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SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT
Events for the 2nd week of March
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Aircraft Accident Investigation AAI 24-3Mon, Mar 04, 2024 @ 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Aviation Safety and Security Program
University Calendar
The course is designed for individuals who have limited investigation experience. All aspects of the investigation process are addressed, starting with preparation for the investigation through writing the final report. It covers National Transportation Safety Board and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) procedures. Investigative techniques are examined with an emphasis on fixed-wing investigation. Data collection, wreckage reconstruction, and cause analysis are discussed in the classroom and applied in the lab. The USC Aircraft Accident Investigation lab serves as the location for practical exercises. Thirteen aircraft wreckages form the basis of these investigative exercises. The crash laboratory gives the student an opportunity to learn the observation and documentation skills required of accident investigators. The wreckage is examined and reviewed with investigators who have extensive actual real-world investigation experience. Examination techniques and methods are demonstrated along with participative group discussions of actual wreckage examination, reviews of witness interview information, and investigation group personal dynamics discussions.
Location: WESTMINSTER AVENUE BUILDING (WAB) - Unit E
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Daniel Scalese
Event Link: https://avsafe.usc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=24AAAI3
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EiS Communications Hub Drop-In Hours
Mon, Mar 04, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Workshops & Infosessions
Viterbi Ph.D. students are invited to stop by the EiS Communications Hub for one-on-one instruction for their academic and professional communications tasks. All instruction is provided by Viterbi faculty at the Engineering in Society Program.
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 222A
Audiences: Viterbi Ph.D. Students
Contact: Helen Choi
Event Link: https://sites.google.com/usc.edu/eishub/home?authuser=0
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EiS Communications Hub Drop-In Hours
Mon, Mar 04, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Engineering in Society Program
Student Activity
Drop-in hours for writing and speaking support for Viterbi Ph.D. students
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 222
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Helen Choi
Event Link: https://sites.google.com/usc.edu/eishub/home
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CS Colloquium: Emily Tseng (Cornell University) - Digital Safety and Security for Survivors of Technology-Mediated Harms
Mon, Mar 04, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Emily Tseng, Cornell University
Talk Title: Digital Safety and Security for Survivors of Technology-Mediated Harms
Series: Computer Science Colloquium
Abstract: Platforms, devices, and algorithms are increasingly weaponized to control and harass the most vulnerable among us. Some of these harms occur at the individual and interpersonal level: for example, abusers in intimate partner violence (IPV) use smartphones and social media to surveil and stalk their victims. Others are more subtle, at the level of social structure: for example, in organizations, workplace technologies can inadvertently scaffold exploitative labor practices. This talk will discuss my research (1) investigating these harms via online measurement studies, (2) building interventions to directly assist survivors with their security and privacy; and (3) instrumenting these interventions as observatories, to enable scientific research into new types of harms as attackers and technologies evolve. I will close by sharing my vision for centering inclusion and equity in digital safety, security and privacy, towards brighter technological futures for us all.
This lecture satisfies requirements for CSCI 591: Research Colloquium
Biography: Emily Tseng is a PhD candidate in Information Science at Cornell University. Her research develops the systems, interventions, and design principles we need to make digital technology safe and affirming for everyone. Emily’s work has been published at top-tier venues in human-computer interaction (ACM CHI, CSCW) and computer security and privacy (USENIX Security, IEEE Oakland). For 5 years, she has worked as a researcher-practitioner with the Clinic to End Tech Abuse, where her work has enabled specialized security services for over 500 survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Emily is the recipient of a Microsoft Research PhD Fellowship, Rising Stars in EECS, Best Paper Awards at CHI, CSCW, and USENIX Security, and third place in the Internet Defense Prize. She has interned at Google and with the Social Media Collective at Microsoft Research. She holds a B.A. from Princeton University.
Host: Jesse Thomason
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: CS Faculty Affairs
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VLP Spring Study Sesh
Mon, Mar 04, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Student Activity
Spring into midterm season with the VLP! Join us in RTH 222 for quiet study spaces, plenty of FREE snacks, and spring vibes to keep you going strong! All Viterbi students are invited to attend.
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 222
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Alex Bronz
Event Link: https://cglink.me/2nB/r396006
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ventureSPARK Program
Mon, Mar 04, 2024 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Viterbi Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship
University Calendar
ventureSPARK Who: All students (graduate and undergraduate) who have an idea or technology. What: ventureSPARK is a program to help you along your innovation journey. Whether you are just starting out with an idea or have been working on an idea for a while, this program is designed to help you identify your customers and develop initial market validation. When: The program will consist of three two hour workshops. Thursday March 21, March 28, and April 4 from 4pm-6pm. APPLY by MARCH 4 at 11:59PM
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Viterbi TIE
Event Link: https://airtable.com/appBsKwv6nCjaKrSd/shrgIfTq6StRSWOh3
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AME Seminar
Mon, Mar 04, 2024 @ 01:30 PM - 02:30 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Preston Culbertson, California Institute of Technology
Talk Title: To Err is Robotic: Enabling Robust Autonomy with Risk-Sensitivity
Abstract: Despite significant recent advances in robot learning and perception, achieving robust robot behavior for real-world, dynamic tasks like dexterous manipulation remains elusive. This challenge stems from the uncertainty inherent in robots' geometric models, perception systems, and controllers, particularly during dynamic interactions with the environment. This talk explores how risk-sensitivity can provide a principled, practical approach to addressing these robustness issues directly. First, I will discuss our work showing Neural Radiance Fields (NeRFs) — typically trained for novel view synthesis — can be used for both collision avoidance and localization, repurposing them as a versatile, probabilistic occupancy model for robotics. Next, we will turn to the problem of real-time, risk-sensitive planning more broadly. Specifically, I will present work combining stochastic control barrier functions (CBFs), which provide rigorous probabilistic safety/performance guarantees, with deep generative dynamics models to yield a lightweight, data-driven approach to risk-sensitive control. We have demonstrated that our method (running onboard a quadrotor at 100Hz) enables aggressive, yet safe flight with a completely unmodeled and uninstrumented slung load. The talk will conclude with a discussion of some lessons learned and future directions in risk-sensitive robotics.
Biography: Preston Culbertson is a postdoctoral scholar in the AMBER Lab at Caltech. His research interests lie at the intersection of robotics, machine learning, optimization, and computer vision. Specifically, his research explores how to enable robust robot behavior for dynamic, contact-rich tasks like manipulation, locomotion, and navigation, emphasizing new tools for understanding risk and uncertainty for autonomous systems. Preston earned his PhD from Stanford University, mentored by Prof. Mac Schwager, where his work on collaborative manipulation and robot assembly was awarded the NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship and the 'Best Manipulation Paper' award at ICRA 2018.
More Info: https://ame.usc.edu/seminars/
Webcast: https://usc.zoom.us/j/95892885119?pwd=QXZOZUhrcTJRYk5qZzZwVThrTytVZz09Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 406
WebCast Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/95892885119?pwd=QXZOZUhrcTJRYk5qZzZwVThrTytVZz09
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Tessa Yao
Event Link: https://ame.usc.edu/seminars/
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ECE-EP seminar - Rishabh Sahu, Monday, March 4th at 2pm in EEB 248
Mon, Mar 04, 2024 @ 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Rishabh Sahu, Postdoctoral scholar, IST Austria
Talk Title: Building Quantum Networks with Quantum Electrooptics
Series: ECE-EP Seminar
Abstract: In the last few decades, a myriad of physical systems such as photons, atoms, ions and spins have been explored for various different quantum technologies such as computation, communication and meteorology. Until now, no single physical system has been suitable for all the different quantum applications and, therefore, different systems are utilized in different spheres usually without any intercompatibility between them. A solution to this emerging chaos in the quantum landscape is to build hybrid quantum networks where various quantum systems with their unique advantages can be connected together to build a combined system able to perform better than the sum of its aggregates. The nodes in such a network would be connected using flying qubits - telecom wavelength optical photons - which would also allow these nodes to be separated by long distances. There has been some progress in this direction, particularly attempts to make trapped ions and solid state qubits compatible with optical photons. However, making microwave technologies such as superconducting qubits compatible with high energy optics is more challenging due to the large energy gap between the two. In this talk, I will present how quantum electro optics can be used to establish a quantum bridge between microwave and optical frequencies. Such a bridge would not only allow connection of superconducting quits over a long distance but also would be a key step in making future hybrid quantum networks a reality.
Biography: Rishabh completed his bachelor's and master's degree in Physics at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. His research mainly involved studying orbital angular momentum of light, in particular, sorting photons in this basis to get a multidimensional basis for photons. His master's thesis involved simulating Maxwell's equation using Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method. Rishabh started graduate school at ISTA in fall of 2018 and joined the Fink group in 2019. He graduated in 2023 and works now as a postdoc on new cavity electrooptics experiments.
Host: ECE-EP
Webcast: https://usc.zoom.us/j/97370470279?pwd=NGZ4aWdGUHRjUUtrQllkemVIV3lxQT09More Information: Rishabh Sahu Seminar Announcement.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
WebCast Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/97370470279?pwd=NGZ4aWdGUHRjUUtrQllkemVIV3lxQT09
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marilyn Poplawski
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CSC/CommNetS-MHI Seminar: Magnus Egerstedt
Mon, Mar 04, 2024 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Magnus Egerstedt, Dean of Engineering, Professor | Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science | University of California, Irvine
Talk Title: Mutualistic interactions in heterogeneous multi-robot systems
Series: CSC/CommNetS-MHI Seminar Series
Abstract:
The typical approach to multi-robot systems is to divide the team-level tasks into suitable building blocks and have the robots solve their respective subtasks in a coordinated manner. However, by bringing together robots with different capabilities, it should be possible to arrive at completely new capabilities and skill-sets. In other words, the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. In this talk, we will formalize this idea through the composition of barrier functions for encoding the collaborative arrangements in terms of expanding and contracting the reachable and safe sets. Inspired by the ecological concept of a mutualism, i.e., the interaction between two or more species that benefit everyone involved, the formalism is contextualized in a long-duration setting, i.e., for robots deployed over long time scales where optimality have to take a backseat to "survivability".
Biography:
Dr. Magnus Egerstedt is the Dean of Engineering and a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine. Prior to joining UCI, Egerstedt was on the faculty at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He received the M.S. degree in Engineering Physics and the Ph.D. degree in Applied Mathematics from the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, the B.A. degree in Philosophy from Stockholm University, and was a Postdoctoral Scholar at Harvard University. Dr. Egerstedt conducts research in the areas of control theory and robotics, with particular focus on control and coordination of multi-robot systems. Magnus Egerstedt is a Fellow of IEEE and IFAC, a member of the Royal Swedish
Academy of Engineering Science, and currently serves as the President of the IEEE Control Systems Society. He has received a number of teaching and research awards, including the Ragazzini Award, the O. Hugo Schuck Best Paper Award, and the Alumni of the Year Award from the Royal Institute of Technology.
Host: Dr Lars Lindemann, llindema@usc.edu | Dr Mihailo Jovanovic, mihailo@usc.edu
More Info: https://csc.usc.edu/seminars/2024Spring/egerstedt.html
More Information: 2024.03.04 CSC Seminar - Magnus Egerstedt.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - EEB 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Miki Arlen
Event Link: https://csc.usc.edu/seminars/2024Spring/egerstedt.html
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Intellisense Networking Event and Resume Review
Mon, Mar 04, 2024 @ 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Join WIE for an engaging session with Intellisense featuring accomplished engineers and recruiters! Students will be able to enjoy free burritos while getting their resumes reviewed individually by recruiters, learning about Intellisense, gaining insight from current engineers, and growing their network. Don't miss this chance to gain valuable insights from industry experts! Undergraduate and graduate students are welcome.
Location: Sign into EngageSC to View Location
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Thelma Federico Zaragoza
Event Link: https://engage.usc.edu/WIE/rsvp?id=396051
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System Safety SSC 24-2
Tue, Mar 05, 2024 @ 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Aviation Safety and Security Program
University Calendar
Instruction is given in system safety engineering and management, emphasizing complex, high-technology systems. Engineering methods are illustrated with practical, numerical examples. The principal system safety analysis method is taught with classroom and homework problems. The preparation of a system safety program plan and management of the system safety process in all phases of the system life are examined in depth. A classroom project allows students to apply system safety management and engineering methods while working as a team. Enrichment lectures in special areas of knowledge essential to the system safety process will also be presented. Each student should bring a calculator with statistical functions.
Location: Century Boulevard Building (CBB) - 920
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Daniel Scalese
Event Link: https://avsafe.usc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=24ASSC2
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Aircraft Accident Investigation AAI 24-3
Tue, Mar 05, 2024 @ 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Aviation Safety and Security Program
University Calendar
The course is designed for individuals who have limited investigation experience. All aspects of the investigation process are addressed, starting with preparation for the investigation through writing the final report. It covers National Transportation Safety Board and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) procedures. Investigative techniques are examined with an emphasis on fixed-wing investigation. Data collection, wreckage reconstruction, and cause analysis are discussed in the classroom and applied in the lab. The USC Aircraft Accident Investigation lab serves as the location for practical exercises. Thirteen aircraft wreckages form the basis of these investigative exercises. The crash laboratory gives the student an opportunity to learn the observation and documentation skills required of accident investigators. The wreckage is examined and reviewed with investigators who have extensive actual real-world investigation experience. Examination techniques and methods are demonstrated along with participative group discussions of actual wreckage examination, reviews of witness interview information, and investigation group personal dynamics discussions.
Location: WESTMINSTER AVENUE BUILDING (WAB) - Unit E
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Daniel Scalese
Event Link: https://avsafe.usc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=24AAAI3
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CS Colloquium: Angelina Wang (Princeton University) - Operationalizing Responsible Machine Learning: From Equality Towards Equity
Tue, Mar 05, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Angelina Wang, Princeton University
Talk Title: Operationalizing Responsible Machine Learning: From Equality Towards Equity
Abstract: With the widespread proliferation of machine learning, there arises both the opportunity for societal benefit as well as the risk of harm. Approaching responsible machine learning is challenging because technical approaches may prioritize a mathematical definition of fairness that correlates poorly to real-world constructs of fairness due to too many layers of abstraction. Conversely, social approaches that engage with prescriptive theories may produce findings that are too abstract to effectively translate into practice. In my research, I bridge these approaches and utilize social implications to guide technical work. I will discuss three research directions that show how, despite the technically convenient approach of considering equality acontextually, a stronger engagement with societal context allows us to operationalize a more equitable formulation. First, I will introduce a dataset tool that we developed to analyze complex, socially-grounded forms of visual bias. Then, I will provide empirical evidence to support how we should incorporate societal context in bringing intersectionality into machine learning. Finally, I will discuss how in the excitement of using LLMs for tasks like human participant replacement, we have neglected to consider the importance of human positionality. Overall, I will explore how we can expand a narrow focus on equality in responsible machine learning to encompass a broader understanding of equity that substantively engages with societal context.
This lecture satisfies requirements for CSCI 591: Research Colloquium
Biography: Angelina Wang is a Computer Science PhD student at Princeton University advised by Olga Russakovsky. Her research is in the area of machine learning fairness and algorithmic bias. She has been recognized by the NSF GRFP, EECS Rising Stars, Siebel Scholarship, and Microsoft AI & Society Fellowship. She has published in top machine learning (ICML, AAAI), computer vision (ICCV, IJCV), interdisciplinary (Big Data & Society), and responsible computing (FAccT, JRC) venues, including spotlight and oral presentations. Previously, she has interned with Microsoft Research and Arthur AI, and received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from UC Berkeley.
Host: Bistra Dilkina
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 136
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: CS Faculty Affairs
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PhD Thesis Proposal - Shao-Hung Chan
Tue, Mar 05, 2024 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
University Calendar
PhD Thesis Proposal - Shao-Hung Chan
Committee members: Sven Koenig (chair), T.K. Satish Kumar, Lars Lindemann, John Carlsson, and Daniel Harabor
Title: Flex Distribution for Bounded-Suboptimal Multi-Agent Path Finding
Time: Mar. 5th, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: EEB 349
Abstract:
Multi-Agent Path Finding (MAPF) is the problem of finding collision-free paths for multiple agents that minimize the sum of path costs. Explicit Estimation Conflict-Based Search (EECBS) is a leading two-level algorithm that solves MAPF bounded-suboptimally, i.e., within some factor w away from the minimum sum of path costs C*. It uses Focal Search to find bounded-suboptimal paths on the low level and Explicit Estimation Search (EES) to resolve collisions on the high level. To solve MAPF bounded-suboptimally, EES keeps track of a lower bound LB on C* to find paths whose sum of path costs is at most w times LB. However, the costs of many paths are often much smaller than w times their minimum path costs, meaning that the sum of path costs is much smaller than w times C*. Thus, in this proposal, we hypothesize that one can improve the efficiency of EECBS via Flex Distribution. That is, one can use the flex of the path costs (that relaxes the requirement to find bounded-suboptimal paths on the low level) to reduce the number of collisions that need to be resolved on the high level while still guaranteeing to solve MAPF bounded suboptimally. We also discuss the limitations of Flex Distribution and propose some techniques to overcome them.
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 349
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: CS Events
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Epstein Institute, ISE 651 Seminar Class
Tue, Mar 05, 2024 @ 03:30 PM - 04:50 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Jing Dong, DeRosa Family Associate Professor of Business, Decision, Risk, and Operations Division, Columbia Business School
Talk Title: Stochastic Gradient Descent with Adaptive Data
Host: Dr. Renyuan Xu
More Information: March 5, 2024.pdf
Location: Social Sciences Building (SOS) - SOS Building, B2
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Grace Owh
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FloQast Trojan Talk
Tue, Mar 05, 2024 @ 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections
Workshops & Infosessions
FloQast Hiring Now for Summer 2024 Software Engineering Interns! Recruiting Event 3/5 @ 6 pm
FloQast is hiring! We are recruiting for our Summer Engineering Internship Program. Attend this session to meet recruiters. Attend the info session on March 5th, and we will be interviewing candidates on the following days: Wednesday, March 6th, and Thursday, March 7th!
Apply for the intern position in Viterbi Career Gateway > Jobs
Apply by 3/6/24
Note: This position is for bachelor candidates who do not require visa sponsorship now or in the future.
Recruiting Event Details:
Tuesday, March 5th 6-8 pm
RTH 211
Food will be served!
This will be a two-hour event starting at 6 pm with a brief presentation at 7 pm. We will have opportunities for networking before the presentation and end the event at 8pm. Engineering Leadership and Recruiting from FloQast will be present to meet students, chat about FloQast, and learn about their backgrounds.
Internship Details:
FloQast is pleased to offer an opportunity for aspiring Software Engineering Interns to join our summer internship program. If you're looking to kickstart your career, make a meaningful impact, and contribute to the growth of our Compliance product, we invite you to apply! At FloQast, we value collaboration, support, and innovation to create an environment where interns can learn and thrive.
FloQast is a SaaS-based company innovating solutions in the task management software and accounting space. Our flagship product’s fresh approach to the accounting close process already dramatically improves the day-to-day lives of accountants— and we’ve brought that same approach to help streamline compliance processes such as SOX and ITGC. Our compliance product empowers auditors and control owners to achieve the highest degree of transparency and accuracy within their processes and saves them countless hours, days, and weeks of time.
FloQast is headquartered in Los Angeles, CALocation: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 211
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Connections
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Aircraft Accident Investigation AAI 24-3
Wed, Mar 06, 2024 @ 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Aviation Safety and Security Program
University Calendar
The course is designed for individuals who have limited investigation experience. All aspects of the investigation process are addressed, starting with preparation for the investigation through writing the final report. It covers National Transportation Safety Board and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) procedures. Investigative techniques are examined with an emphasis on fixed-wing investigation. Data collection, wreckage reconstruction, and cause analysis are discussed in the classroom and applied in the lab. The USC Aircraft Accident Investigation lab serves as the location for practical exercises. Thirteen aircraft wreckages form the basis of these investigative exercises. The crash laboratory gives the student an opportunity to learn the observation and documentation skills required of accident investigators. The wreckage is examined and reviewed with investigators who have extensive actual real-world investigation experience. Examination techniques and methods are demonstrated along with participative group discussions of actual wreckage examination, reviews of witness interview information, and investigation group personal dynamics discussions.
Location: WESTMINSTER AVENUE BUILDING (WAB) - Unit E
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Daniel Scalese
Event Link: https://avsafe.usc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=24AAAI3
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System Safety SSC 24-2
Wed, Mar 06, 2024 @ 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Aviation Safety and Security Program
University Calendar
Instruction is given in system safety engineering and management, emphasizing complex, high-technology systems. Engineering methods are illustrated with practical, numerical examples. The principal system safety analysis method is taught with classroom and homework problems. The preparation of a system safety program plan and management of the system safety process in all phases of the system life are examined in depth. A classroom project allows students to apply system safety management and engineering methods while working as a team. Enrichment lectures in special areas of knowledge essential to the system safety process will also be presented. Each student should bring a calculator with statistical functions.
Location: Century Boulevard Building (CBB) - 920
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Daniel Scalese
Event Link: https://avsafe.usc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=24ASSC2
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EiS Communications Hub Drop-In Hours
Wed, Mar 06, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Workshops & Infosessions
Viterbi Ph.D. students are invited to stop by the EiS Communications Hub for one-on-one instruction for their academic and professional communications tasks. All instruction is provided by Viterbi faculty at the Engineering in Society Program.
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 222A
Audiences: Viterbi Ph.D. Students
Contact: Helen Choi
Event Link: https://sites.google.com/usc.edu/eishub/home?authuser=0
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EiS Communications Hub Drop-In Hours
Wed, Mar 06, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Engineering in Society Program
Student Activity
Drop-in hours for writing and speaking support for Viterbi Ph.D. students
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 222
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Helen Choi
Event Link: https://sites.google.com/usc.edu/eishub/home
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CS Colloquium: Chang Xiao (Adobe Research) - Augmented Interaction Between Physical and Digital Realm
Wed, Mar 06, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Chang Xiao, Adobe Research
Talk Title: Augmented Interaction Between Physical and Digital Realm
Series: Computer Science Colloquium
Abstract: Today's computing devices, including mobile phones, wearable devices, and VR/AR headsets, have become increasingly powerful and accessible to almost everyone. They offer a direct and immersive interaction with digital worlds. But what if we could use these devices to access interactive physical worlds as well, expanding our interaction space and unlocking greater interactive potential? In this talk, I will discuss our work on integrating both physical and digital systems to create a new computing environment. Leveraging techniques from AI/ML, Computer Vision, and Computational Design, we propose several interactive systems and sensing techniques that provide users with unified, low-cost, tangible, and intuitive experiences. These approaches unlock the potential of using the physical environment as computer interfaces in the era of Extended Reality (XR) and spatial computing, bridging the gap between physical and digital spaces.
This lecture satisfies requirements for CSCI 591: Research Colloquium
Biography: Chang Xiao is currently a Research Scientist at Adobe Research. He obtained his PhD from Columbia University in 2021. His broad interests lie at the intersection of HCI, AI/ML, and AR/VR, with a special focus on leveraging AI/ML to develop novel interaction and sensing techniques. His work has been published in a wide spectrum of top computer science venues, including CHI, UIST, SIGGRAPH, NeurIPS, CVPR, and ICLR. His research has gained impact beyond academia, having been successfully integrated into multiple Adobe products and receiving widespread attention, including media interviews and coverage by CNN, Adweek, CACM, and IEEE Spectrum. During his PhD studies, he received the Snap Research Fellowship and the Cheung-Kong Innovation Doctoral Fellowship.
Host: Heather Culbertson
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: CS Faculty Affairs
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Careers at BMW
Wed, Mar 06, 2024 @ 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections
Workshops & Infosessions
Careers at BMW (Virtual)
Wednesday, March 6th
11:30 -1
Location: Zoom. Register HERE
This virtual Info session will be lead by the current recruiting intern at Plant 10 in Spartanburg, SC (the largest BMW plant in the America's). We will discuss topics such as activities at Plant Spartanburg (Design, Assembly, Testing, etc.). We will also discuss the career opportunities that BMW has, not just at Plant 10 but worldwide- we offer paid, full-time co-ops and internships to undergraduate and graduate students of all levels all throughout the year, as well as internship opportunities for international students. We also have post-graduate programs built to give a new associate a well-rounded training before starting as a full-time associate. We have over 100 student positions offered every season, with the majority being in a range of engineering and technical disciplines.
Majors of interest: Supply Chain Systems, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, IT, and many other related areas of study.
External employer-hosted events and activities are not affiliated with the USC Viterbi Career Connections Office. 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.eduLocation: Virtual Event
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Connections
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PhD Dissertation Defense - Sina Shaham
Wed, Mar 06, 2024 @ 01:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
University Calendar
PhD Dissertation Defense - Sina Shaham
Committee: Prof. Bhaskar Krishnamachari, Prof. Cyrus Shahabi, Prof. Cauligi Raghavendra
Title: Responsible AI in SpatioTemporal Data Processing
Abstract: In this presentation, we systematically investigate the design and development of algorithms to improve privacy and fairness in the processing of spatio-temporal data. Beginning with an essential background introduction and a review of cutting-edge advancements, the discussion progresses to introduce a novel algorithm for safeguarding privacy in the dissemination of Origin-Destination (OD) Matrices. This algorithm, rooted in Differential Privacy (DP) principles, aims to protect user privacy during the collection and sharing of OD-matrices in 2D and higher dimensions. Subsequently, our focus shifts to the domain of user energy consumption, where we develop a methodology that ensures user privacy when disclosing electricity time series to third parties and entities that may not be fully trusted. Following this, we propose an incentive-based program aimed at balancing electricity demand, taking into account socio-economic family attributes and ensuring fair treatment. Through comprehensive evaluations, the presentation demonstrates the progress made over previous works and also sheds light on potential areas for future studies, particularly in the realm of responsible handling of complex spatio-temporal data.
Zoom Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/98092705100Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 539
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: CS Events
Event Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/98092705100
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AME Seminar
Wed, Mar 06, 2024 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Hannah Lu, MIT
Talk Title: Physics-Aware Data-Driven Modeling and Uncertainty Quantification for Large-Scale Environmental Problems
Abstract: Data-driven modeling of complex systems is a rapidly evolving field facilitated by the concurrent rise of data science. To alleviate the prohibitively expensive computational costs of repeated full-model simulations in uncertainty quantification, data-driven modeling is often used to describe the behaviors of the complex system by predicting the quantities of interest directly. In this talk, I will present my contributions to this field with an emphasis on (1) improving model performance by using physics-aware machine learning techniques, (2) quantifying uncertainties in the system’s response, and (3) inferring the key parameters of the physics-based models from measured data. Examples of applications will be focused on large-scale geological carbon sequestration—an important strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere and mitigating climate change. The objective is to develop a convenient computing toolbox to provide more accurate scientific information at cheaper computational costs for better environmental management and decision-making.
Biography: Hannah Lu is a postdoc associate at MIT, affiliated with the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Department of Civil Environmental Engineering, Earth Resources Laboratory and Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems. She obtained her Ph.D. from Energy Science and Engineering at Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. Her research interests lie in the field of scientific computing, reduced order modeling, uncertainty quantification and machine learning in applications of environmental fluid mechanics. She received EDGE Doctoral Fellowship, Frank G. Miller Fellowship Award and Henry J. Ramey, Jr. Fellowship Award from Stanford University; Student Travel Award from SIAM Conference on UQ; NSF Fellowship from MMLDT-CSET Conference; Travel Grant from NSF-funded HydroML Symposium; and a first-place USNCCM17 Best Presentation Award in postdoc category.
Host: AME Department
More Info: https://ame.usc.edu/seminars/
Webcast: https://usc.zoom.us/j/95892885119?pwd=QXZOZUhrcTJRYk5qZzZwVThrTytVZz09Location: James H. Zumberge Hall Of Science (ZHS) - 252
WebCast Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/95892885119?pwd=QXZOZUhrcTJRYk5qZzZwVThrTytVZz09
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Tessa Yao
Event Link: https://ame.usc.edu/seminars/
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System Safety SSC 24-2
Thu, Mar 07, 2024 @ 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Aviation Safety and Security Program
University Calendar
Instruction is given in system safety engineering and management, emphasizing complex, high-technology systems. Engineering methods are illustrated with practical, numerical examples. The principal system safety analysis method is taught with classroom and homework problems. The preparation of a system safety program plan and management of the system safety process in all phases of the system life are examined in depth. A classroom project allows students to apply system safety management and engineering methods while working as a team. Enrichment lectures in special areas of knowledge essential to the system safety process will also be presented. Each student should bring a calculator with statistical functions.
Location: Century Boulevard Building (CBB) - 920
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Daniel Scalese
Event Link: https://avsafe.usc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=24ASSC2
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Aircraft Accident Investigation AAI 24-3
Thu, Mar 07, 2024 @ 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Aviation Safety and Security Program
University Calendar
The course is designed for individuals who have limited investigation experience. All aspects of the investigation process are addressed, starting with preparation for the investigation through writing the final report. It covers National Transportation Safety Board and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) procedures. Investigative techniques are examined with an emphasis on fixed-wing investigation. Data collection, wreckage reconstruction, and cause analysis are discussed in the classroom and applied in the lab. The USC Aircraft Accident Investigation lab serves as the location for practical exercises. Thirteen aircraft wreckages form the basis of these investigative exercises. The crash laboratory gives the student an opportunity to learn the observation and documentation skills required of accident investigators. The wreckage is examined and reviewed with investigators who have extensive actual real-world investigation experience. Examination techniques and methods are demonstrated along with participative group discussions of actual wreckage examination, reviews of witness interview information, and investigation group personal dynamics discussions.
Location: WESTMINSTER AVENUE BUILDING (WAB) - Unit E
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Daniel Scalese
Event Link: https://avsafe.usc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=24AAAI3
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CS Colloquium: Ben Lengerich (MIT) - Contextualized learning for adaptive yet persistent AI in biomedicine
Thu, Mar 07, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Ben Lengerich, MIT
Talk Title: Contextualized learning for adaptive yet persistent AI in biomedicine
Series: Computer Science Colloquium
Abstract: Machine learning models often exhibit diminished generalizability when applied across diverse biomedical contexts (e.g., across health institutions), leading to a significant discrepancy between expected and actual performance. To address this challenge, this presentation introduces "contextualized learning", a meta-learning paradigm designed to enhance model adaptability by learning meta-relationships between dataset context and statistical parameters. Using network inference as an illustrative example, I will show how contextualized learning estimates context-specific graphical models, offering insights such as personalized gene expression analysis for cancer subtyping. The talk will also discuss trends towards “contextualized understanding”, bridging statistical and foundation models to standardize interpretability. The primary aim is to illustrate how contextualized learning and understanding contribute to creating learning systems that are both adaptive and persistent, facilitating cross-context information sharing and detailed analysis.
This lecture satisfies requirements for CSCI 591: Research Colloquium
Biography: Ben Lengerich is a Postdoctoral Associate and Alana Fellow at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, where he is advised by Manolis Kellis. His research in machine learning and computational biology emphasizes the use of context-adaptive models to understand complex diseases and advance precision medicine. Through his work, Ben aims to bridge the gap between data-driven insights and actionable medical interventions. He holds a PhD in Computer Science and MS in Machine Learning from Carnegie Mellon University, where he was advised by Eric Xing. His work has been recognized with spotlight presentations at conferences including NeurIPS, ISMB, AMIA, and SMFM, financial support from the Alana Foundation, and recognition as a "Rising Star in Data Science” by the University of Chicago and UC San Diego.
Host: Willie Neiswanger
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 136
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: CS Faculty Affairs
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ECE Seminar: Sarah H. Cen
Thu, Mar 07, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Sarah H. Cen, EECS Dept, MIT
Talk Title: Paths to AI Accountability
Abstract: We have begun grappling with difficult questions related to the rise of AI, including: What rights do individuals have in the age of AI? When should we regulate AI and when should we abstain? What degree of transparency is needed to monitor AI systems? These questions are all concerned with AI accountability: determining who owes responsibility and to whom in the age of AI. In this talk, I will discuss the two main components of AI accountability, then illustrate them through a case study on social media. Within the context of social media, I will focus on how social media platforms filter (or curate) the content that users see. I will review several methods for auditing social media, drawing from concepts and tools in hypothesis testing, causal inference, and LLMs.
Biography: Sarah is a final-year PhD student at MIT in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department advised by Professor Aleksander Madry and Professor Devavrat Shah. Sarah utilizes methods from machine learning, statistical inference, causal inference, and game theory to study responsible computing and AI policy. Previously, she has written about social media, trustworthy algorithms, algorithmic fairness, and more. She is currently interested in AI auditing, AI supply chains, and IP Law x Gen AI.
Host: Drs. Urbashi Mitra (ubli@usc.edu) and Mahdi Soltanolkotabi (soltanol@usc.edu)
Webcast: https://usc.zoom.us/j/97190024349?pwd=a0NTY2J5WjdKQUsvL3BtdTBSNGZTQT09Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
WebCast Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/97190024349?pwd=a0NTY2J5WjdKQUsvL3BtdTBSNGZTQT09
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mayumi Thrasher
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NL Seminar - Self-Play Fine-Tuning Converts Weak Language Models to Strong Language Models
Thu, Mar 07, 2024 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Information Sciences Institute
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Zixiang Chen, UCLA
Talk Title: Self-Play Fine-Tuning Converts Weak Language Models to Strong Language Models
Series: NL Seminar
Abstract: REMINDER: This talk will be a live presentation only, it will not be recorded. Meeting hosts only admit guests that they know to the Zoom meeting. Hence, you’re highly encouraged to use your USC account to sign into Zoom. If you’re an outside visitor, please provide your: Full Name, Title and Name of Workplace to (nlg-seminar-host(at)isi.edu) beforehand so we’ll be aware of your attendance. Also, let us know if you plan to attend in-person or virtually. More Info for NL Seminars can be found at: https://nlg.isi.edu/nl-seminar/. Harnessing the power of human-annotated data through Supervised Fine-Tuning (SFT) is pivotal for advancing Large Language Models (LLMs). In this talk, I will introduce our newest fine-tuning method, Self-Play Fine-Tuning (SPIN), which improves LLMs without the need for additional human-annotated data. SPIN utilizes a self-play mechanism, where the LLM enhances its capabilities by generating its own training data through interactions with instances of itself. Specifically, the LLM generates its own training data from its previous iterations, refining its policy by discerning these self-generated responses from those obtained from human-annotated data. As a result, SPIN unlocks the full potential of human-annotated data for SFT. Our empirical results show that SPIN can improve the LLM’s performance across a variety of benchmarks and even outperform models trained through direct preference optimization (DPO) supplemented with extra GPT-4 preference data. Additionally, I will outline the theoretical guarantees of our method. For more details and access to our codes, visit our GitHub repository (https://github.com/uclaml/SPIN).
Biography: Zixiang Chen is currently a Ph.D. student in computer science at the Department of Computer Science, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), advised by Prof. Quanquan Gu. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Tsinghua University. He is broadly interested in the theory and applications of deep learning, optimization, and control, with a focus on generative models, representation learning, and multi-agent reinforcement learning. Recently, he has been utilizing AI to enhance scientific discovery in the domain of public health. He was a visiting graduate student in the theory of reinforcement learning program at the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing. If speaker approves to be recorded for this NL Seminar talk, it will be posted on our USC/ISI YouTube page within 1-2 business days: https://www.youtube.com/user/USCISI. Subscribe here to learn more about upcoming seminars: https://www.isi.edu/events/
Host: Jon May and Justin Cho
More Info: https://nlg.isi.edu/nl-seminar/
Webcast: https://youtu.be/Fg4C6YZcqQ4Location: Information Science Institute (ISI) - Virtual and ISI-Conf Rm#689
WebCast Link: https://youtu.be/Fg4C6YZcqQ4
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Pete Zamar
Event Link: https://nlg.isi.edu/nl-seminar/
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TCS Celebrating Women: Empowerment and Innovation
Thu, Mar 07, 2024 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections
Workshops & Infosessions
Join Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as we celebrate International Women's Day and learn about career opportunities with a global leader.
TCS is delighted to bring together a panel of technology leaders who make an impact in the business and consulting spaces in TCS. Come hear from Courtney Wood, Director of Mergers & Acquisitions, and Chandrika Shrinivasan, Business Unit Head for Banking and Financial Services, on their career journey and learn more about their business units at TCS. The 1 hour virtual session will be interactive and allow you the opportunity to participate in a live Q&A session with senior leaders and learn more about their careers and how you can amplify your impact at TCS!
Date: Thursday, March 7th 2024
Time: 2:00-3:00 pm PST
RSVP using the attached registration link
Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a transformative conversation and contribute to building a more inclusive and equitable future. Register now to secure your spot and join us in celebrating the remarkable achievements of women on International Women's Day!
Location: Virtual Event
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Connections
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DEN@Viterbi - Online Graduate Engineering Virtual Information Session
Thu, Mar 07, 2024 @ 05:00 PM - 06:00 PM
DEN@Viterbi, Viterbi School of Engineering Graduate Admission
Workshops & Infosessions
Join USC Viterbi School of Engineering for a virtual information session via WebEx, providing an introduction to DEN@Viterbi, our top-ranked online delivery system. Discover the 40+ graduate engineering and computer science programs available entirely online. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect directly with USC Viterbi representatives during the session to discuss the admission process, program details, and the benefits of online delivery.
WebCast Link: https://uscviterbi.webex.com/weblink/register/r65e189f49680890639e9b60462958a27
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Corporate & Professional Programs
Event Link: https://uscviterbi.webex.com/weblink/register/r65e189f49680890639e9b60462958a27
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System Safety SSC 24-2
Fri, Mar 08, 2024 @ 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Aviation Safety and Security Program
University Calendar
Instruction is given in system safety engineering and management, emphasizing complex, high-technology systems. Engineering methods are illustrated with practical, numerical examples. The principal system safety analysis method is taught with classroom and homework problems. The preparation of a system safety program plan and management of the system safety process in all phases of the system life are examined in depth. A classroom project allows students to apply system safety management and engineering methods while working as a team. Enrichment lectures in special areas of knowledge essential to the system safety process will also be presented. Each student should bring a calculator with statistical functions.
Location: Century Boulevard Building (CBB) - 920
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Daniel Scalese
Event Link: https://avsafe.usc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=24ASSC2
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Aircraft Accident Investigation AAI 24-3
Fri, Mar 08, 2024 @ 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Aviation Safety and Security Program
University Calendar
The course is designed for individuals who have limited investigation experience. All aspects of the investigation process are addressed, starting with preparation for the investigation through writing the final report. It covers National Transportation Safety Board and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) procedures. Investigative techniques are examined with an emphasis on fixed-wing investigation. Data collection, wreckage reconstruction, and cause analysis are discussed in the classroom and applied in the lab. The USC Aircraft Accident Investigation lab serves as the location for practical exercises. Thirteen aircraft wreckages form the basis of these investigative exercises. The crash laboratory gives the student an opportunity to learn the observation and documentation skills required of accident investigators. The wreckage is examined and reviewed with investigators who have extensive actual real-world investigation experience. Examination techniques and methods are demonstrated along with participative group discussions of actual wreckage examination, reviews of witness interview information, and investigation group personal dynamics discussions.
Location: WESTMINSTER AVENUE BUILDING (WAB) - Unit E
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Daniel Scalese
Event Link: https://avsafe.usc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=24AAAI3
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EiS Communications Hub Drop-In Hours
Fri, Mar 08, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Workshops & Infosessions
Viterbi Ph.D. students are invited to stop by the EiS Communications Hub for one-on-one instruction for their academic and professional communications tasks. All instruction is provided by Viterbi faculty at the Engineering in Society Program.
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 222A
Audiences: Viterbi Ph.D. Students
Contact: Helen Choi
Event Link: https://sites.google.com/usc.edu/eishub/home?authuser=0
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EiS Communications Hub Drop-In Hours
Fri, Mar 08, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Engineering in Society Program
Student Activity
Drop-in hours for writing and speaking support for Viterbi Ph.D. students
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 222
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Helen Choi
Event Link: https://sites.google.com/usc.edu/eishub/home
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Quantum Science & Technology Seminar - David Vitali - Friday, March 8th at 10am in EEB 248
Fri, Mar 08, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: David Vitali, Univeristy of Camerino, Italy
Talk Title: Quantum Sensing and Quantum State Manipulation in Cavity Optomechanics
Series: Quantum Science & Technology Seminar Series
Abstract: Cavity Optomechanics offers the possibility to generate and manipulate quantum states of mesoscopic mechanical resonators allowing the realization of useful components of quantum networks, and at the same time testing fundamental aspects of physics theories. We will review recent proposals for generating multipartite entangled states of mechanical resonators and also their exploitation for quantum sensing of weak forces and signals.
Biography: David Vitali graduated in Physics at the University of Pisa in 1988 and obtained his PhD in Physics from the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa in 1994. He has been Visiting Lecturer at the University of North Texas (USA), at the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris, at the University of Queensland , Brisbane (Australia), and at the University of Vienna. He is Full Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Camerino since 2015. He is the author of 193 publications in international refereed journals, with more than 10700 citations and Hirsch index h = 52 referring to the SCOPUS database. He has carried out research in many subfields of Quantum Optics and Quantum Information Theory, such as entanglement manipulation, quantum communication and quantum key distribution, quantum optics implementation of quantum technologies. In 2015 he was named APS Fellow of the American Physical Society, "For groundbreaking work on cavity opto-mechanics, which proved to provide an ideal and flexible environment for quantum information processing and quantum-limited sensing; for proposing pioneering techniques to control decoherence in quantum systems." In 2021 he was nominated OPTICA Senior Member, and he has coordinated various European projects and many National projects, all related to quantum technologies and quantum optomechanics.
Host: Quntao Zhang, Wade Hsu, Mengjie Yu, Jonathan Habif & Eli Levenson-Falk
More Information: David Vitali Seminar Flyer.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marilyn Poplawski
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ECE-S Seminar - Zhijian Liu
Fri, Mar 08, 2024 @ 10:30 AM - 11:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Zhijian Liu, PhD Candidate | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Talk Title: Efficient Deep Learning with Sparsity: Algorithms, Systems, and Applications
Abstract: Machine learning is widely used across a broad spectrum of applications. However, behind its remarkable performance lies an increasing gap between the demand for and supply of computation. On the demand side, the computational costs of machine learning models have surged dramatically, driven by ever-larger input and model sizes. On the supply side, as Moore's Law slows down, hardware no longer delivers increasing performance within the same power budget.
In this talk, I will discuss my research efforts to bridge this demand-supply gap through the lens of sparsity. I will begin by discussing my research on input sparsity. First, I will introduce algorithms that systematically eliminate the least important patches/tokens from dense input data, such as images, enabling up to 60% sparsity without any loss in accuracy. Then, I will present the system library that we have developed to effectively translate the theoretical savings from sparsity to practical speedups on hardware. Our system is up to 3 times faster than the leading industry solution from NVIDIA. Following this, I will touch on my research on model sparsity, highlighting a family of automated, hardware-aware model compression frameworks that surpass manual solutions in accuracy and reduce the design process from weeks of human efforts to mere hours of GPU computation. Finally, I will present several examples demonstrating the use of sparsity to accelerate computation-intensive AI applications, such as autonomous driving, language modeling, and high-energy physics. I will conclude this talk with an overview of my ongoing work and my vision towards building more efficient and accessible AI.
Biography: Zhijian Liu is a Ph.D. candidate at MIT, advised by Song Han. His research focuses on efficient machine learning. He has developed efficient ML algorithms and provided them with effective system/algorithm support. He has also contributed to accelerating computation-intensive AI applications in computer vision, natural language processing, and scientific discovery. His work has been featured as oral and spotlight presentations at conferences such as NeurIPS, ICLR, and CVPR. He was selected as the recipient of the Qualcomm Innovation Fellowship and the NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship. He was also recognized as a Rising Star in ML and Systems by MLCommons and a Rising Star in Data Science by UChicago and UCSD. Previously, he was the founding research scientist at OmniML, which was acquired by NVIDIA.
Host: Mahdi Soltanolkotabi, soltanol@usc.edu | Peter Beerel, pabeerel@usc.edu
More Info: https://usc.zoom.us/j/96790337008?pwd=ZDljTkhHYjRQaUovUmJTSHZhR1ovUT09
Webcast: https://usc.zoom.us/j/96790337008?pwd=ZDljTkhHYjRQaUovUmJTSHZhR1ovUT09More Information: 2024.03.08 ECE Seminar - Zhijian Liu.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - EEB 132
WebCast Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/96790337008?pwd=ZDljTkhHYjRQaUovUmJTSHZhR1ovUT09
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Miki Arlen
Event Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/96790337008?pwd=ZDljTkhHYjRQaUovUmJTSHZhR1ovUT09
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AI Seminar
Fri, Mar 08, 2024 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Information Sciences Institute
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Yu-Ru Lin, Univ. of Pitt., Univ of Pitt
Talk Title: A Gateway to Trustworthy AI: Using Visual Analytics to Unmask Coincidental Correlations
Abstract: Join Zoom Meeting https://usc.zoom.us/s/99782858348?pwd=MnlSdGlTVWNETGFFbDQ4OWRmakdEQT09 Meeting ID: 997 8285 8348 Passcode: 580559 Register in advance for this webinar: https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xxYy3NkSQpidFYRY3fg_Ew In the realm of machine learning and data-driven decision-making, the risk of spurious and biased associations poses significant challenges to the integrity and reliability of AI systems. In this talk, I will introduce how visual analytic designs can empower data practitioners in navigating these complex issues. First, through a human-in-the-loop workflow, we tackle the problem of AI blindspots in classification models, where key patterns are often missed or misleading. Our design offers visually interpretable statistical methods to quantify and understand concept associations. It also includes debiasing techniques to address misleading patterns in data. Second, we tackle Simpson’s Paradox, a phenomenon where associations in data appear contradictory at different levels of aggregation, leading to cognitive confusion and incorrect interpretations. Our design offers an intuitive causal analysis framework and a human-centric workflow, enabling users to identify, understand, and prevent spurious associations, leading to more accountable causal decision-making. Together, these design frameworks contribute to making AI more trustworthy, offering robust tools for overcoming the challenges of spurious and biased associations in machine learning through advanced visual analytics.
Biography: Website: http://www.yurulin.com/ Yu-Ru Lin is an Associate Professor in the School of Computing and Information and the Research Director of the Institute for Cyber Law, Policy, and Security (Pitt Cyber) at the University of Pittsburgh, where she directs the PITT Computational Social Dynamics Lab (PICSO LAB). Her research lies at the intersection of Computational Social Science, Data Mining, and Visualization. She specializes in using social network and text data along with statistical learning tools and social theories to study phenomena spanning societal events and policy, anomalous behaviors, and other crucially important complex patterns concerning collective attention and actions, as well as human and social dynamics in response to societal risks. Her work has appeared in prestigious scientific venues and has been featured in the press, including WSJ, The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, MIT News, and NPR. She has authored or co-authored more than 100 refereed journal and conference papers and served on more than 50 conference program committees in the areas of big data, network science, and computational social science. She has served as a chair/co-chair of leading computational social science, web mining, and social media conferences such as AAAI ICWSM and TheWebConference/WWW (Web & Society Track). She currently serves as an Editor-in-Chief of AAAI ICWSM and an Associate Editor for multiple journals, including PLOS ONE, Springer EPJ Data Science, Nature's Scientific Reports, and Frontiers in Big Data. She was selected as a Fellow of Kavli Frontiers of Science, National Academy of Sciences (NAS).
Host: Fred Morstatter and Zhuoyu Shi
More Info: https://www.isi.edu/events/4389/ai-seminar-a-gateway-to-trustworthy-ai-using-visual-analytics-to-unmask-coincidental-correlations/
Webcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uZOOM6-nooLocation: Information Science Institute (ISI) - Virtual Only
WebCast Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uZOOM6-noo
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Pete Zamar
