News & Events

Department Events & Announcements

Events

• Nov

  10

  CS Seminar: Toward a Modern Theory of Algorithms in the Machine Learning Era (Aravindan Vijayaraghavan)

  Department of Computer Science (CS)

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

  EVENT DETAILS

  Monday / CS Seminar
  November 10th / 12:00 PM
  Hybrid / Mudd 3514

  Speaker
  Aravindan Vijayaraghavan, Northwestern University

  Talk Title
  Toward a Modern Theory of Algorithms in the Machine Learning Era

  Abstract

  The remarkable empirical successes of machine learning have revealed the power of computational techniques in several domains and scientific disciplines. Yet there is a striking disconnect in the algorithmic foundations of machine learning: many basic computational problems, ranging from classification and clustering to deep learning, reduce to non-convex optimization tasks that are computationally intractable in the worst case. Yet, in practice, heuristics often succeed in producing high-quality solutions, fueling the remarkable progress of modern AI. At the same time, the absence of rigorous guarantees raises the following question: when, and under what conditions, can we reliably use predictions of machine learning models?

  In the first part of the talk, I will describe theoretical frameworks like smoothed analysis that go beyond worst-case analysis to better reason about algorithms on typical instances, and help obtain rigorous polynomial time guarantees for challenging algorithmic problems in ML and high-dimensional data analysis. In the second part of the talk, I will present recent principled approaches that treat machine learning models as powerful black boxes that are potentially unreliable or biased, and show how to design algorithms that can rigorously quantify and account for their uncertainty.

  Biography
  Aravindan Vijayaraghavan is an Associate Professor at Northwestern University in the department of Computer Science, and (by courtesy) Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences. He is also the co-director of the NSF Institute for Data, Econometrics, Algorithms and Learning (IDEAL). His research interests are broadly in algorithms and foundations of data science and machine learning.

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  Zoom Link
  Panopto Link

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  TIME Monday, November 10, 2025 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)

• Dec

  11

  CS Seminar: Bridging Computation and Matter: Programming Intelligence into Physical Systems (Danli Luo)

  Department of Computer Science (CS)

  10:00 AM 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)

  EVENT DETAILS

  Thursday / CS Seminar
  December 11 / 10:00 AM
  In Person / Mudd 3514

  Speaker
  Danli Luo, University of Washington

  Title: Bridging Computation and Matter: Programming Intelligence into Physical Systems

  Abstract:
  Scientific discovery faces an asymmetry: machine learning models can predict thousands of novel materials in seconds, simulations can systematically explore vast design spaces, yet physical validation requires months of manual experimentation. While software is programmable and rapidly iterable, physical experimentation remains fragmented across specialized, infrastructure-heavy labs and tacit expertise. This gap raises a central question: how can physical experimentation match the programmability of software? My research addresses this by bridging computation and matter through programmable materials, fabrication systems, and laboratory infrastructure that introduce software-like adaptability into materials, biological processes, and experimental workflows. I pursue this vision through three interconnected research thrusts: materials that encode intelligent behaviors without electronics; fabrication platforms that harness biological growth as a controllable manufacturing process; and modular automation systems that transform experiments into self-optimizing workflows. In this talk, I will present systems ranging from self-burying seed carriers to mycelium-based bio-fabrication platforms to modular lab automation frameworks that learn from execution and optimize protocols in real time, illustrating a pathway toward democratizing experimental access, accelerating materials discovery, and bridging the programmability gap between software and physical reality.

  Bio: Danli Luo is a PhD candidate in Human-Centered Design & Engineering at the University of Washington, with an M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. Her research reimagines scientific instrumentation by embedding programmability and physical intelligence directly into materials, biological processes, and experimental workflows. Drawing from human-computer interaction, robotics, and bio-inspired design, she develops materially intelligent instruments, adaptive fabrication platforms, and autonomous laboratory systems used by restoration ecologists, materials scientists, synthetic biologists, chefs, and educators. Her work has been published in Nature, Science Advances, RSC Advances, CHI, and UIST, featured on the cover of Nature, exhibited at the London Design Biennale, and licensed by Fortune 500 companies. Danli’s honors include MIT Technology Review 35 Innovators Under 35, Heidelberg Laureate Forum Young Researcher, and Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Honorable Mention.

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  TIME Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 10:00 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)

• Dec

  13

  Northwestern Engineering PhD Hooding and Master's Recognition Ceremony

  McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  4:00 PM Pick-Staiger Concert Hall

  EVENT DETAILS

  The ceremony will take place on Saturday, December 13 in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive.

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  TIME Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

  LOCATION Pick-Staiger Concert Hall    map it

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  CONTACT Andi Joppie    andi.joppie@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

• Jan

  5

  CS Seminar: Ari Holtzman

  Department of Computer Science (CS)

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

  EVENT DETAILS

  Monday / CS Seminar
  January 5 / 12:00 PM
  Hybrid / Mudd 3514

  Speaker
  Ari Holtzman

  Talk Title
  TBA

  Abstract
  TBA

  Biography
  TBA

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  Zoom: TBA
  Panopto: TBA

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  TIME Monday, January 5, 2026 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)

• Jan

  12

  CS Seminar: Rana Hanocka

  Department of Computer Science (CS)

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

  EVENT DETAILS

  Monday / CS Seminar
  January 12 / 12:00 PM
  Hybrid / Mudd 3514

  Speaker
  Rana Hanocka, UChicago

  Talk Title
  TBA

  Abstract
  TBA

  Biography
  TBA

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  Zoom: TBA
  Panopto: TBA

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  TIME Monday, January 12, 2026 at 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

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

  ADD TO CALENDAR

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

  CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

• Jan

  14

  CS Seminar: Heng Ji

  Department of Computer Science (CS)

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

  EVENT DETAILS

  Wednesday / CS Seminar
  January 14 / 12:00 PM
  Hybrid / Mudd 3514

  Speaker
  Heng Ji, UIUC

  Talk Title
  TBA

  Abstract
  TBA

  Biography
  TBA

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  Zoom: TBA
  Panopto: TBA

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  TIME Wednesday, January 14, 2026 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)

• Jan

  28

  Public Lecture Series

  Department of Computer Science (CS)

  4:00 PM

  EVENT DETAILS

  TBA

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  TIME Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

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

  CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

• Jan

  29

  Bagel Thursday

  Department of Computer Science (CS)

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

  EVENT DETAILS

  CS Community! Join us for our monthly free bagels and coffee while mingling with fellow faculty and students.

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  TIME Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

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

  ADD TO CALENDAR

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

  CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

• Feb

  2

  CS Seminar

  Department of Computer Science (CS)

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

  EVENT DETAILS

  Monday / CS Seminar
  February 2 / 12:00 PM
  Hybrid / Mudd 3514

  Speaker
  TBA

  Talk Title
  TBA

  Abstract
  TBA

  Biography
  TBA

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  Zoom: TBA
  Panopto: TBA

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  TIME Monday, February 2, 2026 at 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

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

  ADD TO CALENDAR

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

  CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

• Feb

  25

  CS Seminar

  Department of Computer Science (CS)

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

  EVENT DETAILS

  Wednesday / CS Seminar
  February 25 / 12:00 PM
  Hybrid / Mudd 3514

  Speaker
  TBA

  Talk Title
  TBA

  Abstract
  TBA

  Biography
  TBA

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  Zoom: TBA
  Panopto: TBA

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  TIME Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

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

  ADD TO CALENDAR

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

  CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

• Feb

  26

  Bagel Thursday

  Department of Computer Science (CS)

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

  EVENT DETAILS

  CS Community! Join us for our monthly free bagels and coffee while mingling with fellow faculty and students.

  more less

  TIME Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

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

  ADD TO CALENDAR

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

  CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)