Department news

James Sargsyan photo

MS Student James Sargsyan Earns Top Rankings in AgentDS Benchmark Competition

Posted

James Sargsyan, a computer science masters student, accomplished top placements in the AgentDS Benchmark Competition, taking first place in the healthcare domain and fourth place in the retail banking domain.

Yuxuan Huang poses next to computer featuring a VR environment
Research

PhD graduate Yuxuan Huang leverages VR in nature restoration work

Posted

Yuxuan Huang is studying how virtual reality (VR) can help facilitate wellbeing and stress reduction by immersing people in nature.

Kira Balentine headshot

Kira Balentine Receives University of Minnesota Excellence in Teaching Award

Posted

Kira Balentine, a recent computer science master’s graduate, received the University of Minnesota’s 2026 Excellence in Teaching Award for her outstanding work supporting and improving the department’s computer networking courses.

Adriana Picoral poses by the red windows in Keller Hall
Meet the Faculty

Meet the Faculty - Adriana Picoral

Posted

Adriana Picoral joined CS&E in fall 2025 as an assistant teaching professor. She previously served as an assistant teaching professor at Montclair State University and an assistant professor of practice at the University of Arizona.

Archit Lal holding a lightsaber
CSpotlight

CSpotlight: Turning imagination into reality

Posted

Undergraduate student Archit Lal shares how he is turning his ideas into reality through voice-controlled AI, startups, and hands-on building.

Zhi-Li Zhang poses in Keller Hall
Department news, Research

Zhi-Li Zhang Leads $7M NSF Breaking Low Project on Improving 5G Networks to Enable AV Teleoperations

Posted

The research will focus on enhancing the innovative vertical-aware framework to optimize both 5G networks and the vertical application that will allow for seamless remote operations of self-driving cars. 

Aryan Deshwal
Faculty awards and honors, Research

Aryan Deshwal Wins Innovative Deployed Application Award at IAAI Conference

Posted

The winning paper showcases how AI can expedite the manufacturing process for certain metal alloys by narrowing down the feasible configurations to 3D print a substance.

Users navigate the waters and skies in the Cave immersive experience
Graduate news, Research

Cultural Continuation via Data Visualization - Centering the Indigenous Experience in Climate Science

Posted

PhD candidate Sean Dorr is helping foster relationships between Indigenous communities and climate scientists by using data visualization tools that connect Indigenous communities to their lands, waters, and skies.

Vipin Kumar poses in front of red windows in Keller Hall
Faculty awards and honors

Vipin Kumar named to Inaugural UN Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence

Posted

The panel’s role is to provide independent, evidence-based assessments of artificial intelligence (AI) and to inform global understanding of its opportunities, risks, and societal impacts.

Josie Veum head shot
CSpotlight

CSpotlight: Shaping the World of Data Science and Healthcare

Posted

Data science student Josie Veum discusses her academic exploration through data science and public health.