
10/05/2023

By Brooke Coupal
When you consider of occupations that count on teamwork, does laptop science appear to thoughts?
Prof. Holly Yanco suggests it must.
“Computer science will get this lousy rap that it is a really solo career, but it is not at all,” suggests Yanco, chair of the Miner University of Laptop or computer & Data Sciences. “The improvements that we are building in laptop or computer science have to have a team.”
This sentiment was echoed all over the very first Miner College Study Symposium, in which professors introduced their get the job done to an viewers of additional than 100 school users, learners and alumni. Their jobs ranged from building robotic techniques that can help individuals who are visually impaired to synthetic intelligence security.
“The talks highlighted the variety of what our college are carrying out, but you can see a ton of connections between the projects,” Yanco suggests. “Even however we all have our have specialties, there are so lots of alternatives for collaboration.”
Image by Brooke Coupal


Dean Noureddine Melikechi presents NERVE Middle Assoc. Director Adam Norton with the commonwealth’s 2023 Quotation for Remarkable Functionality.


Yanco, who serves as the director of the New England Robotics Validation and Experimentation (NERVE) Middle, has had quite a few collaborators during her time as a robotics professional, one particular of whom is NERVE Middle Assoc. Director Adam Norton ’10.
“NERVE would not be NERVE devoid of Adam,” claims Yanco, who has been operating with Norton considering the fact that he came to UMass Lowell as a graphic design college student in 2006. “Our professions have developed together.”
All through the symposium, Provost Joseph Hartman, Vice Chancellor for Study & Innovation Anne Maglia and Kennedy College or university of Sciences Dean Noureddine Melikechi awarded Norton the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ 2023 Quotation for Excellent Performance. The award is specified to condition personnel for their contributions to community provider.
“I’m pretty honored to acquire this award,” claims Norton, whose time at the NERVE Center has led to new criteria in robotics testing. “I’m very very pleased of the work that I’ve done and the get the job done of my staff, which has really supported me.”
Impression by Brooke Coupal


Asst. Prof. Reza Ahmadzadeh talks about his robotic understanding investigate.


Pupils at UMass Lowell proceed to get included in professors’ labs, just as Norton did when he joined Yanco’s Human-Robot Conversation Lab as an undergraduate.
“Hardworking learners make investigation probable,” said Miner University Asst. Prof. Reza Ahmadzadeh even though presenting at the symposium.
Laptop science master’s university student Monish Reddy Kotturu ’23 will work in Ahmadzadeh’s lab and was delighted to see his robotic discovering investigation highlighted in Ahmadzadeh’s presentation.
“I did not know he was heading to present my function, so that was neat to see,” he explained.
Jasmin Marwad ’23, who is also a computer system science master’s college student, attended the symposium to find out a lot more about the faculty’s investigation initiatives.
“It’s genuinely fantastic to see the even bigger picture of what our professors are studying and to know that we’re a part of that,” explained Marwad, who worked at the NERVE Middle. “The faculty presents you so lots of chances to get involved.”
Impression by Brooke Coupal


Computer system science master’s student Amelia Sinclaire, heart, listens with other students as Rich Miner talks.


Alum Scott Diniz ’14, ’16, ’23 stopped by to look at out possible opportunities to expand the partnership in between the school and his employer, Teradyne, the test and automation firm based in North Looking through, Massachusetts, where he functions as a computer software engineering supervisor.
“I came (to the symposium) to get familiar with the exploration which is likely on inside the university, because I want to see how some of that investigation may use to Teradyne and to glimpse for prospects to sponsor investigate at UMass Lowell,” he states.
Rich Miner ’86, ’89, ’97, co-founder of Android and the namesake of the Miner School, made a digital overall look throughout the occasion to speak about his time at UMass Lowell and his job successes. (Most not long ago, Miner celebrated 15 years considering the fact that the launch of the initial Android smartphone, which he confirmed off to the symposium audience.) Miner also supplied words of information to learners, especially these looking to start off a corporation. Like Yanco, he pressured the value of teamwork.
“I’ve been a founder several situations, and I’ve invested in plenty of corporations,” he explained. “I consider the essential issue to assume about is your crew. You want to have a solid founding staff with complementary capabilities.”
