SCS IN THE NEWS
PARTNERSHIP CREATES GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND RESEARCHERS
A “unicorn company” is a term used to describe private startups worth $1 billion. The Unicorn Factory Lisboa acts as a hub for these companies and recently forged a new partnership with Carnegie Mellon University Portugal, a main driver in the Portuguese tech sector.
In October 2023, the International Technologies Institute (ITI) became the first research institution to partner with the Unicorn Factory. ITI President and CMU Portugal National Director, Nuno Nunes, said the university is one of the most competitive in Europe.
Despite being a medium-sized European country, Portugal has positioned itself as a leader in creating these highly innovative companies, Nunes noted.
“There are many projects and partnerships that benefited from a wide network of CMU Portugal talent and many leaders that, one way or another, contributed back to the country as academic leaders, entrepreneurs or by sharing their experiences with younger researchers,” explained Nunes.
To highlight the varied diversity of the companies, he pointed to companies like Mambu, which started as a student project. Students researched micro-finance in Africa, and Mambu quickly became a leader in cloud banking. Another company, Feedazi, started as machine learning for various sectors and landed their skillset on financial fraud detection. For each of these ventures, Nunes believes location is primarily responsible for their success.
“While many of these global companies have headquarters in the U.S. or other financial markets, they share the Portuguese DNA,” said Nunes.
Nunes notes that their partnership with the municipality of Lisbon and Fundação Santander Portugal Fund allows them to take advantage of
local initiatives, making it seamless for startups to scale up through the Unicorn Factory.
“Some of the Unicorn companies said it was very hard to find people with experience and skills to manage global digital products,” explained Nunes. “With the help and funding of Fundação Santander, we are bringing this to Lisbon in collaboration with several schools and faculty from CMU.”
Because the Unicorn Factory is a large driver of economic growth in the region, Nunes said the longevity of the partnership can be measured through the continued projects of researchers and alumni.
“The impact comes after these young, talented researchers create new companies and get jobs in world-class companies or universities,” said Nunes, “even if they are not based in Portugal.” ■
Nuno J. Nunes, President of the International Technologies Institute and CMU Portugal National Director, in front of the Unicorn Factory building in Lisbon
Carlos Moedas (center), the mayor of Lisbon, sits in front of a computer screen, surrounded by a group intrigued with the technology
SCS PROFESSOR PENS PROBABILITY TEXTBOOK
Mor Harchol-Balter, the Bruce J. Nelson Professor of Computer Science has completed her book “Introduction to Probability for Computing” published by Cambridge University Press.
As mentioned on the book’s website, the book gives an introduction to probability as it is used in computer science theory and practice, drawing on applications and current research developments as motivation and context.
The textbook is available broadly for colleges to use in their curriculum and will be used in SCS’ Probability and Computing course. Harchol-Balter issued this statement:
For anyone who took Probability and Computing (often referred to as “PnC”) at CMU, the long-awaited textbook for the class is finally here: Introduction to Probability for Computing. The book is dedicated to the students of CMU’s School of Computer Science, whom I’ve loved teaching for the past 24 years. It is written in classic PnC style, as a list of Questions and Answers. The book is also full of pictures referencing CMU, including Carnival festivities, Buggy, the Three Rivers of Pittsburgh, the States of Love, and more. Some of you might even find your name in there. Enjoy the memories as you refresh your probability!
Thank you all for encouraging me to finish this. — Mor Harchol-Balter ■
BEHRING FOUNDATION SUPPORTS UNDERGRADS FROM BRAZIL IN TECH
The Behring Foundation, a Brazilian-based family organization focused on empowering talented youth and promoting social development, has established a scholarship to support international students pursuing tech-related undergraduate degrees at Carnegie Mellon University.
The Behring Scholarship provides funding for two students per year with permanent residential addresses in Brazil who are enrolled in SCS or the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) in the College of Engineering. The scholarship is intended to cover the full cost of attendance for up to five years, including tuition, fees, room, board, books, supplies and more.
“From the start of the Behring Foundation, we wanted to educate talented Brazilians in technology and expose them to the best opportunities possible in the field,” said Lucas Giannini, executive director of the Behring Foundation. “When establishing our scholarships and fellowships, we were looking for world-class academic opportunities — leading institutions in computer science and artificial intelligence — where we could do so. Carnegie Mellon clearly stood out.”
The foundation’s gift is the first of its kind at CMU, helping to fill a financial aid gap for international undergraduates who may not have as much access to funding opportunities as domestic students. In addition to financial support, CMU’s Behring Scholars will benefit from access to networking opportunities and meetings, like an annual summit to catalyze their education and career.
“Education is only one piece of the puzzle in terms of developing a thriving, productive ecosystem for technology in our community,” Giannini said. “We also bring our scholars together with like-minded individuals who believe in technology as a key lever for social change.”
To date, the foundation has pledged $1.37 million to support the Behring Scholarship. Two ECE students received the inaugural funding in fall of 2023, and the foundation’s continued support will fund two more students in the next academic year.
“We want to support the best technologists, and we feel that putting them in a unique, thriving community that surrounds and immerses them in technology is the best way to do that,” Giannini said. “That’s what we’ve found here at Carnegie Mellon.” ■
JIM HERBSLEB TO STEP DOWN AS HEAD OF S3D
JOSHUA QUICKSALL
During his tenure as director of CMU’s Institute for Software Research, now the Software and Societal Systems Department (S3D), Jim Herbsleb has been the architect of transformative change and enduring progress. Under his leadership since 2019, Jim has navigated the department through a significant rebranding, not just in name but in spirit, ushering in a period of remarkable growth and expansion. His adept handling of the department’s transition through the COVID-19 pandemic showcased exceptional leadership, ensuring that the strong sense of community in S3D not only endured, but thrived in the face of unprecedented challenges. Jim’s foresight and dedication were pivotal in the successful return to on-campus work, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to the well-being and professional development of his team.
Among Jim’s most notable accomplishments are the substantial increase in the faculty roster. His work has not only elevated the department’s standing within the academic community but has also significantly enriched the collaborative and educational experience for faculty and students alike.
As Jim prepares to refocus on his groundbreaking research in software engineering and collaboration, we look forward to the continued impact of his work on how geographically disperse teams achieve synergy. Jim leaves behind a legacy of leadership that has indelibly shaped the department for the better, embodying the spirit of innovation and community that defines Carnegie Mellon.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude for Jim’s years of dedicated service. His visionary leadership and profound contributions have set a lofty standard for those who follow. As he embarks on the next phase of his professional journey, we offer our best wishes for continued success and discovery. ■
RONI ROSENFELD TO STEP DOWN AS HEAD OF MACHINE LEARNING
ADAM KOHLHAAS
After nearly five years as head of the Machine Learning Department in the School of Computer Science, Roni Rosenfeld announced that he will be stepping down. Beginning in 2018, Rosenfeld’s tenure has been marked by significant growth and achievements, including the doubling in size of the core faculty, the expansion and streamlining of the master’s program, and the navigation through challenges posed by space constraints within the department.
With Rosenfeld’s leadership, the Machine Learning Department navigated its way through unprecedented challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, his work as head of CMU’s Delphi Research Group contributed to the national response to the pandemic through COVIDCast, a nationally adopted tracking and forecasting tool. Despite this additional workload, as well as myriad uncertainties regarding the future, Rosenfeld managed to steer the department through this difficult time and helped to reestablish a strong sense of community among its members.
Moving forward, Rosenfeld will be continuing his groundbreaking work in developing epidemiological tracking and forecasting with the Delphi Research Group.
As the Machine Learning Department looks forward, with the recent accelerated developments in machine learning and artificial intelligence, Rosenfeld’s invaluable contributions leave behind a legacy of excellence that will continue to shape the department’s future endeavors. ■