The goal of this class is to help
you transition from Computer Science students to Computer Science
researchers. While this passage calls for much inspiration, it
involves also a large amount of perspiration, and this class aims at
helping T you on both counts. You will listen to professors tell you
all about the burning questions that are, quite literally, keeping
them awake lately and explore the deep and diverse research projects
that make UT CS one of the top ten CS Departments in the country. At
the same time, you will develop a concrete strategy for starting the
honor thesis that is waiting for you just around the corner, and
distill a series of "do's and don'ts" that will help you complete your
thesis successfully. You will have the
opportunity to share your questions and concerns not just with your
instructors, but also with fellow undergraduate students
who have been there and done that.
Announcements:
Assignment 3: Find 3 undergraduate CS students who have done
research or who are doing research.
If you are the first person in the class to contact this person, find
out the student's advisor and ask them a few questions of your choice.
If you cannot think of questions, you might ask them what they're doing,
how they got involved, what's they find difficult about their research,
etc. From this little interview, choose what you feel are the most
interesting or enlightening things that you've learned.
If you can only find students who have already been contacted by others,
you may submit their names for less credit (and less benefit to you).
Submit your results before class on Tuesday November 15th.
Administrative
Information
Lectures: Tuesday 1:00 - 2:00, BEN 1.126
Instructor:Lorenzo Alvisi
Your grade will depend on your participation in class and on your
performance on the following three assignments that you will receive during the
semester.
Identify which UT professors
work in your favorite research area and write a short summary (a couple
of sentences) of 3 papers by these professors that you find
interesting.
Read and critique a resarch paper assigned in class
Interview three CS undergraduates who have been, or currently
are, actively involved in research, and get the scoop about
undergraduate research.