The UMBC CSEE Seminar Series Presents

Online Learning for Cognitive Radios,
Power Grids, and Brain Imaging

Dr. Seung-Jun Kim
Department of CSEE, UMBC

1-2pm, Friday, 23 October 2015, ITE 325b

With the advent of big data era with pervasive sensors and powerful computational intelligence techniques, application of data-driven techniques to various domains is becoming quite popular. In this talk, some of our recent research activities in the signal processing and smart systems lab (SPSS) will be sampled. In particular, it will be highlighted how the online learning techniques can benefit different applications in the wireless communication, power systems, and medical imaging areas.

Seung-Jun Kim received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Seoul National University in Seoul, Korea, and his Ph.D. from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 2005, all in electrical engineering. From 2005 to 2008, he worked for NEC Laboratories America in Princeton, New Jersey. He was with the University of Minnesota during 2008-2014, where his final title was Research Associate Professor. In August 2014, he joined the CSEE department at UMBC. Dr. Kim’s research interests include statistical signal processing, optimization, and machine learning, with applications to wireless communication and networking, future power systems, and big data analytics.

Hosts: Professors Fow-Sen Choa (Sorry, you need javascript to view this email address. ) and Alan T. Sherman (Sorry, you need javascript to view this email address. )

About the CSEE Seminar Series: The UMBC Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering presents technical talks on current significant research projects of broad interest to the Department and the research community. Each talk is free and open to the public. We welcome your feedback and suggestions for future talks. Upcoming talks include the following.

Signature Track (Fridays, 12noon-1pm, in ITE 102):

• Oct. 30, Rong Chen, SOM Faculty, computational neuroscience
• Nov.13, John Kloetzli (Firaxis), computer graphics
• Weekly Track (Thursday 12noon-1pm, or Friday 1-2pm, in ITE 325):
• Nov. 20 Hamed Pirsiavash (UMBC), computer vision
• Nov. 6 Nilanjan Banerjee (UMBC), Internet of Things
• Dec. 4 Ting Zhu (UMBC), energy system and big data

Other UMBC CSEE Seminar Series: The UMBC Cyber Defense Lab (CDL) meets biweekly Fridays 11:15am-12:30pm in ITE 231, for research talks about cybersecurity.

The UMBC Cyber Defense Lab presents

Are your personal data at risk?
App analytics to the rescue

Prajit Kumar Das
Ebiquity, CSEE Department, UMBC

11:15am-12:30pm, Friday, 23 October 2015, ITE 231

According to the prominent virus and malware tool Virustotal, the Google Play Store has a few thousand apps from major malware families. Given such a revelation, access control systems for mobile data management have reached a state of critical importance. We propose developing a system that will help us detect pathways along which user data are being stolen from their mobile devices. We use a multi-layered approach including app meta data analysis, understanding code patterns, and detecting and eventually controlling dynamic data flow when such an app is installed on a mobile device. In this presentation we focus on the first part of our work and discuss the merits and flaws of our unsupervised learning mechanism to detect possible malicious behavior from apps in the Google Play Store.

Prajit Das is a PhD student in computer science at UMBC.

Host: Alan T. Sherman, Sorry, you need javascript to view this email address.

Computer Science Lecturer Positions
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

The Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering (CSEE) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) invites applications for up to three non-tenure track lecturer in computer science positions to begin in Spring 2016 (January 2016) or Fall 2016 (August 2016). Primary duties will include teaching computer science courses at the undergraduate level. Candidates with interest and experience in all areas of computer science will be considered. Applicants must have an MS or a PhD in computer science or a closely-related field. Ideal candidates will have evidence of strong teaching and administrative skills. Experience in academia, industry and government will be considered in the evaluation of the candidate.

The CSEE department is energetic, research-oriented and multi-disciplinary with programs in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Cybersecurity. Our faculty (34 tenure-track, six teaching and 15 research) enjoy collaboration, working across our specializations as well as with colleagues from other STEM, humanities and the arts departments and external partners. We have 1500 undergraduate CS and CE majors and 400 M.S. and Ph.D. students in our CS, CE, EE and Cybersecurity graduate programs. We have awarded 276 PhDs since our establishment in 1986. Our research supported by a growing and diverse portfolio from government and industrial sponsors with over $5M in yearly research expenditures. We work to help new colleagues be successful by providing startup packages, reduced teaching loads and active mentoring.

UMBC is a dynamic public research university integrating teaching, research and service. As an Honors University, the campus offers academically talented students a strong undergraduate liberal arts foundation that prepares them for graduate and professional study, entry into the workforce, and community service and leadership. UMBC emphasizes science, engineering, information technology, human services and public policy at the graduate level. We are dedicated to cultural and ethnic diversity, social responsibility and lifelong learning. The 2015 US News and World Report Best Colleges report placed UMBC fourth in the Most Innovative National Universities category and sixth in Best Undergraduate Teaching, National Universities. The Chronicle of Higher Education named UMBC as a Great College to Work For, a recognition given to only 86 universities. Our strategic location in the Baltimore-Washington corridor puts us close to many important federal laboratories and agencies and high-tech companies, facilitating interactions, collaboration, and opportunities for sabbaticals and visiting appointments.

UMBC’s campus is located on 500 acres just off I-95 between Baltimore and Washington DC, and less than 10 minutes from the BWI airport and Amtrak station. The campus includes the bwtech@UMBC research and technology park, which has special programs for startups focused on cybersecurity, clean energy, life sciences and training. We are surrounded by one of the greatest concentrations of commercial, cultural and scientific activity in the nation. Located at the head of the Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore has all the advantages of modern, urban living, including professional sports, major art galleries, theaters and a symphony orchestra. The city’s famous Inner Harbor area is an exciting center for entertainment and commerce. The nation’s capital, Washington, DC, is a great tourist attraction with its historical monuments and museums. Just ten minutes from downtown Baltimore and 30 from the D.C. Beltway, UMBC offers easy access to the region’s resources by car or public transportation.

To apply. Submit a cover letter, a brief statement of teaching, academic, industrial or government experience, and complete CV on Interfolio. Only applications submitted via this site will be considered. Applicants should arrange for three letters of reference to be sent via the same website. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. For best consideration, apply by November 15, 2015. Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.

UMBC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is a recent recipient of a National Science Foundation ADVANCE award to promote hiring and advancement of women in science and engineering. We welcome applications from women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Did you hear? Google is coming to campus on October 29 and October 30?

by Lisa M. Gray, Assistant Director of Student Life, Cultural and Spiritual Diversity

Get ready for Critical Social Justice: Baltimore 365 with our “What You Need to Know” series. 

As we begin Critical Social Justice: Baltimore 365, Pope Francis’ timely recent visit to the U.S. – specifically his remarks to Congress, helps us explore the ways that religion, faith and spirituality can inform what we do in the public sphere, not just in our private lives.  Like so many religious figures and leaders have shown us – Mother Teresa, Saint Francis of Assisi, Mahatma Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Martin Luther King, Jr., Amma Mata Amritanandamayi, and Rev. Dr. Heber Brown, III to name just a few – religious faith, spirituality, belief systems and social justice activism are often interconnected.  For example, here are some of the social justice topics and calls to action shared by the Pope in his Congressional Address: 

Anti-Violence, Anti-Hatred and Dangers of Polarization

“But there is another temptation which we must especially guard against: the simplistic reductionism which sees only good or evil; or, if you will, the righteous and sinners. The contemporary world, with its open wounds which affect so many of our brothers and sisters, demands that we confront every form of polarization which would divide it into these two camps…”

“To imitate the hatred and violence of tyrants and murderers is the best way to take their place. That is something which you, as a people, reject…Our response must instead be one of hope and healing, of peace and justice.”

Defense of Liberty, Human Rights and Justice

“A nation can be considered great when it defends liberty as Lincoln did, when it fosters a culture which enables people to dream of full rights for all their brothers and sisters as Martin Luther King sought to do, when it strives for justice and the cause of the oppressed as Dorothy Day did by her tireless work, the fruit of a faith which becomes dialogue and sows peace in the contemplative style of Thomas Merton.”

Sustainability and Environmental Activism

“I call for a courageous and responsible effort to ‘redirect our steps’, and to avert the most serious effects of the environmental deterioration caused by human activity. I am convinced that we can make a difference…”

See the full transcript of Pope Francis’ remarks to Congress on Sept. 24, 2015 here.

All of this and more will be explored further in our Oct. 22^nd Critical Social Justice event, From Belief to Action: An Interfaith Dialogue.  This moderated roundtable discussion features religious and spiritual leaders engaged in social justice activism in Baltimore followed by a facilitated audience conversation. Read on to learn more about our invited panelists:

Cara Behneman, Director of UMBC Hillel and Chair of the UMBC Religious Council 

Cara Behneman, originally from southern Maryland, has lived in Baltimore for the past 7 years while working with UMBC Hillel.  She is passionate about bringing together different faith communities and has spearheaded interfaith dialogues here on campus.

Rev. Dr. Brad Braxton, Senior Pastor, The Open Church of Baltimore

Dr. Brad Braxton is the Founding Senior Pastor of The Open Church in Baltimore, Maryland.  His publications have explored how religion can sponsor either injustice or positive social transformation.  His lectures and sermons have addressed topics such as racial reconciliation, social justice activism, interfaith dialogue, and collaborative economic partnerships with developing countries.

Ashley Bryner, Senior Druid of CedarLight Grove, ADF and Member of the UMBC Religious Council

Ashley is the current Senior Druid of CedarLight Grove, ADF, and has been heavily involved in community projects there for seven years. She has organized and taken part in projects relating to building tolerance in a spiritual setting, demystifying Paganism/Druidry to the general public, environmental activism, raised funding to support local charities ranging from women’s shelters and homeless vets to homeless animals and wildlife sanctuaries.

Asma Inge-Hanif, Executive Director of Muslimat Al Nisaa, INC

Responding to the stigmas associated with violence and rape within the community, in 2007 Asma Hanif opened her H.O.M.E. to shelter homeless Muslim women and children as well as Muslim women victims of Domestic Violence. She was the 2006 & 2013 recipient of “Community Service Award” for Social Activism and the 2007 recipient of the Freedom Foundation’s Humanitarian Award.

Historic and present day race and class-based inequities plaguing Baltimore show us now more than ever that there is a need for our personal faith and belief systems to uplift where, with whom and how we live publically.  Freddie Gray’s killing and the subsequent Baltimore Uprising didn’t happen in a vacuum as this week’s Baltimore 101: Why Baltimore Matters kickoff session by Dr. Jodi Kelber-Kaye illustrates.  With the help of our panelists, we hope to learn, dialogue and expand our knowledge and skills for engaging in faith and belief system-based activism and social change making in and beyond Baltimore by:

• exploring how we work in and on behalf of our communities across social identities like gender, race, socioeconomic class, national origin, spirituality/religion, and educational status;
• naming and revealing the ways our privileged and marginalized identities show up in how and when we act on our beliefs;
• reflecting on the role of spiritual and religious institutions during the past and current civil rights movements; and
• unpacking the meaning of justice and equality from a diverse range of spiritual and religious perspectives.

This event is free and open to the public.  All are invited to participate in Critical Social Justice: Baltimore 365, Oct. 19-23. For a complete list of the week’s events, visit critsocjustice.wordpress.com.

Google will be on campus on Thursday and Friday, October 29 and 30 to talk with students about opportunities for full-time positions and internships. See their message below.

Hello UMBC students!

Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. It’s an enormous goal to accomplish and we need great people to help us achieve it!

We invite you to come learn about Google and meet some of our Googlers at this exciting event!

Who: All Computer Science and Engineering students, but anyone with an interest in software development is welcome!

What: Culture at Google and Laying the Groundwork for a Successful Tech Career
Date: Thursday, October 29th
Time: 4:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: PAHB 132

What: Culture at Google and Preparing for Technical Interviews
Date: Friday, October 30th
Time: 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Location: PAHB 132

RSVP here. Have any questions? Check out our FAQs below.

Thanks,

Jonathan Bronson (Google Employee)
Loryn Chen (Google Student Ambassador for UMBC)

—

FAQs

“Okay, Google, I’m ready to apply.”

What roles are you hiring for?

Most of our available opportunities for technical students are within our software engineering teams. Check out the roles below for more details. For all other opportunities, visit http://google.com/careers/students.

• Software Engineer
• Software Engineer, Tools and Infrastructure
• Engineering Resident
• Software Engineering Internship (BA/BS)
• Software Engineering Internship (MS/PhD)
• Information Technology Residency Program

Can I apply for multiple positions?

Yes, you can apply for as many roles and locations as you’d like. We’ll review your resume and transcript to determine the best match.

When are the application deadlines?

Apply now! We encourage you to apply sooner rather than later, since most of our full time roles and internships accept applications on a rolling basis. If there is a deadline for a specific position, it will say so on the job posting.

What do I need to submit when I apply?

Please upload your resume and a copy of your transcript (unofficial is fine).

So I really don’t need a cover letter?

Correct! Have your resume tell your story!

I applied previously and wasn’t selected. May I reapply?

Yes, but we generally recommend that you’ve gained at least six months of additional technical experience and knowledge before reapplying.

Are international students eligible to apply for internships or full-time roles?

Yes, international students can apply for internships and full-time roles.

I’m planning to graduate this academic year, can I apply for an internship?

Unfortunately you aren’t able to do an internship after you graduate, so you’ll need to apply for a full-time role. If you’re graduating, but plan to pursue a graduate degree, then you can apply for an internship.

I want to intern on Android/Maps/[insert Google product here]. How do I apply for those teams?

You’ll first need to pass two technical phone interviews then a recruiter will work with you to determine a project match for the summer. You’ll have the chance to express interest in certain teams, tell us more about your background/skills, etc. once you’ve completed the technical interviews.

I applied online but haven’t heard back from anyone. Help?!

First, make sure you received the confirmation email that we received your application. Second, reply to us at Sorry, you need javascript to view this email address. so we can check the status of your application.