easily obtain this infor­ Martha E. Pollack Addressing the caregiver problem same meeting. The 1993 article lists le­ University of Michigan mation by working with the profes­ in its entirety is certainly challenging, gitimate expenses when the caregiver is sional organization sponsoring the Jennifer Rexford but we cannot wait another 15 years. found at the meeting site. In the case Princeton University conference. Even otherwise, the com­ Our funding agencies, universities, of younger children and the disabled, mittee member can make a difference Robert Schnabel companies, and professional organiza­ a caregiver may accompany them from Indiana University with a little bit of effort. Many univer­ tions today are deeply committed to home, incurring travel costs. Some sities today have a range of resources Fred B. Schneider broadening participation in computer parents may leave their children at Cornell University for caregivers, including listings of science from all members of society. home, incurring overnight care costs. childcare providers that take drop-ins, Marc Snir Achieving this goal in a meaningful Some disabilities require other on-site University of Illinois contracts with providers for backup at Urbana-Champaign way requires solving the caregiver prob­ assistance such as sign language inter­ care, and electronic student job boards lem—although the problem can affect preters. Some limits will obviously be Eugene Spafford for advertisements for babysitting. Purdue University anyone, it is a critical issue for a dis­ needed; for example, childcare support Making such information from local Robert F. Sproull proportionate fraction of women and may be provided only for elementary- universities available to conference at­ Sun Microsystems Laboratories physically disabled researchers. For grade or younger children or only for tendees would be helpful. The expecta­ David Tennenhouse nursing mothers of young infants, of­ junior researchers. tion here is not to provide childcare, New Venture Partners ten the only practical way to travel is A possible concern is that this uses but to provide a local point of contact Frank Tompa to take the infant and a caregiver limited funds for a small part of the for information. University of Waterloo along. As the children grow older, the community; however, this is consistent Conference committee members Moshe Vardi most common childcare backup (part­ with other programs for increasing di­ can also contribute by proactively in­ Rice University ner) is often not available to the many versity. The expenses are a relatively cluding this cause when seeking com­ Jeffrey Vitter women married to other professionals small fraction of overall research ex­ pany sponsorships for conference Purdue University who may have conflicting travel sched­ penses, and each organization could events. Individual researchers can also Benjamin Wah ules. For researchers with certain set a limit for the absolute amount to affect policy at lower levels; for exam­ University of Illinois physical disabilities, travel without a be used. at Urbana-Champaign ple, by lobbying their SIGs to adopt caregiver is simply impossible. some variation of the SIGARCH com­ Bryant York An effective solution to this prob­ Finding Caregivers: A Call Portland State University panion travel grants. lem requires support for both defray­ to Professional Societies In summary, if we are to broaden ing expenses and finding on-site Our major professional societies, participation in computing, the care­ Executive Director caregivers. With a concerted effort, such as ACM and IEEE, can have the giver problem must (and can) be ad­ Andrew Bernat our funding agencies, universities, pro­ largest impact on the issue of finding dressed through complementary fessional organizations, and communi­ reliable caregivers. First, these organi­ efforts of our funding agencies, univer­ ty leadership can collectively solve this zations can adopt the policy that (ma­ sities, companies, and professional or­ problem. A few organizations have Affiliate Societies jor) conferences be held at hotels that ganizations. ­already started to take steps towards provide childcare facilities. these solutions, and provide valuable Second, they can contract with guidance for wider adoption. References agencies that provide caregiver 1. http://www.nserc.gc.ca/professors_ support across wide regions (e.g.,4). Caregiver Expenses: A Call e.asp?nav=profnav&lbi=f3. This will allow caregiver access at a dis­ 2. http://www.princeton.edu/dof/ to Funding Agencies and counted price for conferences in the policies_procedures/family_friendly/ Universities supported regions. family_friendly/#comp000045ddf For academic researchers, funding Third, they can establish a set of 09900000002bc799b agencies can have the widest impact best practices to which conference Expanding the Pipeline CACS/AIC on expenses by allowing them in committee members are expected travel budgets of grants. NSERC, the to adhere (some examples follow Continued on Page  Page  September 2007 Computing Research News

Musings from the Chair Computing: All Our Constants Are Variables By Dan Reed, CRA Board Chair

We humans making it timely to reassess the state of and attract more students, both inadequate to meet anticipated are not particu­ computing research. by offering more graduate fel­ needs and to maintain leader­ larly good predic­ Over the past year, I’ve been privi­ lowships and easing visa pro­ ship in an era of global NIT tors of change, leged to co-chair a review of the U.S. cesses for international students competitiveness. The NITRD particularly expo­ Networking and IT Research and De­ who receive degrees from ac­ program should develop a nential change. velopment (NITRD) activities. NITRD credited U.S. graduate pro­ ­strategic interagency plan We tend to ex­ is the interagency program that funds grams. and roadmaps. trapolate tomor­ almost all computing research in the 2. The Federal NIT R&D portfolio is All of these observations and rec­ row from United States, including that at NSF, currently imbalanced in favor of ommendations complement the activi­ today—geometri­ DoD and DOE. This review, conduct­ low-risk projects; too many are ties of the nascent Computing cally, two points ed by the President’s Council of Advi­ small-scale and short-term efforts. Community Consortium (CCC), do define a straight line, after all. In sors on Science and Technology The number of large-scale, mul­ which is working to empower commu­ the near term, that is a safe and rea­ (PCAST), is the first program-wide as­ tidisciplinary activities with nity research visions and the multiplic­ sonable expedient. However, we, of sessment since the seminal 1999 re­ long time horizons is limited ity of competitiveness initiatives in the all disciplines, know that the pace port, Information Technology Research: and visionary projects are few. U.S. Congress, which promise to great­ of change is accelerating, with ever Investing in Our Future. That report led This was also a key observation ly increase funding for computing re­ greater global connections and greater to a dramatic increase in research of the 1999 PITAC report, search and NSF and DOE. social, economic and scientific inter­ funding for information technology, which proposed transformative Computing has had a transforma­ dependence. In turn, this has pro­ and emphasized the critical impor­ Expeditions to the 21st Century. tive effect on our lives, and the best is found implications for computing tance of IT to the nation’s economic 3. As new funding becomes available, yet to be. In a world where some of education, research, employment and and research competitiveness and its four topics should receive dispropor- our capabilities can and do change societal engagement. national security. tionately larger increases because rapidly, being nimble and adaptive is I find it exciting that the complexi­ As I write this, the PCAST assess­ they address issues for which key to exploiting emerging opportuni­ ty of today’s problems is catalyzing a ment of NITRD is in press, and it may progress will have both the ties. This is an exciting time, filled return to multidisciplinary inquiry, af­ well be available on the National greatest effect on important ap­ with opportunity — all our constants ter more than a century of increasing ­Coordination Office’s web site (www. plications and the highest lever­ are variables. In a changing world, suc­ specialization. Natural philosophy, the nitrd.gov) by the time you read this age in advancing capabilities. cess accrues to those who surf the precursor of science, began as the column. Succinctly, the report, Leader- These are networked IT systems wave of change. Grab your boards, the study of nature in all its aspects. Phys­ ship Under Challenge: Information Tech- connected with the physical surf’s up! ics, chemistry, astronomy, biology and nology R&D in a Competitive World, world, software, digital data and mathematics: they were once all one, notes the enormous contributions of networking. However, high-end Dan Reed, CRA’s Board Chair, is the aspects of a common study, all part of computing research to our society and computing, cybersecurity, hu­ Chancellor’s Eminent Professor and Senior the quest for coherent understanding. makes several observations about man-computer interaction and Advisor for Strategy and Innovation at the We tend to forget that science is, af­ ­opportunities and needs. NIT and the social sciences University of North Carolina at Chapel ter all, simply an Anglicization of scien- 1. The number of people completing must remain priorities. Hill. He also directs the interdisciplinary tia, the Latin word for knowledge. By NIT education programs and the 4. While the NITRD Program has ef- Renaissance Computing Institute (RENCI). analogy, computing science and engi­ usefulness of that education fall fectively balanced agency needs with Contact him at [email protected]. neering is about knowledge and its ap­ short of current and projected needs. national needs and priorities, the plications, driven by information We must modify curricula to be current nature and scale of NITRD technology in all its disparate forms, more relevant to current needs program coordination processes are

Assisting Chip is a team of roughly carried out in a set of working commit­ The first GENI Engineering GENI Moves Forward half a dozen senior people, including tees that include Research and Educa­ ­Conference will be held October 9-11 from Page  Heidi Picher Dempsey (Operations and tion Plan, Outreach, Industrial at the University of Minnesota in upon that research, is shared through­ Integration Manager), Aaron Falk (In­ Interaction, and Facility Architecture. ­Minneapolis. out the research and education com­ terim Architect), Roscoe Giles of Bos­ GSC committee members come from The first GPO solicitation is expect­ munity and society. To that end, the ton University (Outreach Consultant), both inside and outside the GSC. ed to come out in late 2007, with GPO has a vigorous outreach program Craig Partridge (Outreach Director), Scott Shenker and Ellen Zegura co- ­contracts awarded in early 2008. The that seeks to bring various communi­ Kristin Rauschenbach (Optics and Sub­ chair the GSC. Scott is a Professor of expectation is that by the GENI Engi­ ties in contact with GENI, and enables strate Manager) and Henry Yeh (Project Computer Science at UC Berkeley. He neering Conference in the summer of people at all levels of the education sys­ Manager). The team has over a hun­ is also head of the Networking Group 2008, we’ll begin to see the early fruits tem (from elementary school to gradu­ dred years of experience in research in at the International Computer Science of those efforts. ate school) and from all backgrounds communications systems and opera­ Institute (ICSI). Prior to joining ICSI, The GPO expects to begin recruit­ (geographic and ethnic) to participate. tions of experimental networks. Scott spent 14 years at Xerox PARC. ing interns for the summer of 2008 Much of this effort involves personal He is a past recipient of the ACM shortly. visits to conferences, campuses, and in­ The GENI Science Council SIGCOMM Award, which recognizes More information about the GENI dustry. There is also an active effort to (GSC) lifetime achievement in the area of Science Council and the GENI Project encourage participation via internships The GSC’s primary mission is to ar­ communication networks. Ellen is a Office is available on the GENI web at the GPO and with GPO contractors, ticulate a compelling rationale for Professor and Chair of Computer Sci­ site (www.geni.net). This website is also through travel grants to the GENI En­ GENI in the form of a comprehensive ence at Georgia Tech, where she has where details about the conference, gineering Conference, and by using Research and Education Plan. This will been on the faculty for 14 years. She is GPO solicitations and internships tools such as electronic newsletters. describe the scientific and engineering a past Editor-in-Chief of IEEE/ACM will appear. Chip Elliott leads the GPO. Chip is research questions that GENI will Transactions on Networking. Chip Elliott, Director of the GENI Chief Engineer for Network Systems at make it possible to address and the ed­ The current GSC membership ucational opportunities that GENI will (http://www.cra.org/ccc/participants. ­Project Office, is Chief Engineer for Net- BBN Technologies and Project Direc­ work Systems at BBN Technologies. Ellen afford. The GSC represents the inter­ html#gsc) includes fifteen people from tor for the GPO. He has nearly 30 Zegura, who co-chairs the GENI Science years of experience leading large and ests of the national GENI-relevant re­ industry, research labs and academia, spanning fields ranging from technolo­ Council, is a Professor and Chair of technically challenging projects. His search and education community in ­Computer Science at Georgia Tech. gy policy to optical networking to dis­ forte is taking exciting, often nascent, the GENI facility, serves as the commu­ This work was supported in part by concepts and building them up to nity’s interface to the GPO and, togeth­ tributed systems. NSF Cooperative Support Agreement CNS- working practice. Most recently, Chip er with the GPO, ensures that all 0714770. The views expressed in this article led the effort to build the first opera­ stakeholders have clear and accurate in­ The Coming Year do not necessarily represent the views of the tional quantum key distribution formation regarding all aspects of the So what’s up for GENI in the National Science Foundation. ­network. GENI project. The work of the GSC is ­coming year?

Page  Computing Research News September 2007

Peter Freeman, Director, February 1 Deadline for CRA Washington Advisory Group, received a 2007 CRA Service Award Nominations Distinguished Service award at the ACM Awards Banquet in The Computing Research Association invites nominations for the CRA San Diego. John Hopcroft, the Distinguished Service Award and the A. Nico Habermann Award for 2008. IBM Professor of Engineering and Applied Mathematics in Distinguished Service Award Computer Science at Cornell University, was also a recipient CRA makes an award, usually annually, to a person who has made an outstand­ of a Distinguished Service Award ing service contribution to the computing research community. This award 2007, but was unable to attend recognizes service in the areas of government affairs, professional societies, the presentation. publications or conferences, and leadership that has a major impact on computing research. See “Guidelines for Nominators” at: http://www.cra.org/distinguished. service.award. Former CRA board A. Nico Habermann Award members, Jan Cuny (NSF CRA makes an award, usually annually, to a person who has made outstanding and University of Oregon) contributions aimed at increasing the numbers and/or successes of underrepre­ and Dave Patterson (UC sented groups in the computing research community. This award recognizes work Berkeley), at the ACM in areas of government affairs, educational programs, professional societies, public Awards Banquet in San awareness, and leadership that has a major impact on advancing these groups in Diego where Jan received the computing research community. Recognized contributions can be focused CRA’s 2007 Habermann directly at the research level or at its immediate precursors, namely students at the Award. undergraduate or graduate levels. See “Guidelines for Nominators” at: http:// www.cra.org/habermann.award. For a list of previous recipients of these two awards, see: http://www.cra.org/ main/cra.projects.html. Nomination Procedures (for both awards) Send a nomination letter (no longer than two pages) that describes the contribu- tions on which the nomination is based to [email protected]. Refer to the appropri­ ate “Guidelines for Nominators” for the award. Include the candidate’s current curriculum vitae. Questions or comments may be addressed to [email protected]. The deadline for receipt of nominations is February 1, 2008. Nominators are responsible for collating the nomination materials before e-mailing the complete package to: [email protected]. Current members of the CRA Board of Directors are not eligible to be nomi­ nated for these awards, nor can they submit nominations or letters of support for nominees.

The computing research community thanks the following non-board members and former board members who served on CRA committees in 2006-07.

Fran Allen** (IBM) Jessica Hodgins (Carnegie Mellon University) Sethuraman Panchanathan (Arizona State Nancy Amato (Texas A&M University) Mary Jane Irwin** (Pennsylvania State University) John Bashor (Lawrence Berkeley National Lab) University) Manuel Perez (Virginia Tech) ** Sandra Johnson Baylor** (IBM) Sid Karin (University of California, Lori Pollock (University of Delaware) San Diego) Wayne Bennett (ECEDHA) Padma Raghavan (Pennsylvania State John King** (University of Michigan) University) Nina Berry (Sandia National Labs) Susan Landau (Sun Microsystems Laboratories) Ann Redelfs (Independent Consultant) Eric Brittain (MIT) Ed Lazowska** (University of Washington) Gabriel Silberman (CA Labs) Carla Brodley (Purdue University) Phoebe Lenear (NCSA) Barbara Simons (ACM) Sheila Castaneda (Clarke College) Nancy Leveson** (Massachusetts Institute of Mary Lou Soffa** (University of Virginia) Allison Clark (NCSA) Technology) Valerie Taylor (Texas A&M) Dorothy Deremer (Montclair State University) Monica Martinez-Canales (Sandia National Patricia Teller (University of Texas, El Paso) Gerald Engel (University of Connecticut) Laboratory) Rose van Thater Braan (Silver Buffalo John Fernandez (Texas A&M University, Margaret Martonosi (Princeton University) Consulting and Native American Academy) Corpus Christi) Stephenie McLean (Renaissance Computing Elaine Weyuker** (AT&T) Faith Fich (University of Toronto) Institute) Telle Whitney (Institute for Women in Kathleen Fisher (AT&T Labs – Research) Dinesh Mehta (Colorado School of Mines) Technology) Jim Foley** (Georgia Institute of Technology) Renee J. Miller (University of Toronto) Pamela Williams (Sandia National Laboratory) Mark Friedman (The Richard J. Roman Linda Morales (Texas A&M University) Stu Zweben** (Ohio State University) Institute) Melissa O’Neill (Harvey Mudd College) Vijay Gurbaxani (UC Irvine) Joann Ordille (Avaya Labs) **Former CRA board members

I Invent the Future New CRA Academic Members Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing College of Charleston (CS) 2007 Conference Indiana University (CS) October 17-20, 2007—Orlando, Florida Iowa State University (ECE) Details: http://gracehopper.org/2007/

Page  September 2007 Computing Research News

An Update on Trends in Degree Production

By Jay Vegso

With plans under way for CRA’s to grow over the years, it did not grow However, declines in the number of grouping the results is by categories of next Taulbee Survey of PhD-granting faster than the number granted to students passing qualifiers, new stu­ academia (with most working in PhD- CS/CE departments in the fall, it is a men between the early 1980s and the dents and total enrollments all indi­ granting departments), non-academia good time to mention that CRA’s web­ late 1990s. As a result, the share of cate that PhD production should peak (most in industry, and single-digit por­ site offers trend data from both the master’s degrees granted to women in the next few years. tions in government or self-employed), Taulbee reports and from the National during that period hovered between The share of CS doctoral degrees and work outside the United States Science Foundation. The two sources 25 percent and 30 percent. It climbed awarded to women has increased slow­ and Canada. Between 1985 and 1990, complement each other: Taulbee data to 33 percent between 2000 and 2002, ly over time. Nevertheless, between more doctorates worked in academia are more current and focused on CS/ before declining to 31 percent in 2004. 2002 and 2005 the figure hovered at a (50%) than outside it (40%). After CE (the NSF groups information sci­ As seen at the bachelor’s degree lev­ little over 20 percent. It is difficult to this, however, employment in industry ence with computer science), while el, the share of master’s degrees grant­ see how significant growth in women’s dominated, rising to nearly 60 percent NSF data provide longer trends, an ed to whites among U.S. citizens has share of CS doctorates can be achieved in 1997. Since 2001, however, there ­opportunity to compare CS/CE with fallen over the past several years. In without improvements at the under­ have been two dramatic reversals. Be­ other fields, and include all degree- 1994, 76 percent of master’s degrees in graduate and master’s levels. tween 2001 and 2003, the share of granting institutions. CS were granted to whites; in 2004, In contrast to the declining share of doctorates going into academia The following is a brief summary of the number was 60 percent. Blacks, bachelor’s and master’s degrees grant­ jumped from 44 percent to 64 per­ some of the information that you can Hispanics and American Indians/ ed to whites, a relatively consistent 70 cent, with a concomitant drop in the find on the website. It focuses on the Alaskan Natives all saw their share of percent to 75 percent of doctorates share working in industry from 52 per­ relative popularity of CS and trends in degrees double, though they started were granted to them between 1993 cent to 32 percent. As the fortunes of degree production by gender, ethnicity from a small base and none has bro­ and 2005. The share granted to Asians the IT industry recovered, so did doc­ and citizenship. Basic employment in­ ken 10 percent. In 2000, the share of varied between 15 percent and 20 per­ toral employment in the sector. By formation about doctorate recipients degrees granted to Asians also grew to cent, while blacks, Hispanics and 2006, industry claimed 54 percent of also is touched on. 27 percent from 17 percent in 1994. American Indians each received less doctorates while academia had slipped Unlike what is seen at the under­ than 5 percent of degrees. to 33 percent. During all of this, the Bachelor’s Degrees graduate level, a large portion of The biggest trend in the citizenship share of doctorates working outside The most recent data reported by ­master’s degrees are granted to foreign­ of doctorate recipients in the past de­ the United States and Canada varied the NSF are from 2004, when degree ers. In 2004, temporary visa holders cade has been the growth in the por­ between 10 percent and 18 percent production peaked. Between 1998 and received 44 percent of CS master’s tion granted to non-U.S. citizens on from the mid-1980s until the mid- 2004, the number of degrees awarded ­degrees. This number has been temporary visas. Between 1993 and 1990s, and then dropped to about 5 more than doubled to over 57,000. ­relatively stable since 2000 (and was 2003, about 50 percent to 53 percent percent until 2004. Since then, the Likewise, the CS share of all under­ only 30 percent in 1991). of doctorates were foreigners. This fig­ share working abroad has returned to graduate degrees granted rose from ure increased in 2004 and 2005, to 13 percent. about 2 percent to 4 percent. Doctoral Degrees slightly over 60 percent. The growth of ­Interestingly, this equals the share The NSF has released data on doc­ temporary visa holders among these Additional Information ­enjoyed by CS during the production torates up to 2005. Between 2002 and doctorate recipients has been steady. There are three places on the CRA boom of the early 1980s. When NSF 2005, CS doctoral degrees granted in­ In 1994, 75 percent of non-U.S. citi­ website to find degree information: data appear for the period 2004 creased 40 percent, to 1,136. During zens held temporary visas. This had the CRA Bulletin (www.cra.org/bulle­ through 2006, they are likely to reflect this period, CS enjoyed the fastest risen to 90 percent in 2005. Taulbee tin), the Taulbee Survey home page the Taulbee Survey’s findings that growth rate among all science and en­ Survey responses for enrollments (www.cra.org/statistics), and the com­ ­production dropped significantly gineering (S&E) fields. In addition, it ­suggest that these figures are unlikely pilation of NSF data at www.cra.org/ (28% among Taulbee’s PhD-granting reached its highest share of PhDs to change significantly in the next info/education/us/. ­departments). awarded among both S&E fields (4%) few years. Between 1984 and 2004, the share and all fields (2.6%). Taulbee Survey The Taulbee Survey also collects in­ of CS bachelor’s degrees awarded to data from 2006 suggest that the NSF formation on what doctorate recipi­ women fell from 37 percent to 25 per­ will find that CS doctoral production ents were doing the first year after they cent. Taulbee data from 2005 and will surge another 25 percent that year. received their degrees. One way of 2006 suggest that upcoming NSF stud­ ies will report that the share of degrees granted to women continued to fall in those years. Since 1991, the biggest trend in the ethnic background of U.S. citizens who received bachelor’s degrees in CS has been a decrease in the share of de­ grees granted to non-Hispanic whites. In 2004, whites received 64 percent of CS bachelor’s degrees, down from 77 percent in 1991. Small gains were made by other groups, particularly Asian/Pacific Islanders, who saw their representation grow from 9 percent to 17 percent by 2001. Regarding the citizenship of under­ graduate degree recipients, the NSF ­reported that only 8 percent of degrees in CS were awarded to foreigners. This percentage has not changed ­significantly since 1991.

Master’s Degrees As with bachelor’s degree informa­ tion, the NSF’s most recent data end in 2004. As a result, they do not ­reflect the decline that the Taulbee Survey has found for the years since then. What they do show is that pro­ duction nearly doubled between 1997 and 2004 to 19,853. During this build­ up, CS reached its highest share of all degrees granted: 3.8 percent in 2003. As was the case at the undergraduate level, however, the popularity of CS dropped slightly in 2004. Although the number of master’s degrees granted to women continued Page  Computing Research News September 2007

New CRA Staff Member Transitions and Awards

CRA is pleased to welcome Kapil Patnaik to the The Anita Borg Institute presented Women of Vision Awards to Leah Jamieson Deborah Estrin Duy-Loan staff as its IT Manager/Webmaster. (Purdue University), (UC Los Angeles), and Le (Texas Instruments) at a gala reception in San Jose on May 3, 2007. They were Kapil has a Bachelor of Technology degree from the honored for their accomplishments and contributions as women in technology in Regional Engineering College in Rourkela, India, and the categories of Innovation, Social Impact, and Leadership (respectively). an M.S. from George Washington University with a CRA board member, Martha E. Pollack, was named Dean of the School of concentration in electrical engineering, networks, and Information at the University of Michigan, effective August 1. She was previously communication. He comes to CRA from the American Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the university, and Public Human Service Association where he served as served as Associate Chair for CS&E since 2004. Web Manager. Prior to that, he was a Web Operations In May it was announced that the IEEE had named Randal E. Bryant, Specialist at Interactive Multimedia Applications University Professor and Dean of the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Group. Mellon University, as the recipient of its 2007 Emanuel R. Piore Award in Kapil brings with him more than six years of experience in Web Development/ recognition of his contributions to the simulation and verification of electronic Design Processes, and we look forward to the contributions he will make in systems. Congratulations Randy! Jan Cuny was recently honored by Women in Technology (WIT) with one of strengthening CRA’s website and upgrading its IT services. their Leadership Awards for her contributions in the field of government. Cuny, Professor of Computer and Information Science at the University of Oregon, currently directs the Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) program in CISE at the National Science Foundation. WIT is a non-profit 2008 CRA Outstanding Undergraduate organization that contributes to the success of professional women in the Washington technology community. Carnegie Mellon University has named CRA board member, Peter Lee, the Awards Deadline October 15 head of its CS Department in the School of Computer Science. Lee was previously professor and vice provost for research at CMU. The Computing Research Association is pleased to announce the 14th annual Congratulations to Shankar Sastry who was recently appointed dean of the CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Awards Program, which recognizes undergradu­ College of Engineering at UC-Berkley. ate students in North American universities who show outstanding research po­ Harvard University has named Michael D. Smith its new dean of the Faculty tential in an area of computing research. of Arts and Sciences. Smith, who assumed his new position in July, was previously Nominees must attend a university or college located in North America, and associate dean for computer science and engineering at Harvard. must be nominated by two faculty members and recommended by the chair of Congratulations to CRA board member, Anne Condon, Professor of their home department. No more than two male and two female candidates can Computer Science at the University of British Columbia, who has recently been be recommended by the same department chair in the same year. promoted to Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Strategic Initiatives. The awards committee looks for demonstrated excellence of computing re­ Stu Feldman has been named Vice President, Engineering, East Coast, at search ability. The type of department in which the student is majoring and the Google. He was formerly Vice President for Computer Science at IBM Research. Former CRA board chair, Jim Foley, the Stephen Fleming Chair in area of computing in which the student has demonstrated ability are immaterial. Telecommunications at the College of Computing at Georgia Tech, was honored What is important is the quality of the research work done by the student. The by ACM’s Computer Human Interaction Special Interest Group (SIGCHI) with a awards committee also considers the student’s academic record and service to the Lifetime Achievement Award, its most prestigious award. It was presented at community. Preference is given to students in their senior year (or the equivalent). ACM’s Computer/Human Interaction 2007 Conference in San Jose, California. A cash prize of $1,000 will be awarded to each of two undergraduate students, Bobby Schnabel has recently assumed his new position as dean of the School one female and one male. A small number of other outstanding candidates will be of Informatics at the University of Indiana. A CRA board member, Schnabel was recognized as Runners-Up and Finalists. All nominees whose work is considered previously vice provost/associate vice chancellor for Academic and Campus to be exemplary are recognized with Honorable Mentions. Technology and professor of computer science at the University of Colorado at The awards are presented at one of the major computing research conferences Boulder. sponsored by CRA, ACM, the IEEE Computer Society, SIAM, AAAI, or USE­ NIX. The two first-prize winners will receive financial assistance from CRA toward their travel to the conference. CRA will also sponsor a departmental reception for In Memoriam the two winners at their home institutions. Stephen Mahaney CRA gratefully acknowledges the support of Microsoft Research and Mitsubi­ Friends and colleagues are mourning the sudden death of , a Senior Advisor in the Computer and Information Science and Engineering shi Electric Research Labs (MERL) who sponsor the Outstanding Undergraduate Directorate at the National Science Foundation, on June 26, 2007. Awards Program in alternate years. MERL is the 2008 sponsor. We are sorry to report the death of Ray von Dran, Syracuse University, on July Additional information about the nomination procedure and criteria for selec­ 23. Dr. von Dran was about to step down as dean of the School of Information tion are available on the CRA website: http://www.cra.org. All nominations must Studies at Syracuse. He was an active member of the IT Deans Group whose reach CRA by October 15, 2007. meetings are collocated with CRA board meetings, and he will be greatly missed by his many friends and colleagues in the community.

Undergraduate Awards Presented CRA’s Undergraduate Awards were presented at two venues this year. The female winner, Stephanie Rosenthal from Carnegie Mellon University, received her award at the SIGCHI Awards Dinner in San Jose on April 29. Jim Foley (Georgia Tech), former CRA board chair, made the presentation. On April 17, CRA sponsored a reception for students and faculty of the CS program at Princeton University to honor Lester Mackey, the male winner of this year’s award, and David Weiss, who received Honorable Mention in the 2007 competition. Jen Rexford, Princeton faculty member and a CRA board member, made the presentations. Photo by Ben Shneiderman Ben by Photo Stephanie Rosenthal and Jim Foley at the SIGCHI Awards Dinner on April 29.

Pictured at Princeton (l to r): Dean of the Faculty, David Dobkin; Lester Mackey; Jen Rexford; David Weiss; and Vince Poor, Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Photo credit: Frank Wojciechowski Photography Wojciechowski Frank credit: Photo

Page  September 2007 Computing Research News

CRA Participates in Nominees Sought for CNSF Exhibit CRA Board The Coalition for National Science Funding held its annual Science Exposi­ tion on Capitol Hill in late June. The event, a science fair for Congress and staff, The Computing Research Association seeks your help in suggesting had 35 booths manned by researchers representing universities and scientific soci­ nominations for its Board of Directors. The deadline for receipt of eties featuring some of the important research funded by NSF. This year CRA was nominations is November 30, 2007. represented by Lydia Kavraki, a computer science professor from Rice University, Each spring CRA’s member organizations elect about one-third of whose research into using computational tools to solve problems in a range of the association’s board members to three-year terms. Candidates are not ­areas such as biology was a hit with all those who stopped at the booth. Kavraki is required to be affiliated with CRA member organizations. It is important pictured chatting with Rep. Dan Lipinski (D–IL). There were also a number of that the CRA Board represents the interests of the entire computing NSF staff members and a large contingent of Congressional staff, particularly research community, and it is CRA’s policy to solicit a broad range of from the House Science and Technology Committee, in attendance. candidates. • On January 8, 2008, from the nominations received, the Elections Committee will announce its candidates for the ballot. • On February 8, 2008, nominations are due for candidates nominated by petition signed by the heads of at least 10 Constituent Member Organizations that are current in dues payment. The CRA board is a working board, and all members are expected to actively participate. Although CRA has a relatively small professional staff, board members have detailed involvement in all major projects. Recent and current projects include: • Working with the computing research community through the Computing Community Consortium to envision the future. • Planning the biennial CRA Conference at Snowbird. • Conducting the annual CRA Taulbee Survey. • Conducting other surveys (e.g., industrial lab salaries; departmental budgets, space, personnel). • Developing workshops on critical policy issues for computing research. • Planning workshops on academic and industrial careers and effective teaching. • Increasing the participation of women and minorities in computing research, with the help of National Science Foundation grants. • Improving public and policymaker understanding of the importance of computing and computing research in our society. *** SNOWBIRD 2008 ALERT *** In addition to actively participating in board projects, board members are asked to attend two board meetings per year and pay their travel and Department Chairs and Directors of Labs/Centers hotel costs. Additional information on CRA and its activities is available on the Web at http://www.cra.org or by e-mailing [email protected]. Mark your calendars now for CRA’s Conference at Please contact the person you are nominating before submitting his or Snowbird 2008! her name to ensure that the nominee is willing to stand for election to the July 13-15 board. Those who are nominated are required to write a brief statement (not to exceed 100 words) supporting their nominations. To receive a nomination form, send an e-mail request to elections@ cra.org. Nominations must reach CRA by November 30, 2007. CRA Academic Careers Workshop for New Faculty and Advanced Graduate Students in CRA Welcomes New Board Computing-Related Disciplines Members February 25-26, 2008 – Washington, DC See: http://www.cra.org

Keeping Up on the News? Check out these CRA Sites CRA Bulletin www.cra.org/bulletin CRA Policy Blog http://cra.org/blog Subscribe to its RSS feed or sign up All the latest in computing research for a digest version sent out by e-mail. policy news.

Sample Headlines: Sample Headlines: Changes in Employment and Wages Women and IT in BizTech for Computer Specialists President Will Sign COMPETES Act Sharp Drop in Extended Mass Layoffs Competitiveness Bills Wrapping Up? in IT Industries Since 2001 President’s Remarks on Research and CCC Talks and an RFP at FCRC Innovation Record Growth in PhD Production Appropriations Update How Companies Decide Where to Locate R&D NSF Reports on Research Publishing NYTimes Article on Women and CS Pictured above at CRA’s summer board meeting at the Microsoft Conference Center are (l to r:) Board Chair Dan Reed (UNC), IEEE CS rep Marie desJardins Sign up for CRA Announcements: Receive e-mail messages about CRA projects (UMBC), Fred Schneider (Columbia), Laura Haas (IBM Almaden Research Cen­ and events on a regular basis. To subscribe, see details at http://www.cra.org. ter), Martha Pollack (UMichigan), and Andy Bernat (CRA Executive Director). Page  Computing Research News September 2007

2006-07 Computing Research Association Members

Arizona State University - CSE Northwestern University - EECS University of Louisiana at Lafayette - University of Pittsburgh - IS Auburn University - CSSE Nova Southeastern University - CS * CACS University of Puget Sound - MCS Binghamton University, SUNY - CS Oakland University - CSE University of Louisville - CECS University of Rochester - CS Boston College - CS Ohio State University - CSE University of Maine - CS University of South Alabama - CIS Boston University - CS Ohio University - EECS University of Maryland - CS University of South Carolina - CSE Bowling Green State University - CS Oklahoma State University - CS University of Maryland, Baltimore Co - University of South Florida - CSE Bradley University - CS Old Dominion University - CS CSEE University of Southern California - EES Brandeis University - CS Oregon State University - EECS University of Maryland, Baltimore University of Southern California - CS Brigham Young University - CS Pace University - CSIS County - IS University of Tennessee, Knoxville - Brown University - CS Pennsylvania State University - IST University of Massachusetts, Amherst - EECS CS Bryn Mawr College - MCS Pennsylvania State University - CSE University of Texas, Arlington - CSE University of Massachusetts, Boston - University of Texas, Austin - ECE * Bucknell University - CS Polytechnic University - CIS CS University of Texas, Austin - CS California Institute of Technology - CS Pomona College - MCS University of Michigan - I University of Texas, Dallas - CS California Polytechnic State University - Portland State University - CS University of Michigan - EECS CS University of Texas, El Paso - CS Princeton University - CS University of Michigan, Dearborn - CIS Carnegie Mellon University - CS University of Toronto - CS Purdue University - ECE University of Minnesota - CSE Case Western Reserve University - University of Tulsa - MCS Purdue University - CS University of Minnesota, Duluth - CS * EECS University of Utah - CS Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - CS University of Mississippi - CIS City University of New York, Graduate University of Virginia - CS Rice University - CS University of Missouri, Columbia - CS Center - CS Rochester Institute of Technology - CS University of Washington - CSE Claremont Graduate University - IST * University of Missouri, Kansas City - Roosevelt University - CS&T CS * University of Washington - I Clemson University - CS Rutgers University, Busch Campus - CS University of Washington, Bothell - CS Colgate University - CS University of Missouri, Rolla - CS Saint Louis University - MCS University of Montana - CS University of Washington, Tacoma - College of William & Mary - CS Santa Clara University - CE CSS Colorado School of Mines - MCS University of Nebraska at Omaha - Simon Fraser University - CS CS/IST University of Waterloo - CS Colorado State University - CS Singapore Management University - IS University of Nebraska, Lincoln - CSE University of Wisconsin, Madison - CS Columbia University - CS Southern Illinois University, University of Nevada, Las Vegas - CS University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee - Cornell University - CS EECS Carbondale - CS University of Nevada, Reno - CSE Cornell University - ECE University of Wyoming - CS Southern Methodist University - CSE University of New Brunswick - CS Dalhousie University - CS Utah State University - CS Southern Polytechnic State University - University of New Hampshire - CS Dartmouth College - CS Vanderbilt University - EECS CSE University of New Mexico - CS DePaul University - CS Villanova University - CS * Stanford University - CS University of New Mexico - ECE Drexel University - IST Stevens Institute of Technology - CS Virginia Commonwealth University - University of North Carolina at Chapel CS Drexel University - CS Stony Brook University, SUNY - CS Hill - CS Virginia Tech - CS Duke University - CS Swarthmore College - CS University of North Carolina at Chapel Emory University - MCS Syracuse University - IS Hill - SILS Wake Forest University - CS Florida Atlantic University - CSE Temple University - CIS University of North Carolina, Washington State University - EECS Florida Institute of Technology - CS Texas A&M University - CS Charlotte - IT Washington University in St. Louis - CS Florida International University - CS Texas State University - CS * University of North Dakota - CS Wayne State University - CS Florida State University - CS Toyota Technological Institute at University of North Texas - CS Williams College - CS Florida State University - IS ­Chicago - CS University of Notre Dame - CSE Worcester Polytechnic Institute - CS George Mason University - CS * Tufts University - CS University of Oklahoma - CS Wright State University - CSE George Washington University - CS * Union College - CS University of Oregon - CIS Yale University - CS Georgia Institute of Technology - CSE * University at Buffalo - CSE University of Pennsylvania - CIS York University - CS Georgia Institute of Technology - CSS * University of Alabama, Birmingham - University of Pittsburgh - CS Georgia Institute of Technology - IIC * CIS Georgia Southern University - IT University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa - CS Georgia State University - CS University of Alberta - CS Labs and Centers Members Grinnell College - MCS University of Arizona - CS Harvard University - CS University of Arkansas at Little Rock - Microsoft Corporation (Sustaining IDA Center for Computing Member) Sciences Harvey Mudd College - CS IS&SE Intel Corporation Hobart and William Smith Colleges - University of British Columbia - CS * IBM Research (Supporting MCS University of Calgary - CS Member) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Hofstra University - CS * University of California, Berkeley - Sun Microsystems (Supporting Illinois Institute of Technology - CS EECS Member) Los Alamos National Laboratory Illinois State University - ACS University of California, Berkeley - IMS Mitsubishi Electric Research Labs Indiana University - ICS University of California, Davis - CS Accenture Technology Labs National Center for Atmospheric Research Iowa State University - CS University of California, Irvine - ICS Argonne National Laboratory NCSA Johns Hopkins University - SI University of California, Los Angeles - Avaya NEC Laboratories America Johns Hopkins University - CS CS CA Labs Pacific Northwest National Juniata College - IT & CS University of California, Riverside - CSE Computer Science Research Laboratory Kansas State University - CIS University of California, San Diego - Institute at Sandia National CSE Panasonic Information & Kent State University - CS Labs University of California, Santa Barbara - Fraunhofer Center for Networking Technologies Lab Lafayette College - CS CS Ricoh Innovations Lehigh University - CSE Experimental Software University of California, Santa Cruz - Engineering San Diego Supercomputer Center Long Island University - ICS CS SAP Labs Louisiana State University - CS Fujitsu Laboratories of America University of California, Santa Cruz - Google SRI International Massachusetts Institute of Technology - CE Hewlett-Packard Company Telcordia Technologies EECS University of Central Arkansas - CS * Memorial University of Newfoundland - University of Central Florida - CS CS * University of Chicago - CS Affiliate Professional Society Members Miami University - CS University of Cincinnati - CS Michigan State University - CSE University of Colorado, Boulder - CS American Association for Artificial Intelligence Michigan Technological University - CS University of Delaware - CIS Mississippi State University - CSE University of Denver - ECS Association for Computing Machinery Montana State University - CS University of Georgia - CS Montclair State University - CS University of Hawaii - ICS Canadian Association of Computer Science (CACS/AIC) Mount Holyoke College - CS * University of Houston - CS National University of Singapore - University of Illinois, Chicago - CS CS/IS IEEE Computer Society University of Illinois, Urbana Naval Postgraduate School - CS ­Champaign - CS Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics New Mexico State University - CS University of Illinois, Urbana New York University - CS ­Champaign - ECE North Carolina State University - CS University of Iowa - CS USENIX Association North Dakota State University - CSOR * University of Kansas - EECS Northeastern University - CIS University of Kentucky - CS *Indicates new members in 2006-07

Page  September 2007 Computing Research News

but is still a $248 million (4.7 percent) ­preserved some of the increases they re­ increasing the number of U.S. students Key Appropriations, decrease versus FY 2007. Advanced ceived in a final bill that ultimately cut who choose to study math and science Authorizations from Page  Technology Development (6.3) would spending by 4 percent. and increasing the number of teachers percent increase in the House bill. see an increase of $571 million over the Despite the veto threat, the funding who teach them, as well as some prize House Appropriations Committee request (11.4 percent), but decrease levels included in the appropriations programs and other organizational members appeared particularly pleased $874 million (13.6 percent) versus bills for science are powerful symbols changes to spur innovation at federal with the ASCR program, noting in the FY 2007. of the support R&D issues have in science agencies like DOE Sci. (As this committee report that accompanied In addition, the Defense Advanced Congress—even if it is likely that those issue went to press, the final details on the appropriations bill to the floor Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is levels might get modified in the com­ the compromise measure were not yet that: also called out for special reductions in ing months for reasons having nothing known. But see CRA’s Computing Re­ the House bill, related to concerns the to do with Congress’s support of search Policy Blog for all the details Perhaps no other area of research at committee continues to have with the ­science. (http://cra.org/blog). the Department is so critical [as rate of spending at the agency. DARPA Another powerful symbol of sup­ Symbolically, this compromise legis­ ASCR) to sustaining U.S. leadership has been slow to execute programs for port is the conference agreement on lation is especially important for Con­ in science and technology, revolution- which it has been appropriated money, H.R. 2272, gress. Both Congress and the Adminis­ izing the way science is done, and im- the America COMPETES either because the agency has been a —a compromise bill between the tration have spent a considerable proving research productivity. Act While the DOE Sci increases are careful steward of taxpayer dollars or Senate’s S. 761, The America COM- amount of time over the past two years because programs have become bottle­ PETES Act and the House’s HR 2272, talking about the importance of bol­ significant, they are mitigated some­ st what because the agency did not get its necked in the Director’s office, depend­ the 21 Century Competitiveness Act. This stering the chain of innovation that full allotment of funding in FY 2007 ing on whether one believes the agen­ huge bill incorporates significant por­ helps keep America a world leader, but (as requested by the President and ap­ cy’s explanation or the feeling among tions of both chambers’ versions of om­ neither has much to show for it. With proved by Congress) because of the ap­ some congressional committee staff. As nibus innovation legislation, calling for HR 2272 on its way to final passage, it propriations “meltdown” that ultimate­ a result, the committee reduced fund­ the doubling of NIST, NSF and DOE appears that could change soon. ly required a long-term, stopgap fund­ ing in the Biological Warfare, Electron­ Sci over seven years, the creation of a ing measure that cut funding to agen­ ics Technology, Advanced Aerospace variety of new programs geared towards cies across the board. While both NSF Systems and Land Warfare Technology and DOE Sci had some of their gains program elements. These cuts amount in the FY 2007 appropriations process to a loss of $80 million to DARPA protected in the stopgap measure, ­versus FY 2007, a reduction of 2.6 DOE Sci was harder hit. ­percent. The House and Senate Appropria­ However, all these funding levels are CRA Hosts Tisdale Fellows tions Subcommittees on Commerce, just a first step in what promises to be a On August 2, CRA hosted a luncheon for the 2007 Tisdale Fellows, where Justice, and Science also approved their contentious appropriations process Peter Harsha provided a brief overview of CRA’s government affairs activities. versions of the FY 2008 CJS Appropri­ with the President. The President has The Tisdale Fellowship Program brings college students to Washington, DC for ations bill, which include funding for indicated he intends to veto most, if summer internships that explore current public policy issues of critical importance science agencies NSF, NIST, NASA not all, of the spending bills the House to the high technology sector of the economy. and NOAA. Under both chambers’ has approved so far, should they be pre­ versions of the bill, NSF would see sented to him. For Congress-watchers, an increase of about 10 percent to its this is not terribly surprising. Facing for research accounts. Additionally, the the first time a Congress controlled by Senate included language noting its Democrats, it was likely that the Presi­ dent would be drawn into a political support for NSF’s proposed new cross- directorate research initiative called fight over spending, and his most effec­ tive leverage in that fight is the veto. “Cyber-enabled Discovery and Innova­ tion” (CDI) and providing the full re­ While Congress continues to move for­ quested funding for the program of ward with passing the twelve annual ap­ $52 million in FY 2008—of which propriations bills necessary to fund the NSF’s Computer and Information Sci­ operations of government, it is unlikely ence and Engineering (CISE) director­ that many will pass with the majority ate will control about $20 million. The required to override any potential presi­ initiative aims to “explore radically new dential veto. Indeed, in the House, the concepts, approaches and tools at the “magic number” for the President is intersection of computational and 145—he needs only 145 out of 201 Re­ physical and biological worlds to ad­ publican members of the House to sus­ dress such challenges,” and stems, in tain any veto and preserve his leverage part, from an idea for an initiative that in the spending negotiations that will emerged from the computing theory follow. Photography Wojciechowski Frank Credit: Photo While it is unclear what kind of community. NSF intends to increase (Left to right) Susan Fredholm (Technology CEO Council and Mehlman train wreck the appropriations process funding for the program to $250 mil­ Vogel Castagnetti); Cynthia Kuo (Dell); Joshua Cregger (Monster); lion per year by FY 2012, with CISE will be, many in the scientific advocacy Chung-Chun Huang (Computing Research Association); Rolando likely controlling a proportionate share. community believe it may again end in Manzo (Information Technology Association of America); Srinivas The Senate Appropriations Com­ another large omnibus appropriations Gopalan (TechNet); Avonne Bell (Hewlett Packard); Kate Vershov (Philips mittee also included increases of just bill passed late in the session (or early Electronics); Kristin Centanni (Business Software Alliance); and Patrick over 15 percent for NIST’s core re­ next year). Despite strong support for Dieter (Infotech Strategies) search programs, and a $69 million science programs in Congress and by budget for the Computer Science and the President, any science programs Applied Mathematics program at the stuck in an omnibus could be threat­ ened by any across-the-board cuts to the agency. Expanding the Pipeline from Page  As this issue goes to press, the bill that might be required to get House Appropriations Subcommittee spending down to a level that the Presi­ 3. http://www.cse.ucsd.edu/isca2007/TravelGrants.html on Defense had just released its ap­ dent will ultimately accept and sign. 4. http://www.workoptionsgroup.com/ Then the focus of the science advocacy 5. http://gracehopper.org/2007/participate/child-care/ proved funding levels for the Depart­ 6. http://www-gso-edit.princeton.edu/ ment of Defense, including Defense re­ community will once again be on pro­ tecting the increases for science agen­ studentlife/childcare/carebridge/ search, for FY 2008. Overall, funding 7. http://ccrs.hcd.uiuc.edu/parents/backup.htm levels for defense research would be up cies approved by Congress and support­ compared to the President’s requested ed by the President in a bill in which Sarita V. Adve ([email protected]) is a Professor of Computer Science at UIUC. budgets for FY 2008, but down—in those programs are just a few of the This article evolved from discussions with Anne Condon (UBC), Margaret Martonosi some cases significantly—compared to hundreds, if not thousands, of pro­ (Princeton), and Elaine Weyuker (AT&T), and is additionally endorsed by Vikram Adve, FY 2007. Basic research (6.1) would be grams competing for support. The Andrea Arpaci-Dusseau, Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau, Anita Borg Institute for Women and good news for the community, how­ Technology, Doug Burger, Alan Cox, Carla Ellis, Babak Falsafi, Mark Hill, Mary Jane up $48 million over the request, but ever, is that such a strategy did find Irwin, Norm Jouppi, Maria Klawe, Li-Shiuan Peh, Larry Pileggi, Marc Snir, and Guri down $10 million (or 0.7 percent) ver­ Sohi. Andrew Bernat, Richard Ladner, and David Patterson also gave valuable comments. sus FY 2007. Applied research (6.2) some small amount of success last year would go up $724 million compared to when a special protection was granted the request (a 16.6 percent increase), to NSF, NIST and DOE Sci that

Page  Computing Research News September 2007

Professional Opportunities U.S. citizenship and a DoD TS//SI clearance are required. CCS will sponsor this clearance for those selected. CRN Advertising Policy The Institute for Defense Analyses is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. See http://www.cra.org/main/cra.jobshow.html Please send responses or inquiries to: Francis Sullivan Director Colby College we’d love to see your resume. for outstanding Ph.D. level scientists, IDA Center for Computing Sciences Computer Science Full-time To apply, e-mail your resume to: mathematicians and engineers to address 17100 Science Drive Assistant Professor Position mailto:[email protected]. problems in high-performance computing, Bowie, MD 20715-4300 Full-time tenure-track position, assistant EOE. cryptography and network security. IDA/ [email protected] professor, starting September 2008. Review CCS is an independent research center 301-805-7534 of applications will begin November 1, Henry M. Jackson Foundation sponsored by the National Security Agency. 2007. Bioinformatics Cell IDA/CCS scientists and engineers work Tata Research Development & For more information, see: Senior Scientist on difficult scientific problems, problems Design Centre (TRDDC) http://www.cs.colby.edu/jobs/ We are looking for a dynamic scientist vital to the nation’s security. Stable funding Software and Systems R&D to join the U.S. Army Medical Command’s provides for a vibrant research environment Member of Research Staff D. E. Shaw & Co., L. P. Bioinformatics Cell (BIC). This opening and an atmosphere of intellectual inquiry TRDDC, a Pune, India-based research Software Developer is for a senior-level scientist with proven free of administrative burdens. unit of Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. Location: New York, NY and technical experience to work in an inter- Research at IDA/CCS emphasizes (TCS), is looking for exceptional and highly Cupertino, CA disciplinary environment with focus computer science, computer architecture, motivated MS/MTech/PhD candidates The D. E. Shaw group is looking for on the development and application of electrical engineering, information theory with research aptitude in all areas of top-notch, innovative software developers computational solutions to biomedical and all branches of mathematics. Because Computer Science. Specific areas of interest to help it expand its tech venture and problems involving the analysis of genomic, CCS research staff work on complex topics include algorithms; formal methods; model- proprietary trading activities. We’re a global proteomic, and time-series physiologic often engaging multidisciplinary teams, driven software development; program investment and technology development data. The candidate should have a Ph.D. candidates should demonstrate depth and requirements analysis; software firm with approximately US $29 billion in in a related discipline (physical science in a particular field as well as a broad testing; distributed/operating systems aggregate investment capital and a decidedly with experience in biomedical problems or understanding of computational science and networks; data privacy and security; different approach to doing business. life science with excellent computational and technology. databases and data warehouses; statistical The application of advanced technology skills), at least 7 years of experience, and a Developing imaginative computational data analysis and data mining; machine is an integral part of virtually everything strong publication record. The candidate solutions employing novel digital learning; information extraction and we do, from developing computationally is expected to simultaneously work in technology is one of several long-term retrieval; decision support systems; among intensive strategies for trading in securities multiple projects involving a diverse and themes of work at CCS. The Center others. markets around the globe to designing a inter-disciplinary team of scientists across is equipped with a very large variety TRDDC is one of India’s premier R&D supercomputer intended to fundamentally multiple laboratories. This position is of hardware and software. The latest centers in Computer Science, and TCS transform the process of drug discovery. located in Frederick, Maryland. developments in high-end computing is the largest Indian IT company. R&D Developers at the firm work on a variety To apply send resume to: are heavily used and projects routinely work at TRDDC leads to the creation of of interesting technical projects including Jaques Reifman, Ph.D. challenge the capability of the most intellectual assets that address some of the real-time data analysis, distributed Email: [email protected] advanced architectures. most challenging problems faced by the system development, and the creation of Phone: 301-619-7915 IDA/CCS offers a competitive salary, IT industry and, more generally, by the tools for mathematical modeling. They http://www.bhsai.org an excellent benefits package and a superior computing science research community. also enjoy access to some of the most professional working environment. IDA/ Researchers at TRDDC collaborate with advanced computing resources in the Institute for Defense Analyses CCS is located in a modern research park academia, start-ups, industrial partners, and world. If you’re interested in applying Center for Computing Sciences in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, TCS clients; publish R&D results in top- your intellect to challenging problems of Research Staff Members DC. tier conferences/journals; and instantiate software architecture and engineering in a The Institute for Defense Analyses their findings to create novel products and stimulating, fast-paced environment, then Center for Computing Sciences is looking services. TRDDC offers a friendly and

Computer Science at TTI-Chicago Faculty Positions at All Levels

Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago (TTI-C) is a recently established institute of computer science located on The University of Chicago campus. Applications are being accepted for faculty positions at all ranks. In addition to traditional faculty positions,TTI-C is also seeking limited term faculty positions. The Institute is expected to grow to a steady-state of 12 traditional faculty (tenure and tenure track), and 18 limited term faculty by 2010.

TTI-Chicago is supported by the earnings on a fund of $105 million. We are dedicated to education of Doctoral students and to basic research in fundamental areas of computer science. Faculty members are expected to receive continuing research grants and will have a teaching load of one course per year in a quarter system. TTI-C has close ties with the Computer Science Dept. of The University of Chicago.

Faculty is particularly sought with research programs in computer vision, theoretical computer science, computational linguistics, computational biology, electronic commerce and scientific computing.

For all positions we require a Ph.D. Degree or Ph.D. candidacy, with the degree conferred prior to date of hire. Submit your application electronically at: http://ttic.uchicago.edu/facapp

Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Professional Opportunities informal research environment, along with The Search Committee requests inter­ Name: Robin King computationally intensive interdisciplinary an opportunity to pursue a PhD while ested applicants to send their CV and a Email: [email protected] efforts across the full range of research working. statement of interest by Sept. 30, 2007. Phone: (217) 244-4789 fields, and will enjoy a faculty appointment If you have a top-flight academic The start date can be as early as Aug. in Computer Science or other related record and a passion for R&D, come join University of Illinois at Urbana- 15, 2007. For more information about our department. Candidates must possess us! Write to us at: [email protected] with Champaign research, please look at: http://L2R.cs.uiuc. an appropriate doctoral degree and an ‘Opportunities’ as the subject. For more Computer Science Department edu/~cogcomp/ established record of leadership in high-end details visit us at: http://www.tcs-trddc.com Post Doctoral Research Associate research computation. Machine Learning Post-Docs at UIUC University of Rochester Founded in 1850, the University of University of Colorado-Boulder The Cognitive Computation Group Computer Science Department Rochester is one of the nation’s leading Interdisciplinary Telecommunications at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Director: Center for Computational Arts, private research institutions. Many Program (ITP) Champaign has one or two post-doc Sciences and Engineering of its doctoral programs are ranked Faculty Director positions for the 2007-08 academic year, The University of Rochester invites among the finest in their fields, and the Senior Instructor with possible extensions. applications for a tenured or tenure distinctive combination of small size and ITP is the nation’s first program of its The positions are in the area of track position as Director of an emerging high quality facilitates intellectual and kind, has a 30-year track record of success, Machine Learning and, in particular, the Center for Computational Arts, Sciences, educational linkages across departments and possesses an active research faculty with use of background knowledge and inference and Engineering. A joint venture of and schools. Full-time enrollment totals a dynamic and international student body. techniques as part of the learning process. the University Office of Information approximately 4,600 undergraduates and To learn more about the program go to: Prospective candidates should apply Technology and some 16 departments 2,900 graduate students. Aggregate annual http://telecom.colorado.edu with a cover letter, CV, statement of in the College of Arts, Sciences, and external research funding exceeds $350M. To apply for either position, go to research interests and accomplishments, Engineering and the School of Medicine Signature efforts in computational science http://www.jobsatcu.com, and search for and names and e-mail addresses of three and Dentistry, the Center represents a include astrophysical fluid dynamics, job posting number 801877 and 801876, references. Please send by e-mail with the substantial commitment of space and bioinformatics, cognitive science, computer respectively. subject line: “Post-Doc ML” to: financial resources. The Director will serve architecture, inertial-confinement fusion, as administrative and technical leader for (continued)

Page 11 Computing Research News September 2007

Professional Opportunities molecular dynamics, plasma physics, and University of Victoria one of Canada’s leading universities with of PhDs awarded places the department statistical language modeling. Department of Computer Science a reputation for excellence in teaching among the top 30 in the United States. Creation of the Center for Department Chair and research. Situated at the southeast tip Research expenditures have more than Computational Arts, Science, and Applications are invited for the position of Vancouver Island on the picturesque tripled in the last 7 years. Broadening Engineering reflects a recognition that of Chair of the Department of Computer west coast, Victoria enjoys one of the most from long-standing research strengths in computation is changing the nature of Science. The appointment as Department scenic locales in Canada and a pleasant HCI, HPC, CS education, and digital research across a very wide range of fields, Chair will be effective on or before July 1, climate year round. libraries, there are growing numbers of that shared interests in computational 2008. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in Please send applications, including projects in interdisciplinary areas such as techniques are creating new opportunities Computer Science or a related field and curriculum vitae and the names of at least computational biology and bioinformatics, for collaboration, and that shared facilities have the qualifications and standing to be six references, to: CyberArts, digital government, and and programs can enhance both research appointed as a tenured Associate Professor Dean D. Michael Miller problem solving environments. A new efficiency and the genesis of new ideas. or tenured Professor. C SC Chair Search Committee building opened in 2006, leading to a near Applicants should send a curriculum Candidates will usually have a strong Faculty of Engineering doubling in space. vitae, copies of relevant papers, and the record of teaching and research at a University of Victoria CS@VT offers BS, MS, and Ph.D. names and addresses of at least three university, but candidates from industry P.O. Box 3055 STN CSC programs in the Blacksburg campus and references to: with a strong research record are also Victoria, BC, Canada. V8W 3P6 a graduate program at its satellite campus Director Search Committee encouraged to apply. Administrative E-mail: [email protected] in the Washington, D.C. area (which has Center for Computational Arts, experience, particularly at a university, will (attachments should be in Word or PDF) about 100 students). CS@VT is part of Sciences, and Engineering be a strong asset. The successful candidate Closing date for applications is October the College of Engineering (www.eng. Office of the Provost will have demonstrated, or have the 1, 2007. All qualified applicants are vt.edu)—the premier engineering school University of Rochester potential for, strong academic leadership encouraged to apply; in accordance with in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Rochester, NY 14627 and innovation. Canadian Immigration requirements, college has a history of innovation, e.g., Inquiries can be emailed to: case- The Department offers B.Sc. Major Canadian and permanent residents will be inexpensive supercomputing (System X). [email protected]. and Honours degrees in Computer given priority. Virginia Tech is a comprehensive research To be assured of full consideration, Science and a Bachelor of Software The University of Victoria is an equity university, with almost $300 million per applications should be received by Engineering program, jointly offered employer and encourages applications from year in research, and with more than December 1, 2007. with the Department of Electrical and women, persons with disabilities, visible 26,000 students, the largest full-time The University of Rochester is an Computer Engineering. A number of minorities, aboriginal peoples, people of student population in Virginia. Blacksburg Equal Opportunity employer; women and combined programs are offered combining all sexual orientations and genders, and is consistently ranked among the members of underrepresented minorities Computer Science with Geography, Health others who may contribute to the further country’s best places to live (http://www. are strongly encouraged to apply. Further Information Sciences, Mathematics, Music, diversification of the University. liveinblacksburg.com/). information can be found at http://www. Physics, Psychology, Statistics and Visual Salary for suitably qualified applicants rochester.edu. Arts. Masters and Doctoral programs are Virginia Tech is competitive and commensurate with offered and there are currently 113 graduate Department of Computer Science experience. The University of Western Ontario students. Cooperative education is offered Department Head Applications must be submitted online Department of Computer Science at both the undergraduate and the graduate The Department of Computer Science to: Chair levels. at Virginia Tech (www.cs.vt.edu) invites https://jobs.vt.edu Applications are invited for the position There are currently 34 faculty members. applications for the position of department for posting 070739. Inquiries should be of Chair, Department of Computer The Department is very active in research, head. The head should strive to continue directed to Edward A. Fox, [email protected]. Science in the Faculty of Science at The and houses a large number of research the accelerating rise of the department Virginia Tech is an Equal Opportunity/ University of Western Ontario. A record of personnel and visiting researchers. The toward greater national prominence—and Affirmative Action Institution. commitment to quality undergraduate and new Engineering / Computer Science is expected to have a strong commitment graduate teaching, a strong research record building opened in Oct. 2006 and the to advancing the research and teaching and administrative experience are essential. Department has excellent laboratory missions of the department, to nurturing The new Chair is expected to provide and office facilities. Information on the interdisciplinary collaborations, and to strong leadership in teaching, research, and Department can be found on the web at working closely with the university in administration. http://www.csc.uvic.ca/. advancing departmental strategic goals. The Department of Computer Science, The University of Victoria (www.uvic. CS@VT is expanding with regard to established in 1964, is one of the oldest ca) is situated in the City of Victoria, the people, research, and resources. In the in North America, now with more than capital of British Columbia. Founded in last 5 years, 18 faculty members have been 30 faculty and 100 graduate students. The 1963, the University has developed into hired to make a total of 45. The number department is recognized as a worldwide centre of strength in several areas, including finite automata and formal languages, computer algebra, image analysis and computer vision, DNA computing and distributed systems management. Moreover, the department is uniquely positioned at the research forefront in computing and law, bioinformatics, data security and programming languages. For further information about the department, please visit http://www.csd.uwo.ca The application package should include a cover letter, a curriculum vitae and names of three references. References would not be consulted without the applicant’s permission. The successful applicant will be appointed at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor, with tenure. The appointment as Department Chair will be for a five-year term. The preferred start date is July 1, 2008. More information can be found on the Computer Science website at http://www.csd.uwo.ca. Application packages should be sent to: Dr. David M. Wardlaw, Dean Faculty of Science, Western Science Centre The University of Western Ontario London, Ontario, N6A 5B7 by November 1, 2007, although appli­ cations received after that date will be considered until the position is filled. Positions are subject to budget approval. Applicants should have fluent written and oral communication skills in English. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. The University of Western Ontario is committed to employment equity and welcomes applications from all qualified women and men, including visible minorities, aboriginal people and persons with disabilities.

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