Computer science undergraduate students presented their work at the department’s annual Undergraduate Research Showcase on April 22, highlighting a year of faculty-mentored research and independent projects.
The showcase provides a platform for undergraduate researchers to share findings, engage with faculty and peers, and gain experience communicating technical work to a broader audience.
Participants presented projects spanning artificial intelligence, systems, cybersecurity and computational science, including interdisciplinary applications in health, biology and STEM education. Students presented individually or in teams, reflecting the collaborative nature of many research efforts.
“The showcase highlights the depth of talent and curiosity among our undergraduates,” said Omprakash Gnawali, associate professor and coordinator of undergraduate research. “It is rewarding to see them apply what they have learned in the classroom to meaningful research that addresses real-world challenges.”
Students were judged by faculty on five criteria: innovation, contribution, evaluation, feasibility, and presentation. Top projects received certificates and gift cards. Award recipients include:
Best Research
OmniZipped: Task Relevance Pruning for Omnimodal LLMs
Armaan Amatya and Nicholas Wlezien
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Omprakash Gnawali and Dr. Chengming Zhang
Best Research Runners-Up (tie)
Time-and Communication-Optimal Distributed APSP
Jacob Way
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gopal Pandurangan
Longitudinal Analysis of T-cell Heterogeneity using scRNA-seq and scTCR-seq Data to
Investigate Changes in the Lineage Distribution of T-cell Clonotypes
Duy Bao Nguyen
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Hyeongseon Jeon, Department of Mathematics
Best Emerging Research
VeLT: Verification of LLVM Typification
Steven Sanchez and Shaheer Abbasi
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ali Shokri
“The quality and breadth of projects presented this year demonstrate the strength of our undergraduate research program,” said Lennart Johnsson, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Chair in Computer Science and interim department chair. “These experiences prepare students for graduate study and careers in computing by developing critical thinking, technical expertise and communication skills.”
The Undergraduate Research Showcase is part of the department’s broader effort to engage students in research early in their academic careers. Faculty mentorship plays a central role, guiding students through the research process and helping them develop skills in problem-solving, analysis and technical communication.
The event not only highlights student achievement but also encourages continued participation in research, whether through independent study, senior thesis projects or collaborative initiatives with faculty.