By Rachel Robey
From breakthroughs in research to leaps in rankings, these headlines capture some of the massive achievements made in the 60th year of Computer Sciences at UW–Madison.
For the Department of Computer Sciences, 2024 was full of momentous firsts and historic achievements. The stories below represent ten of the year’s most-read articles detailing many of these accomplishments.
#10: N+1 Institute, GE HealthCare collaborate on biohealth innovation and real-world education
In May, the newly-formed N+1 Institute announced GE HealthCare as its founding member. Together, they’re exploring edge computing as a route to faster biohealth innovation within patient monitoring.
“The collaboration between N+1 and GE HealthCare couldn’t come at a better time,” says David Ertl, executive director of the N+1 Institute. “With Wisconsin’s thriving biohealth industry and UW–Madison’s incredible wealth of resources and expertise, we’re uniquely positioned to develop solutions that improve healthcare outcomes in the state and beyond.”
#9: Sharon Li’s research explores what artificial intelligence doesn’t know
As the world becomes increasingly dependent on artificial intelligence (AI), CS Professor Sharon Li researches how these systems respond in the face of blind spots.
“What we want is for the model to abstain from making a prediction when it encounters something new it doesn’t know,” Li explains. “That’s really the virtue of teaching AI to know what it doesn’t know — so it can be more conservative and honest in answering a question and operating in the zone about which it is knowledgeable.”
#8: Mohit Gupta’s research “sees the world in a new light,” one photon at a time
CS Professor Mohit Gupta’s work on single photon imaging gained unprecedented traction as industry interest rises.
Unlike typical consumer cameras that perform best in bright conditions, ultra sensitive single-photon cameras are able to detect light down to its most fundamental unit: the photon. Not only does this make SPCs more flexible and capable across a spectrum of light conditions, but it allows researchers like Gupta to pursue answers right up against the foundational laws of physics.
#7: How CS professors Ilias and Jelena Diakonikolas balance personal and professional bliss
He calls her the most determined and capable person he has ever met. She appreciates his ability to see the big picture.
“We were actually concerned initially with what it would be like to be in the same department,” says Jelena. “What if we disagree about things in the faculty meetings?” Recently, the Diakonikolases began collaborating on research together, creating another bond between them. He studies algorithms and machine learning; she studies large-scale optimization.
#6: CS launches WisComputes, a new computing research newsletter
In October, CS launched WisComputes, a brand new research newsletter highlighting the biggest ideas and achievements originating at 1210 W Dayton St.
The inaugural issue featured stories from a record year of recruiting, rankings, and research. Read on for insight into faculty awards, new hires, student highlights, and the latest news from Morgridge Hall.
#5: IndyNXT Driver and CS alum Yuven Sundaramoorthy ’23 is the fastest Badger in Wisconsin
After “a big learning year,” rookie Yuven Sundaramoorthy ’23 — a UW–Madison Computer Sciences graduate and now a professional race-car driver — says he’s “picking up speed.” Sundaramoorthy, 21, just wrapped up his first full season competing in the Indy NXT series, a developmental league sanctioned by IndyCar.
“Back in the ’90s, racing was huge in Wisconsin,” he says. “That’s kind of what I’m trying to bring back.”
#4: Swamit Tannu receives NSF CAREER Award for work in quantum computing
CS Professor Swamit Tannu, an expert in quantum computing systems and architectures, was honored with the National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award. Tannu joins dozens of other CS faculty who’ve received the award, including Rahul Chatterjee and Ming Liu, other 2024 recipients.
“The technical challenges and the potential to make a big, lasting impact—those are the two things that drove me towards quantum computing,” says Tannu.
#3: CS celebrates 60-year legacy with limited-edition anniversary stickers
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Department of Computer Sciences, and with it six decades of excellence in research, education, and innovation. To celebrate this major milestone, CS commissioned a commemorative sticker sheet featuring four designs created by UW–Madison student Grace Edwards BSx’25.
“My goal with all of my work is to make people smile,” she says. “I hope that these stickers, and the stories behind them, spark joy for the people who see them.”
#2: Professor Tom Reps retires after 39 years of research and education
After retiring in July, Professor Tom Reps endowed a professorship named in honor of his late wife (and CS Professor Emerita) Susan Beth Horwitz.
“The new Susan Beth Horwitz Professorship will boost our efforts to support and retain energetic faculty members who are expanding and possibly reorienting their research programs in the years after tenure,” says Chair Steve Wright. “I can’t help thinking that Susan would have been delighted by this initiative and by Tom’s thoughtfulness and generosity.”
#1: CS undergrad program ranked #9 among public schools in the nation
In the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings released in September, CS was ranked 16th (three-way tie) overall and ninth among public universities. Additionally, ranked specialties include eighth in computer systems, ninth in programming languages, 17th in cybersecurity, and 25th (five-way tie) in artificial intelligence.
“We are proud that we deliver a high-quality education across a great variety of disciplines, and that success continues to be recognized in these rankings,” says UW–Madison Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin.