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Events for March 23, 2022

  • CS Colloquium: Ram Alagappan (VMware Research Group) - Co-designing Distributed Systems and Storage Stacks for Improved Reliability

    Wed, Mar 23, 2022 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Ram Alagappan , VMware Research Group

    Talk Title: Co-designing Distributed Systems and Storage Stacks for Improved Reliability

    Series: CS Colloquium

    Abstract: Distributed storage systems form the core of modern cloud services. Like many systems software, these systems are built using layering: designers layer distributed protocols (e.g., Paxos, 2PC) upon local storage stacks. Such layering abstracts details about the local storage stack to the layers above, easing development. I will show that such black-box layering, unfortunately, masks vital information, resulting in poor reliability. I will then demonstrate that reliability can be significantly improved by co-designing these layers.
    In the first half of the talk, I will show how local storage-layer faults in one node can lead to serious vulnerabilities such as global data loss, corruption, and unavailability in many widely used systems. I then present CTRL, a new foundation that uses the co-design approach to avoid such problems, improving reliability. I implement CTRL in two practical systems and show that CTRL greatly improves resiliency to storage faults while incurring little performance overhead.

    This lecture satisfies requirements for CSCI 591: Research Colloquium

    Biography: Ram Alagappan is a postdoctoral researcher at the VMware Research Group. He earned his Ph.D., working with Professors Andrea Arpaci-Dusseau and Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. His work has been published at top systems venues and has won three best paper awards (FAST 17, 18, and 20). His dissertation also won an honorable mention for the UW CS Best Dissertation. His open-source frameworks have had a practical impact: these tools have exposed more than 80 severe vulnerabilities across 20 widely used systems. Ideas from his work have been adopted by a financial database to make it more robust.

    Host: Ramesh Govindan

    Location: online only

    Audiences: By invitation only.

    Contact: Assistant to CS chair

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  • Computer Science General Faculty Meeting

    Wed, Mar 23, 2022 @ 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM

    Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science

    Receptions & Special Events


    Bi-Weekly regular faculty meeting for invited full-time Computer Science faculty only. Event details emailed directly to attendees.

    Location: TBD

    Audiences: Invited Faculty Only

    Contact: Assistant to CS chair

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  • AME Seminar

    Wed, Mar 23, 2022 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM

    Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: George Tynan, UC San Diego

    Talk Title: Status and Outlook for Controlled Fusion as a Firm Zero-Carbon Energy Source

    Abstract: Controlled fusion research has been pursued since the 1950s by most of the world's developed economies due to many attractive characteristics of this seemingly elusive technology. In 2021, inertial confinement fusion experiments at LLNL reached the threshold of fusion ignition while magnetic confinement experiments in the UK demonstrated that the ITER device nearing completion in France should, for the first time, produce a burning plasma in which fusion heating dominates the system. In parallel, a rapidly developing industry with $4B of private-sector funding has emerged and is pursuing a wide variety of approaches for controlled fusion. This talk will summarize the key elements of these developments, and sketch out the characteristics that fusion-based energy systems will need to demonstrate if they are to compete economically in the emerging zero-carbon energy system of the mid-century.

    Biography: George Tynan studies the fundamental physics of turbulent transport in hot confined plasmas using both smaller scaled laboratory plasma devices as well as large scale fusion experiments located around the world. In addition, he is investigating how solid material surfaces interact with the boundary region of fusion plasmas, and how the materials are modified by that interaction. He is also interested in the larger issue of transitioning to a sustainable energy economy based upon a mixture of efficient end use technologies, large scale deployment of renewable energy sources, and incorporation of a new generation of nuclear technologies such as advanced fission and fusion reactor systems. He received his Ph.D. in 1991 from the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles. He then spent several years studying the effect of sheared flows on plasma turbulence on experiments located in the Federal Republic of Germany and at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, and worked in industry developing plasma sources for use in investigating the creation of submicron-scale semiconductor circuits. He joined the UCSD faculty in 1999 where he worked to establish a graduate program in plasma physics within the School of Engineering. He has served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, Associate Dean of Engineering, is co-founding Director of the UC San Diego Deep Decarbonization Initiative, and is currently Department Chair of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering.

    Host: AME Department

    More Info: https://usc.zoom.us/j/93987337017?pwd=MWd2dXBSL1FaR1RPaHNscjJ1NW80UT09

    Webcast: https://usc.zoom.us/j/93987337017?pwd=MWd2dXBSL1FaR1RPaHNscjJ1NW80UT09

    Location: James H. Zumberge Hall Of Science (ZHS) - 252

    WebCast Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/93987337017?pwd=MWd2dXBSL1FaR1RPaHNscjJ1NW80UT09

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Tessa Yao

    Event Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/93987337017?pwd=MWd2dXBSL1FaR1RPaHNscjJ1NW80UT09

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  • A Study Break w/ Tesla: Weekly Series Feb 9 - April 13 (Virtual)

    Wed, Mar 23, 2022 @ 06:00 PM - 06:45 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections

    Workshops & Infosessions


    A Study Break w/ Tesla is a series of professional workshops presented by the Hardware + Cell Engineering Internship Recruiting Team that will be offered on Wednesday evenings from February through April, 6:00 pm -6:45 pm.
    Each event will offer a 25-minute presentation on a specific topic, followed by a 20-minute opportunity for participants to ask questions and network with the Tesla team.
    Event: An Intro to Hardware Engineering | March 23 - RSVP HERE
    Description: This session will provide an introduction to co-op and internship opportunities within the Hardware Engineering team at Tesla. Prior to attending, visit the Tesla career page for a base understanding of the intern opportunities available.
    External employer-hosted events and activities are not affiliated with the USC Career Center. They are posted on Viterbi Career Connections because they may be of interest to members of the Viterbi community. Inclusion of any activity does not indicate USC sponsorship or endorsement of that activity or event. It is the participant's responsibility to apply due diligence, exercise caution when participating, and report concerns to vcareers@usc.edu

    Location: RSVP in Viterbi Career Gateway

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Connections

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  • Epirus Info Session and Tech Talk (On-Campus)

    Wed, Mar 23, 2022 @ 06:00 PM - 07:30 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections

    Workshops & Infosessions


    Epirus Info Session and Tech Talk (On-Campus)

    This is a Viterbi-specific On-Campus session!

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall (RTH) Room 211
    March 23rd 6:00 - 7:30 pm
    Full Time & Internship Opportunities
    No, my organization does not offer visa sponsorship

    About Epirus: We design and build cutting-edge, high-powered microwave systems that can transform industries and the world. With our continued emphasis on innovation, we have created directed energy systems that surpass current capabilities that will aid in defense and climate change initiatives.
    Come hear more about our innovative technology, like our
    MOST POWERFUL PHASED ARRAY IN THE WORLD and how we just closed our Series C funding round valued at $1.35 Billion!

    Our Info Session will be led by our Senior Vice President of Engineering and our Tech Talk will be led by one of our Senior Principal Electrical Engineers!

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

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Connections

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  • Shift SC: Digital Well-being Workshop #2

    Wed, Mar 23, 2022 @ 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Student Organizations

    Workshops & Infosessions


    Come join Shift SC for its second digital well-being workshop, part of an interactive, engaging series that aims to highlight the impact of technology on mental health. Shift SC is a student organization that focuses on the human-centered responsibility of technology and serves as a space for students to promote awareness and discuss the implications of technology on society. Chipotle (vegetarian options included) will be catered to the first 40 individuals who join our event! Follow @shift.sc on Instagram for further updates!

    Location: Social Sciences Building (SOS) - B46

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Denis Mac

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