Inside Our ProgramProgram Events
Events
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May14
EVENT DETAILS
lessA grand engineering challenge is to develop collaborative teams of distributed, heterogeneous autonomous robots that rapidly establish situational awareness in mixed indoor/outdoor, cluttered, and unknown environments—especially when the team must primarily rely on robot-to-robot communication. Such capabilities could transform emergency response, defense, and inspection and maintenance. In this talk, I will present my lab’s physical-AI efforts to improve scalability and reliability in control and distributed coordination through: (i) morphable quadrotors that provide maneuverability, aerial manipulation, and disturbance resilience, enabling reliable operation in clutter; (ii) on-the-fly learning methods for predictive control that enable rapid adaption to unknown dynamics and disturbances with provable regret and stability; and (iii) distributed coordination algorithms that quantify the value of collaboration—who should communicate with whom, and when—to scale multi-robot coordination under communication delays and bandwidth constraints. Key in our approach is to treat the systems’ “morphology” (“body”) as an optimization variable: the robot’s structure at the single-agent level and the mesh-network topology at the multi-agent level. Then, building on bandit learning, nonlinear MPC, and submodular optimization, we co-design resource-minimal, performance-aware algorithms for adaptive coordination and control. I will present results on quadrotor hardware and in large-scale simulations (40+ robots) under realistic data-rate limitations, and conclude with open challenges.
Vasileios Tzoumas is an assistant professor at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (postdoc at MIT; Ph.D. at U of Pennsylvania). His research is on co-adaptive physical and artificial intelligence for scalable and reliable cyber-physical systems in resource-constrained, unstructured, and contested environments, such as robots and networked systems in defense, disaster response, and smart cities. He is a recipient of an NSF CAREER Award on networked embodied intelligence, an Army Research Office Early Career Program (ECP) award on resource-aware distributed optimization and bandit learning, the Best Paper Award in Robot Vision at the 2020 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), an Honorable Mention from the 2020 IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (RAL), and was a Best Student Paper Finalist Award at the 2017 IEEE Conference in Decision and Control (CDC) for a paper on robust and adaptive resource allocation and multi-agent coordination.
TIME Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
LOCATION L440, Technological Institute map it
CONTACT Amani Walker amani.walker@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
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May14
EVENT DETAILS
lessThursday / CS Distinguished Lecture
May 14 / 4:00 PM
Hybrid / Ford ITW 1350Light refreshments will be served prior to the seminar. Please RSVP to secure your plate.
Speaker
Prabhakar Raghavan, GoogleTalk Title:
Can AI assist in Mathematics and Computer Science research?Abstract:
We share our experience using LLMs to obtain new results in mathematics and computer science. We begin with an illustrative example from load-balancing in planet-scale cloud systems, outlining the abilities and limitations of LLMs. Next, we describe our experience with AlphaEvolve, an evolutionary language model from Google DeepMind, to establish new results in the approximability of the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP), and MAX-CUT problem. We also derive new bounds for several Ramsey numbers. Our methodology entails evolving fleets of Python programs that generate proof chunks to yield these results, and to accelerate proof verification by up to 10,000x. We suggest that our results on inapproximability and Ramsey theory could not have been discovered by hand, and conclude with reflections on the state and promise of AI in mathematics and CS research.Biography:
Prabhakar Raghavan is the Chief Technologist at Google, where he has held several senior roles since joining in 2012, including Senior Vice President with oversight of Search, Maps, Advertising, Gemini and Payments, and before that, responsibility for Gmail, Google Drive, Calendar and Google Docs. Previously, he led Yahoo! Labs and served as CTO at Verity, Inc following over a decade at IBM Research. He co-authored the textbooks Randomized Algorithms and Introduction to Information Retrieval. Raghavan received a PhD from Berkeley and a Dottore ad honorem from the University of Bologna, and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.---
ZoomTIME Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
LOCATION ITW 1350, Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center map it
CONTACT Dru Redmond drucilla.redmond@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)
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May15
EVENT DETAILS
lessThe big data revolution along with the success of black-box machine learning models have given us access to a large volumes of information. These models are then used to inform all manner of algorithmic and decision-making tasks. However, black-box machine learning models can be unreliable in ways that are hard to predict, and we are far from having a full characterization of the failure modes of these methods. If the black-box model could be arbitrarily wrong, conventional worst-case analysis may suggest that the best an algorithm can do is to ignore it, as it could be as hurtful as it might be helpful. This is pessimistic, as model predictions are often useful and valuable, even if it is hard to predict failure. In many high-stakes applications it is unreasonable, if not irresponsible, to fully disregard model predictions.
An alternative is to evaluate an algorithm both on reliability, and on how well it uses the black-box model. This thesis develops new algorithmic methods that simultaneously utilize the model as well as possible when it is correct, while also remaining robust in the setting where the model is not useful, or even misleading. A key aspect of this thesis is simultaneously providing
(1) pessimistic guarantees: that the method is reliable even when the black-box model is not, and
(2) optimistic guarantees: that the method provably distills useful information if the black-box model provides it.
This work extends the areas of algorithms with predictions and conformal prediction, and develops new algorithmic techniques that make new connections to other areas of algorithms including robust statistics, and online algorithms.
TIME Friday, May 15, 2026 at 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
LOCATION Mudd 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library) map it
CONTACT Wynante R Charles wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)
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May18
EVENT DETAILS
lessMonday / Student Seminar
May 18 / 12:00 PM
Mudd 3514Speaker: TBA
Title: TBA
Abstract: TBA
Bio: TBA
TIME Monday, May 18, 2026 at 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CONTACT Wynante R Charles wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)
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May19
EVENT DETAILS
lessThere is now a broad agreement that photonics is essential for reducing energy consumption of AI hardware through optical interconnects, but quantum technologies also need photonics for scaling. This is true even for “non-photonic” quantum systems based on superconductors, or trapped atoms and ions in vacuum. For example, new types of spatial light modulators and switches are needed to trap and control atoms and ions, microwave to optical quantum transducers are needed for networking superconducting processors, chip-scale laser systems are required for controlling atoms or spin qubits in solids, and very high efficiency integrated photonics is needed for quantum networks, sensors, and chip-based semiconductor quantum systems. Unfortunately, the desired level of performance and some of the functionalities are not available even in today’s best integrated photonics. We show how this can be addressed by photonics inverse design combined with emerging materials, new nanofabrication and heterogenous integration approaches. Specific examples include development of miniaturized titanium:sapphire lasers and amplifiers on chip, quantum network nodes in diamond, and a quantum simulator with silicon carbide color centers. Classical photonic technologies that will be discussed include fast, compact and error-free chip-scale optical interconnects, as well as CMOS compatible laser isolators and frequency stabilizers.
Jelena Vuckovic (PhD Caltech 2002) is the Jensen Huang Professor of Global Leadership, Professor of Electrical Engineering and, by courtesy, of Applied Physics at Stanford. She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and an External Scientific Member of the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics. Her awards include the R.W. Wood Prize from Optica, Zeiss Award, Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship, Geoffrey Frew Fellowship from the Australian Academy of Sciences, the IET A. F. Harvey Engineering Research Prize, Mildred Dresselhaus Lectureship from MIT, and the Humboldt Prize. She is a Fellow of the APS, Optica, and IEEE, a lead editor of Physical Review Applied, and an Editor of PNAS.
TIME Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
LOCATION L440, Technological Institute map it
CONTACT Amani Walker amani.walker@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
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May19
EVENT DETAILS
lessCSPAC and CSSI are excited to announce our upcoming series of events on public speaking! All are welcome and encouraged to participate. See below for details:
Public speaking workshop w/ Prof. Samir Khuller @ May 19, 12-1 PM
Come hear tips for crafting talks for various genres, audiences, and venues from Samir! Afterwards, we will split into small groups to draft, practice, and give feedback on talks. Lunch will be provided.Students at any stage in their program are highly encouraged to participate! This is a great opportunity to practice an essential research skill, share your research with others, and receive constructive feedback from supportive faculty!
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What is CSPAC?We are the CS PhD Advisory Council. We are a PhD student-led organization, and our mandate is to interface between PhD students and faculty on academic issues. We want to advocate for PhD students in the department, so if there is some way we can support you, please come talk to us. We welcome PhD students to our weekly meetings on Wednesday 9:30am-10:30am in Mudd 3501 and on zoom. We also welcome anonymous concerns/feedback at any time via this form. Anyone in the community can reach us at cspac@u.northwestern.edu.
TIME Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CONTACT Melissa Chen melissac@u.northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)
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May20
EVENT DETAILS
lessJJoin us for our weekly Electrical and Computer Engineering Speaker Series, where innovation meets insight. Each week, we host a distinguished speaker from academia, industry, or research who will share cutting-edge developments, emerging trends, and real-world applications shaping the future of ECE.
From advances in artificial intelligence and embedded systems to breakthroughs in communications, power systems, and beyond, these talks are designed to spark curiosity, inspire new ideas, and connect our community with leaders in the field.
Whether you're a student, researcher, or simply passionate about technology, this series offers a valuable opportunity to learn, ask questions, and engage with exciting work at the forefront of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Stay tuned for weekly updates on upcoming topics and speakers!
TIME Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
LOCATION L440, Technological Institute map it
CONTACT Amani Walker amani.walker@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
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May20
EVENT DETAILS
lessWednesday / CS Distinguished Lecture
May 20 / 12:00 PM
Hybrid / Mudd 3514Speaker
Julio OttinoTalk Title
From Clocks to Clouds: Computer Science and the New Architecture of RealityAbstract
"Computer science has become one of the most powerful intellectual forces of our time. It does something no other field quite does: it discovers like science, invents like engineering, and creates like art. In doing so, it has helped build the infrastructure of modern reality—algorithms, platforms, networks, and increasingly, AI systems that shape how billions of people think, interact, and decide.
This talk places computer science on a larger intellectual canvas. It contrasts two ways of seeing the world: one rooted in determinism, decomposition, and control—what we might call the “clock” worldview—and another grounded in emergence, adaptation, and irreducible complexity—the “cloud” worldview. Computer science sits uniquely at the intersection of these modes of thinking.
The field’s greatest achievements have come from its mastery of “clock thinking”: formalization, algorithms, optimization, and scalable systems. But the world these systems now inhabit—and increasingly create—is a “cloud world”: dynamic, interconnected, and only partially predictable.
This mismatch raises a central question: what does computer science need to become when it is not just solving problems, but designing environments—and increasingly, reality itself?
The talk argues that the next phase of the field will require complementing its extraordinary precision with new forms of rigor—tools for navigating uncertainty, reasoning under incomplete models, and designing for emergence rather than control.
Computer science has already shaped the landscape we live in. The question now is whether it will also develop the intellectual frameworks needed to understand—and responsibly guide—the worlds it is creating."Biography
Julio Mario Ottino is a researcher, engineering scientist, academic leader, educator, artist, and author. He is Founder and Co-Director of the Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems, McCormick Institute Professor of Engineering, and Professor of Management and Organizations at Northwestern University. Widely recognized as a world authority on chaos and complexity, he has been a Guggenheim Fellow and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Sciences, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. As Dean of Engineering, he launched major university-wide initiatives, programs, degrees, and centers spanning design, energy and sustainability, human–computer interaction, and entrepreneurship. His most recent book is The Nexus: Augmented Thinking for a Complex World — The New Convergence of Art, Technology, and Science (MIT Press, 2022).Research Areas: complex systems
TIME Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
LOCATION 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library) map it
CONTACT Wynante R Charles wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)
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May26
EVENT DETAILS
lessCSPAC and CSSI are excited to announce our upcoming series of events on public speaking! All are welcome and encouraged to participate. See below for details:
Lightning talk competition @ May 26, 3:30-5 PM [sign up to present]
Present a 3-minute lightning talk about your research to a panel of judges. Winners will be awarded at the department awards ceremony on May 27. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. While we encourage all students to present, you are also welcome to join to watch and support your peers!
Students at any stage in their program are highly encouraged to participate! This is a great opportunity to practice an essential research skill, share your research with others, and receive constructive feedback from supportive faculty!
Questions? Email melissac@u.northwestern.edu.
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What is CSPAC?We are the CS PhD Advisory Council. We are a PhD student-led organization, and our mandate is to interface between PhD students and faculty on academic issues. We want to advocate for PhD students in the department, so if there is some way we can support you, please come talk to us. We welcome PhD students to our weekly meetings on Wednesday 9:30am-10:30am in Mudd 3501 and on zoom. We also welcome anonymous concerns/feedback at any time via this form. Anyone in the community can reach us at cspac@u.northwestern.edu.
TIME Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
CONTACT Melissa Chen melissac@u.northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)
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May27
EVENT DETAILS
lessCome celebrate with us at the annual end of year department awards on Wednesday May 27th. Details to come.
TIME Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
LOCATION TGS Commons, 2122 Sheridan Road map it
CONTACT Wynante Charles wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)
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May28
EVENT DETAILS
lessJoin us for free bagels and coffee followed by an informal discussion hosted by CSPAC and CSSI.
TIME Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
CONTACT Wynante Charles wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)
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Jun3
EVENT DETAILS
lessJoin us for our weekly Electrical and Computer Engineering Speaker Series, where innovation meets insight. Each week, we host a distinguished speaker from academia, industry, or research who will share cutting-edge developments, emerging trends, and real-world applications shaping the future of ECE.
From advances in artificial intelligence and embedded systems to breakthroughs in communications, power systems, and beyond, these talks are designed to spark curiosity, inspire new ideas, and connect our community with leaders in the field.
Whether you're a student, researcher, or simply passionate about technology, this series offers a valuable opportunity to learn, ask questions, and engage with exciting work at the forefront of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Stay tuned for weekly updates on upcoming topics and speakers!
TIME Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
LOCATION L440, Technological Institute map it
CONTACT Amani Walker amani.walker@northwestern.edu EMAIL
CALENDAR Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
