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PURDUE CS E-NEWS march 2025

News from Purdue University's Department of Computer Science

Computing's impact on humanity: an dialogue with Eugene Spafford and Vint Cerf

Professor Gene Spafford (Photo courtesy of Brian Powell Photography)

Purdue CS professor and cybersecurity pioneer Gene Spafford sits down with legendary internet architect and Turing Award winner Vint Cerf to explore computing’s evolving impact on humanity. Together, they reflect on the evolution of digital threats, discuss important lessons learned from history, and highlight critical challenges that lie ahead for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners.

AI-powered tool for cybersecurity earns ACM CCS Distinguished Paper Award

Design of binary being encoded. Graphic provided by Adobe AI.

Purdue CS researchers developed ReSym, an AI-powered tool that reverse-engineers stripped binary code using LLMs to restore lost information, aiding malware detection and software maintenance. The research earned the ACM CCS Distinguished Paper Award for its significant impact on cybersecurity.

Purdue students pitch bold solutions to global problems, receive cash prizes

Justin Renfrow of Purdue Innovates Incubator hands the Boiler Substance Awareness Network team (BSAN) a check for winning the Earth category in the spring 2025 Moonshot Pitch Challenge. (Purdue Research Foundation photo/Brad Oppenheim)

Purdue CS students won in the Best Pitch Category at Purdue's Moonshot Pitch Challenge, which awarded $5,500 to five student teams for innovative solutions to real world problems.

Sooyeon Jeong speaks at IBJ Technology Power Breakfast

Professor Sooyeon Jeong (Photo provided)

Sooyeon Jeong, assistant professor of computer science, participated in the Indiana Business Journal’s Technology Power Breakfast, a meeting of leading voices in technology. Jeong is an expert on the interaction between humans and robots with a focus on integrating robots and AI agents to improve peoples’ lives.

Google Cloud’s chief information security officer to speak at CERIAS symposium

Graphic provided.

CERIAS, Purdue University’s Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security, will convene leading public- and private-sector experts to discuss the latest advancements and challenges in cybersecurity at its 26th annual Cybersecurity Symposium on April 1-2.

Ananth Grama named to lead Purdue’s Institute for Physical AI

Samuel D. Conte Distinguished Professor of Computer Science Ananth Grama (Photo provided by Alisha Willet)

Karen Plaut, Purdue’s executive vice president for research, has announced the appointment of Ananth Grama, the Samuel D. Conte Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, as director of the Purdue Institute for Physical AI (IPAI). Grama’s appointment became effective March 10.

Wang earns IEEE TCDE Rising Star Award

Assistant Professor Jianguo Wang has been honored with the 2025 IEEE TCDE Rising Star Award (Purdue University Photo/Brian Powell)

Jianguo Wang, assistant professor of computer science at Purdue University, received the 2025 IEEE TCDE Rising Star Award for his contributions to disaggregated and vector databases. This follows his NSF CAREER Award for research on cloud-based database systems. Wang’s work advances data engineering and supports the next generation of researchers.

Gleich named 2025 SIAM Fellow

David Gleich, professor of computer science in the College of Science, has been named to the class of 2025 fellows of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). (Purdue University photo/Brian Powell)

David Gleich, professor of computer science at Purdue University, has been named to the Class of 2025 Fellows of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). He is recognized for his research contributions to matrix-based network analysis and his contributions to the foundations of higher-order network analysis.

Pothen named 2024 AAAS Fellow

Alex Pothen, professor of computer science in the College of Science, has been named to the class of 2024 fellows of the American Associate for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Alex Pothen, professor of computer science in Purdue University’s College of Science, has been named a 2024 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). This lifetime honor recognizes his distinguished contributions and leadership in the field of combinatorial algorithms for scientific computing.

Computer Scientist Advances Robots For Human Health Benefit

  • Robot expert Sooyeon Jeong and her lab work to make robots a force for good in human life and society.

A 3D tree reconstruction algorithm contributes to a new era of urban planning

  • Professor Bedrich Benes and colleagues at Purdue's Institute for Digital Forestry, Google and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology described the details of their Tree-D Fusion algorithm in the conference proceedings of the European Conference on Computer Vision (ECCV), 2024.

AI Coding Assistants: Debugging Challenges & AI’s Limitations

  • Researchers at Purdue University found that ChatGPT’s answers to programming questions were wrong 52% of the time.

Hey Google: Data Scientists Use AI to Plant New Forests in the Cities

  • The Tree-D Fusion system integrates generative AI and genus-conditioned algorithms to create precise simulation-ready models of 600,000 existing urban trees across North America.

Pros and Cons

  • Purdue CS professor and cybersecurity pioneer Gene Spafford sits down with legendary internet architect and Turing Award winner Vint Cerf to explore computing’s evolving impact on humanity. 

Molecular Intelligence Simplifies Cryo-EM Data Analysis with AI

  • A team of scientists from Purdue University’s College of Science and the Rosen Center for Advanced Computing has established Molecular Intelligence, a software company dedicated to helping researchers determine the 3D structures of biomolecules using cryogenic-electron microscopy (cryo-EM).

Deep Learning Enhances Cryo-Em For Molecular Structure Determination

  • Molecular Intelligence, a software startup launched by Purdue University experts Daisuke Kihara, Charles Christoffer, and Genki Terashi, has developed innovative tools to determine the 3D structures of biomolecules from cryo-EM image data.

'Spending Time': Scams are finding success everywhere we look. How do we prevent them?

Professor Gene Spafford talks about scams- and how to prevent them.

Purdue CS ranked #47 globally

Purdue CS has been ranked among the top 50 best computer science programs in the world by Times Higher Education.

Purdue CS continues to earn recognition as a global leader in computing research and education. In the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Purdue CS is ranked #47 worldwide, underscoring the department’s excellence in research, faculty, and industry impact.

This ranking joins the accolades from csrankings.org, which has the program ranked at #13 in the United States and U.S. News and World Report, which ranks our undergraduate and graduate programs in the top 20 in the United States.

As the first degree-awarding program in the nation, Purdue CS is has a continued legacy of pioneering research, innovative curriculum, and preparing the next generation of computing leaders.

Professor and Head of the Department of Computer Science, Petros Drineas

Purdue robotics: Computer science in action

(Purdue University/Alisha Willet)

As part of the fan experience at Mackey Arena, Purdue Robotics wowed audiences with their skills and giving fans an intriguing show. While they may impress with their dancing now, these robots are learning skills that could shape the future.

Our researchers are teaching robots to understand the world like humans — learning to navigate spaces, recognize emotions, and interact with people. The AI and Machine Learning research could lead to robots that assist in homes, support workers, and even help in rescue missions, making a real difference in people's lives.

Professor Sooyeon Jeong and her lab work to make robots a force for good in human life and society.

When it’s not about entertaining the crowd, these robots are being trained to make decisions based on their goals. Whether it’s delivering medical supplies quickly or carefully navigating obstacles in dangerous environments, these robots are learning to adapt to the situation. In extreme environments like Mars, they could even use natural features for protection, making decisions that could save lives.

"Purdog" doing the "Lance Dance" at half time of a Purdue Men's Basketball game.

From future applications in homes and workplaces to life-saving roles in disaster response and space exploration, these robots are being designed for real-world impact.

Science at Purdue University in Indianapolis

Essential understandings of science and lifelong critical thinking skills are developed at Purdue University in Indianapolis’s College of Science. Computational, math and data sciences form the foundation for innovation and thoroughly prepare graduates for careers in dynamic and rapidly changing environments.

Science Majors

Computer Science - Join a legacy of innovation in both advancing scientific research and creating industry applications by learning computing fundamentals.

Artificial Intelligence - Explore the link among cognitive psychology, neuroscience and artificial intelligence — and investigate AI ethics — for a holistic understanding of how to build and understand systems.

Data Science - Discover the intersection of computer science and statistics in a field that uses quantitative and analytical methods to help provide insights and form predictions based on big data.

Actuarial Science (Fall 2025) - Actuarial science combines business with mathematical and statistical tools to evaluate future risk and contingent events. 

Nikhil Anand Dhoka, a Purdue computer science and mathematics student in Indianapolis, is set up for success at the intersection of technology and finance. Learn more about his plan.
Sarah Papabathini, a Purdue AI student in Indianapolis, is making a difference in her community every day as a DREAM Alive mentor, an Indy 500 Festival princess, academic researcher and volunteer.

IEEE VR 2025

The IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (IEEE VR) is the premier international event for the presentation of research results in the broad areas of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (VR/AR/MR). Since 1993, IEEE VR has presented groundbreaking research and accomplishments by virtual reality pioneers: scientists, engineers, designers, and artists, paving the way for the future. Soon, IEEE VR expanded its scope to also include augmented, mixed, and other forms of mediated reality.

Complex Virtual Environments on All-In-One VR Headsets Through Continuous From-Segment Visibility Computation |Voicu Popescu, Purdue University; Elisha Sacks, Purdue University; Zirui Zhang, Purdue University; Jorge Askur Vazquez Fernandez, Purdue University

XRXL: A System for Immersive Visualization in Large Lectures | Kabir Batra, Purdue University; Zirui Zhang, Purdue University; Shuwen Yang, Purdue University; Arnima Agrawal, Purdue University; Yiyin Gu, Purdue University; Bedrich Benes, Purdue University; Alejandra Magana, Purdue University; Voicu Popescu, Purdue University

Dynamic Redirection for Safe Interaction with ETHD-Simulated Virtual Objects |Yuqi Zhou, Purdue University; Voicu Popescu, Purdue University

Simulating Social Pressure: Evaluating Risky Behaviors in Construction Using Augmented Virtuality | Simulating Social Pressure: Evaluating Risky Behaviors in Construction Using Augmented Virtuality

Exploring Worker-Drone Interaction in Mixed Reality: Balancing Distraction and Situational Awareness | Woei-Chyi Chang, Purdue University; Lap-Fai Yu, George Mason University; Sogand Hasanzadeh, Purdue University

SeamlessVR: Bridging the Immersive to Non-Immersive Visualization Divide | Shuqi Liao, Purdue University; Sparsh Chaudhri, Purdue University; Maanas K Karwa, Purdue University; Voicu Popescu, Purdue University

CSE 2o25

This is the conference of the SIAM Activity Group on Computational Science and Engineering. Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) complements theory and experiment as a critical component of scientific discovery. CSE is indispensable for leading-edge investigation and engineering design in a vast number of industrial sectors that all rely increasingly on advanced modeling and simulation. CSE also contributes to policy and decisions relating to human health, resources, transportation, and defense.

Randomized Preconditioning Based on Approximate Range Deflation | Oleg Balabanov; INRIA; Caleb Ju, Georgia Institute of Technology; Kaiwen He, Purdue University; Michael Mahoney, University of California, Berkeley

An Information Field Theory Framework for Model-Form Error Detection | Alexander Alberts, Purdue University; Ilias Bilionis, Purdue University

A Stochastic Precipitating Quasi-Geostrophic Model | Nan Chen, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Changhong Mou, Purdue University; Leslie Smith, Mathematics and Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Yeyu Zhang, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics

Optimizing Shot Assignment in Variational Quantum Eigensolver Measurement with Machine Learning | Senwei Liang, Purdue University, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Linghua Zhu, University of Washington; Chao Yang, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab; Xiaosong Li, University of Washington

Superfast Divide-and-conquer SVDs | Chenyang Cao, Purdue University; Xiaofeng Ou, Purdue University; Jianlin Xia, Purdue University

Unsupervised Solution Operator Learning for Mean-Field Games | Rongjie Lai, Purdue University

Scientific and Engineering Foundation Models: Current State and Future Directions | Christian Moya, Purdue University

Derivative-Informed Neural Operators for Managing Risks Associated with Rare Events | Dingcheng Luo, Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin; Lianghao Cao, California Institute of Technology; Joshua Chen, The University of Texas at Austin; Thomas O’Leary-Roseberry, The University of Texas at Austin, Oden Institute for Computational and Engineering Sciences; Harsha Honnappa, Purdue University; Omar Ghattas, The University of Texas at Austin

Least-Squares Neural Network Method for Solving Scalar Nonlinear Hyperbolic Conservation Laws | Zhiqiang Cai Purdue University, Department of Mathematics; Junpyo Choi, Purdue University; Min Liu, Purdue University

Neural Networks in Numerical Pdes | Zhiqiang Cai, Purdue University, Department of Mathematics; Min Liu, Purdue University

Identifying Energy Balance Drivers and Feedbacks of Greenland Ice Sheet Surface Melt Using Causal Inference | Jielin Yang, Purdue University; Suchuan Dong, Purdue University

Incorporating Multi-Qubit Effects in Maxwell-Schrdinger Methods for Efficiently Modeling Superconducting Circuit Quantum Computers | Ghazi Khan, Purdue University; Thomas Roth, Purdue University

A Data-Driven Subspace Optimized Method for Electrical Impedance Tomography | Ying Liang, Purdue University; Hongkai Zhao, Duke University

Data-Driven Inversion of Full-Field Deformation Data with Neural Ordinary Differential Equation Fields | Adrian Buganza Tepole, Purdue University

Fully Automated Framework for 3D Segmentation and Velocity Reconstruction in 4D Flow Mri for Hemodynamics Analysis | Atharva Hans, Purdue University

Stationary Phase Analysis for Scattered Waves in Ambient Noise Cross-correlations | Yunyue Elita Li, Purdue University; Feng Zhu, Purdue University; Jizhong Yang, Tongji University

Small Singular Values Can Increase in Lower Precision | Christos Boutsikas, Purdue University; Gregory Dexter, Purdue University; Linkai Ma, Purdue University; Ilse Ipsen, North Carolina State University, Department of Mathematics; Petros Drineas, Purdue University

Fast Direct Solvers for Neural Network Least Squares Approximations | Jianlin Xia, Purdue University; Zhiqiang Cai, Purdue University, Department of Mathematics; Tong Ding, Purdue University; Min Liu, Purdue University; Xinyu Liu, Purdue University

Inverse Parameter and Shape Problem for an Isotropic Scatterer with Conductivity Coefficients | Rafael Ceja Ayala, Arizona State University; Isaac Harris, Purdue University; Andreas Kleefeld, Forschungszentrum J¨ulich GmbH, J¨ulich Supercomputing Centre

SIGCSE TS 2025: Leading the Transformation

The Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE TS) is organized by the ACM Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE) and is the organization’s flagship conference. The SIGCSE Technical Symposium addresses problems common among educators working to develop, implement and/or evaluate computing programs, curricula, and courses. The symposium provides a forum for sharing new ideas for syllabi, laboratories, and other elements of teaching and pedagogy, at all levels of instruction. The symposium provides a diverse selection of technical sessions and opportunities for learning and interaction.

Professional Development Pre-Symposium Event for Teaching-Track Faculty | Geoffrey Herman University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Borja Sotomayor University of Chicago, A: Jennifer Campbell University of Toronto, Lisa Yan University of California, Berkeley, Logan Paul Indiana University Bloomington, Jeffrey Turkstra Purdue University

Facilitating Student's Learning Transfer in a Database Programming Class | Yuzhe Zhou Purdue University, Alejandra J. Magana Purdue University, Tianyi Li Purdue University

Work-in-Progress: Systematic Review of Competency Assessment Methods in Computing Education | Nursah Yakut Purdue University

Implementing the AI-Lab Framework: Enhancing Introductory Programming Education for CS Majors | Ethan Dickey Purdue University, Andres Mauricio Bejarano Posada Purdue University, Rhianna Setsma Purdue University

ChartCode: A Flowchart-Based Tool for Introductory Programming Courses | Guangming Xing Western Kentucky University, Tawfiq Salem Purdue University, Gongbo Liang Texas A & M University - San Antonio

PURDUE CS | BY THE NUMBERS

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

AN ERA OF GROWTH

In the field of computer science, there is a sustained and significant increase in demand for our academic programs. We are thrilled to announce that, once again, we have surpassed our previous records for freshman admission applications, with the total exceeding 11,000. At the start of fall classes, 1,001 freshman students joined our previous classes across two campuses for more than 3,500 undergraduates.

This year, freshman women students represent 22% of the undergraduate population and women are 23% among all undergraduate students.

US NEWS RANKS PURDUE

GRADUATE PROGRAM

Our graduate population has exploded with 568 MS and PhD students for the 2024-25 academic year. This represents a 23% increase in growth from the previous year.

Purdue Computer Science graduate students work in any of the 14 research areas in the department.

Purdue Computer Science offers the traditional PhD and master's degree programs in addition to a professional master's degree in information security.

CSRANKINGS.ORG RANKS PURDUE

US NEWS RANKS PURDUE