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Department Events & Announcements

Events

• Jan

  30

  CS Seminar: "An architect's perspective on quantum computer scaling: why, what, and how?" Kaitlin Smith

  Department of Computer Science (CS)

  12:00 PM 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)

  EVENT DETAILS

  Monday / CS Seminar
  January 30th / 12PM
  Hybrid / Mudd 3514

  Title: An architect’s perspective on quantum computer scaling: why, what, and how?

  Speaker: Kaitlin Smith

  Zoom Link

  Livestream

  Abstract:
  Quantum computation has potential to solve problems that are out of reach for today’s classical computers. Many of the proposed applications for quantum computers (QCs), such as those in chemistry, material science, and optimization, are capable of substantial human impact. However, the full promise of quantum will only be realized if better qubits and QCs emerge that are capable of large-scale computation. The roadmap to QC scaling does not only contain a single path but many that run in parallel. In addition to pursuing devices with more qubits, quantum researchers must 1) co-design software that pushes the frontier of existing machines and 2) build models that guide future QC design toward optimized performance.
  
  In this talk, we discuss the why, what, and how involved with scaling today’s QCs. First, we motivate the pursuit of quantum computing and introduce fundamental concepts. Next, we present a case study that explores optimized quantum circuit compilation, reducing decoherence via circuit slack. We show how quantum algorithms can adapt to the unique characteristics of today’s QCs through optimized gate scheduling, leading to significant improvements in success during runtime. In the third part of this talk, we highlight hardware challenges that restrict the number qubits on-chip. With a focus on fixed-frequency transmon QCs, we explore the viability of modular architectures to scale quantum devices, presenting promising results in terms of yield, gate performance, and application-based analysis. Finally, we close with an outlook on future research directions in the space of QC software and hardware co-design that aim to accelerate progress toward achieving practical quantum machines.

  
  Biography:
  Kaitlin is a quantum software manager at Super.tech, a software division of Infleqtion. From 2020-2022, she was an IBM and Chicago Quantum Exchange Postdoctoral Scholar in the University of Chicago’s Department of Computer Science, advised by Prof. Fred Chong. She received a B.S. in both Mathematics and Electrical Engineering in 2014 and a M.S. in Electrical Engineering in 2015 from Southern Methodist University (SMU). In addition, she earned her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at SMU in December 2019.

  Within the scope of quantum computing, Kaitlin’s research interests are in computer architecture, distributed computing, technology-aware programming, and security. Kaitlin is a co-author of the 2022 IEEE International Symposium on High-Performance Computer Architecture (HPCA) Best Paper, named a 2021 MIT EECS Rising Star, and a recipient of the 2021 IEEE Computer Society Technical Committee on Multiple Valued Logic (TC-MVL) Kenneth C. Smith Early Career Award in Microelectronics.

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  TIME Monday, January 30, 2023 at 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

  LOCATION 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)    map it

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  CONTACT Wynante R Charles    wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

• May

  29

  Bagel Thursday

  Department of Computer Science (CS)

  9:00 AM 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)

  EVENT DETAILS

  TBA

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  TIME Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

  LOCATION 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)    map it

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  CONTACT Wynante R Charles    wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

• May

  29

  Computer Science End of Year Awards

  Department of Computer Science (CS)

  2:30 PM Cohen Commons, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Dear CS Community,
  You're warmly invited to the Computer Science Award Celebration on Thursday, May 29, 2025, in Cohen Commons! Join us as we recognize the outstanding achievements and contributions of our CS community this year.

  Event Details:
  📅 Date: Thursday, May 29, 2025
  🕓 Time: 2:30-4PM
  📍 Location: Cohen Commons (Technological Institute)

  Light refreshments and cookies will be served, and all members of the CS department are welcome!

  Please RSVP by May 23rd so we can plan accordingly: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/2ba023053257473387bc29200e2587e7

  Register Now

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  TIME Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

  LOCATION Cohen Commons, Technological Institute    map it

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  CONTACT Wynante R Charles    wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

• Jun

  4

  CS Seminar: Reusing Deep Learning Models: Challenges and Directions in Software Engineering: An Update (George K. Thiruvathukal)

  Department of Computer Science (CS)

  12:00 PM

  EVENT DETAILS

  Wednesday / CS Seminar
  June 4th / 12:00 PM
  Hybrid / Mudd 3514

  Speaker: George K. Thiruvathukal

  Talk Title: Reusing Deep Learning Models: Challenges and Directions in Software Engineering: An Update

  Abstract: Deep neural networks (DNNs) achieve state-of-the-art performance in many areas, including computer vision, system configuration, and question-answering. However, DNNs are expensive to develop, both in intellectual effort (e.g., devising new architectures) and computational costs (e.g., training). Re-using DNNs is a promising direction to amortize costs within a company and across the computing industry. As with any new technology, however, there are many challenges in re-using DNNs. These challenges include both missing technical capabilities and missing engineering practices. We discusschallenges in current approaches to DNN re-use. We summarize studies of re-use failures across the spectrum of re-use techniques, including conceptual (e.g., re-using based on a research paper), adaptation (e.g., re-using by building on an existing implementation), and deployment (e.g., direct re-use on a new device). We outline possible advances that would improve each kind of re-use.

  In this update of my invited presentation at IEEE Services 2023 at the John Vincent Atanasoff Sypmposium on Modern Computing, I will include information about our work in progress on the use of Deep Learning and Pre-Trained Models (PTMs) in science and engineering applications and our efforts to conduct automated longitudinal analysis of same.

  Biography: https://gkt.sh/about/

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  TIME Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

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  CONTACT Wynante R Charles    wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

• Jun

  5

  Final Project Demos- Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing Class

  Department of Computer Science (CS)

  9:30 AM

  EVENT DETAILS

  Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing has been working on some awesome projects this quarter, ranging from sensing plants to UV glasses that help you understand your screen time. We would love to invite everyone in the CS department to our poster and demo presentations.

  Where: Mudd 3rd floor Lobby (right in front of the elevator)
  When: June 5th, 9:30-10:50 am
  
  Here are the mid-term evaluation videos
  Harmful Wavelength Detection Glasses
  (really funny and fun to watch) Battery-Free Photosynthesis Sensors for Scalable, Real Time Plant Metabolism Sensing
  Biodegradable repackaging of Chips
  Brace yourself : Smart Knee Health Monitoring System
  From Textile to Motion: Electrohydraulic Actuators with Knitted Electrodes for Everyday Applications
  Adaptive Lighting Growth Environment for Plants

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  TIME Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

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  CONTACT Wynante R Charles    wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

• Jun

  15

  2024-2025 Commencement Ceremony

  University Academic Calendar

  All Day

  EVENT DETAILSmore info

  2024-2025 Commencement Ceremony

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  TIME Sunday, June 15, 2025

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  CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR University Academic Calendar

• Jun

  16

  Northwestern Engineering PhD Hooding and Master's Degree Recognition Ceremony

  McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  9:00 AM 2705 Ashland Ave

  EVENT DETAILS

  McCormick School of Engineering PhD Hooding and Master's Degree Recognition Ceremony. The most up to date information can be found on our graduation webpage.

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  TIME Monday, June 16, 2025 at 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

  LOCATION 2705 Ashland Ave   

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  CONTACT Northwestern Engineering Events    northwestern-engineering-events@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

• Jun

  16

  Northwestern Engineering Undergraduate Convocation

  McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  2:00 PM 2705 Ashland Ave

  EVENT DETAILSmore info

  McCormick School of Engineering Undergraduate Convocation. The most up to date information can be found on our graduation webpage.

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  TIME Monday, June 16, 2025 at 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

  LOCATION 2705 Ashland Ave   

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Northwestern Engineering Events    northwestern-engineering-events@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science