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Events for February 15, 2017

  • CS Colloquium: Theodoros Rekatsinas (Stanford University) - Data Integration with Unreliable Sources

    Wed, Feb 15, 2017 @ 11:00 AM - 12:20 PM

    Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Theodoros Rekatsinas, Stanford University

    Talk Title: Data Integration with Unreliable Sources

    Series: CS Colloquium

    Abstract: This lecture satisfies requirements for CSCI 591: Computer Science Research Colloquium.

    Data integration is an essential element of data-intensive science and modern analytics. Users often need to combine data from different sources to gain new scientific knowledge, obtain accurate insights, and create new services. However, today's upsurge in the number and heterogeneity-”in terms of format and reliability-”of data sources limits the ability of users to reason about the value of data. This raises the fundamental questions: what makes a data source useful to end users, how can we integrate unreliable data, and which sources we need to combine to maximize the user's utility?

    In this talk, I discuss how to assess and leverage the quality and reliability of data to make data integration more efficient. Specifically, I demonstrate how statistical learning is the key to managing large volumes of heterogeneous sources effectively. Building upon this observation, I introduce new solutions to classical data integration problems, such as data conflict resolution and data cleaning, and show that these solutions outperform their traditional counterparts by large margins. I finish with an outlook on how recent advancements in machine learning have the potential to streamline the construction of end-to-end data curation systems and bring data closer to users.

    Biography: Theodoros (Theo) Rekatsinas is a Moore Data Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford working with Christopher Ré; he earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, where he was advised by Amol Deshpande and Lise Getoor. His research interests are in data management, with a focus on data integration, data cleaning, and uncertain data. Theo's work on using quality-aware data integration techniques to forecast the emergence and progression of disease outbreaks received the Best Paper Award at SDM 2015. Theo was awarded the Larry S. Davis Doctoral Dissertation award in 2015.

    Host: CS Department

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 217

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Assistant to CS chair

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  • Cover Letter Workshop

    Wed, Feb 15, 2017 @ 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections

    Workshops & Infosessions


    Not sure how to write a cover letter? In this workshop we'll explain the components of a strong cover letter, and students will have time to craft their own cover letter! Bring any existing cover letter drafts you may have, a job description you would like to apply to, and your resume.

    Location: James H. Zumberge Hall Of Science (ZHS) - 360

    Audiences: All Viterbi

    Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Connections

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  • MHI CommNetS seminar

    Wed, Feb 15, 2017 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. Marcella M. Gomez, UC Berkeley

    Talk Title: Delays in biological networks and feedback design

    Series: CommNetS

    Abstract: Gene regulatory networks lie at the crux of life and, despite rapidly evolving tools in synthetic biology, our ability to replicate the robustness of these systems remains a challenge. We have not been able to fully understand and, hence, design effective feedback mechanisms. I present work towards said challenge through extensions in control and dynamical systems lending to an effective network design in the presence of delays, an adversarial facet of biology.

    In this talk I focus on the role of delays in biological networks. I show how understanding the effects of delays and stochastic processes on gene expression dynamics can be used to design effective controllers for stability. First, I present a stability condition for stochastic linear systems with identically, independently, distributed stochastic delays. In an application to a single gene oscillator, I demonstrate the stabilizing effects of increasing the relative variance of the delay uncertainty. Using the insight gained from this analysis along with inspiration from nature, I present a stabilizing controller for the single gene oscillator based on adding a larger delay in parallel. A generalized delay-based feedback design approach shows this architecture to be near optimal. In summary, through a deeper understanding of the effects of delays on dynamics, I arrive at an effective stabilizing controller in a system with large delays, where traditional methods in controls cannot be used for feedback design.


    Biography: Marcella M. Gomez is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. She received her bachelors from UC Berkeley in 2008 and her PhD from the California Institute of Technology in 2015, both in Mechanical Engineering. Her research interests lie in developing synergistic methods combining control and dynamical systems with synthetic biology for the advancement in understanding and designing of complex genetic networks.

    Host: Prof. Paul Bogdan

    Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Annie Yu

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  • AME Seminar: Christopher S. Combs

    Wed, Feb 15, 2017 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM

    Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Christopher S. Combs, Research Assistant Professor

    Talk Title: Advancement of Non-Intrusive Optical Diagnostics for the Study of Supersonic Aerothermodynamics

    Host: USC Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

    More Info: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/2-15-17-combs.shtml

    Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: USC AME (OHE 430)

    Event Link: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/2-15-17-combs.shtml

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  • Navigating the Internship & Job Search

    Wed, Feb 15, 2017 @ 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections

    Workshops & Infosessions


    Are you looking for an industry position and want to know where to begin? This workshop will give you the tips needed to help you find an engineering internship and co-op opportunities!

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 211

    Audiences: All Viterbi

    Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Connections

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  • Trojan Talk with California Resources Corporation

    Wed, Feb 15, 2017 @ 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections

    Workshops & Infosessions


    California Resources Corporation (CRC) is an oil and natural gas exploration and production company with conventional and unconventional assets exclusively in California. CRC is dedicated to providing safe, affordable, reliable, local energy: "Energy for California by Californians"

    Join us to learn more about California Resources Corporation and Engineering Intern opportunities!

    Potential intern locations: Long Beach, CA; Bakersfield, CA; Chatsworth, CA

    As an intern, you will gain organizational awareness, be exposed to other disciplines, participate in meaningful projects, and engage with senior leadership! See attached flyer for more information!

    Location: Seeley G. Mudd Building (SGM) - 101

    Audiences: All Viterbi

    Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Connections

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  • CECS Alumni & Industry Spotlight

    Wed, Feb 15, 2017 @ 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections

    Workshops & Infosessions


    Students will hear from alumni and industry representatives regarding their academic/professional experiences.
    Free Pizza!

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 211

    Audiences: Undergrad

    Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Connections

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