Category: Students

Students Advance in Amazon Challenge A University of Texas at Dallas student team is one of 10 from around the world selected to compete in a new Amazon tournament designed to strengthen the security of software developed with the assistance of artificial intelligence.

Team Enhances AI-Driven Medical Coding Automation Platform CorroHealth Inc., a leader in autonomous medical coding, leverages large language models (LLMs) and natural language processing (NLP) in its PULSE Coding Automation Technology. The platform drives accuracy, efficiency and speed at scale to code for outpatient provider and risk-based payer reimbursements.

Last fall, the Multimodal Interaction (MI) Lab within the computer science department at The University of Texas at Dallas hosted over 60 students for an engaging “Tech Demo Day,” showcasing the lab’s cutting-edge research in multisensory interfaces and immersive user experiences in virtual reality (VR).

Veerasamy, from the Department of Computer Science, started a career in industry, but he soon decided to return to the classroom thanks to one important mentor — his father. “My father was a teacher in India,” Veerasamy said. “I grew up around his work, so I always respected the profession. I still think of myself primarily as a teacher.”

Rigorous coursework is often just the first step for students who are preparing for careers as engineers and computer scientists. Undergraduates may not have leadership roles on their radar before they have completed their first internships but through the process of mentorship, many students discover that they need coaching beyond their academic courses.

Through our interview series, we aim to showcase the experiences of CS alumni, current students, and faculty, providing valuable insights to inspire and guide future researchers. In this interview, we feature Dr. Austin Mordahl, who earned his PhD this year under the mentorship of Dr. Shiyi Wei.

He is now shaping the next generation of scholars as an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago. Explore Austin’s journey for an in-depth view of his academic and professional experiences, where he reflects on his thesis, inspirations, and mental health.

Dr. B. Prabhakaran, a renowned computer science professor at UT Dallas, is recognized for his innovative contributions to multimedia systems, computer vision, and healthcare informatics.

His advanced research—encompassing multimedia data management, 3D medical imaging and video analytics—has been extensively published in leading journals and conferences, solidifying his status as a thought leader in these domains.

Virtual reality (VR) offers a captivating and immersive way to revolutionize learning and training, especially when it comes to safety-related concepts.

Despite its potential, the intricate development process has slowed its widespread use—until now. In an exciting breakthrough, the University of Texas at Dallas computer science professors Drs. Balakrishnan Prabhakaran, Shiyi Wei, Yu Xiang, and Jin Ryong Kim have secured an impressive $750,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for their groundbreaking Scan to Multi-sensorial Interactive Learning Environment (SMILE) project. This substantial funding highlights the innovation behind SMILE and marks a significant step forward in bringing cutting-edge VR learning experiences to life.

Dr. Jin Ryong Kim and his innovative team at the Multimodal Interaction Lab (MI Lab) have recently garnered acclaim for their groundbreaking advancements in haptic and thermal technologies. Their exceptional contributions have been recognized with several prestigious awards, highlighting their transformative work in these dynamic fields.

At the IEEE Haptics Symposium 2024, Dr. Kim and his students were awarded the Best Demonstration honorable mention for their presentation on “Thermal Masking.” This phenomenon, also displayed at the 2024 ACM Conference on Computer Human Interaction (CHI) in Hawaii, showcases a novel thermal illusion where thermal referral completely masks the original thermal sensation, leaving only the tactile site to register thermal feedback.

What inspired you to pursue computer science for your college degree?

UT Dallas is renowned for its excellence in undergraduate Computer Science education. This rapidly growing field has abundant job opportunities now and in the future. Although I initially knew little about computer science when I chose it as my major, I have become confident that it will be a solid decision due to its high earning potential and the increasing demand in today’s digital world.