Computer Sciences Advising - Winter Break Edition

The Computer Sciences Undergraduate Advising Team is still around during Winter Break! If you need advising, please do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with your advisor. Comp Sci advisors will have virtual/remote appointments available from December 26 through January 5. In-person options will resume January 8.

ISS Advising Hours will vary over the winter recess. Please review the following schedule for service hours:

December 18–22:

• Hybrid drop-in services
• Monday & Tuesday 2–4 p.m.
• Thursday & Friday 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

December 25–29:

• Reduced office hours (9 a.m.–4 p.m.)
• Remote-only services
• Tuesday 2–4 p.m.
• Thursday & Friday 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

January 1–5:

• Hybrid drop-in services
• Tuesday 2–4 p.m.
• Thursday & Friday 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

January 8–12:

• Hybrid drop-in services
• Monday & Tuesday 2–4 p.m.
• Thursday & Friday 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

Attention Comp Sci Students!

A new course is being added for Spring 2024: Comp Sci 565 – Introduction to Data Visualization taught by Dr. Yea-Seul Kim!

This course will cover a broad survey of fundamental concepts, theory, and tools in data visualization based on principles and techniques from graphic design, visual art, and cognitive psychology. Although the term “data visualization” will differ among communities, this course will utilize data visualization via interactive interfaces to visually represent abstract data. There will be several hands-on activities through programming and data analysis assignments that will assist with gaining experience in designing and evaluating visualizations. This course can be a great fit for any Comp Sci student – particularly folks who may be looking towards future opportunities working with data!

The course will be taught Monday and Wednesdays from 8:00-9:15am. For Computer Sciences majors, CS 565 will automatically fulfill a CS elective requirement in your DARS.

If you are graduating in Spring 2024 AND need CS565 to fulfill the CS Applications requirement, please contact your CS advisor.

Looking to Advertise Your Student Org Event?

Does your student organization have a kick-off coming up?

Planning an event you want others to know about?

Feel free to send an announcement to advising@cs.wisc.edu!

We will add it in our next newsletter!

Are you interested in research? 

Are you looking for mentoring that can introduce you to research? 

Are you finding it challenging to get started on this front?

If you answered yes to the above questions, you should consider applying to WISCERS (Wisconsin Science and Computing Emerging Research Stars), a research-focused mentorship program for undergraduate students. WISCERS will expose students to various research areas in Computer Science, Statistics, and Data Science, facilitate peer mentorship from graduate students and faculty based on the students’ expressed research interest(s), and co-host events with student groups such as WACM (http://wacm.cs.wisc.edu/) and SACM (https://sacm.cs.wisc.edu/).

The goal of the WISCERS program during the Spring semester is for students to get introduced to research and learn about a specific research topic. Each student will be expected to come up with a research question with their faculty and grad student mentors and prepare for research. Subject to availability of funds, the students will be offered paid summer research internships at UW-Madison to work on the proposed research.

Overall, the goal of WISCERS is to expose undergraduate students at the junior level to academic research and encourage them to apply for graduate programs. While we will consider all submitted applications, we are specifically looking to support students from historically underrepresented groups in computing (e.g., in terms of gender, race, socio-economic status, etc.). 

If you are interested, please go to https://wiscers.cs.wisc.edu/ or fill out the application form at https://forms.gle/pLT1e2aectgGN8qV9. The deadline for submitting applications is December 29th, 2023, however, we will keep considering applications submitted past this deadline, until all positions are filled.

You can also find answers for commonly asked questions at https://wiscers.cs.wisc.edu/. If you have any further questions please contact wiscers@cs.wisc.edu.

There is a volunteer opportunity with the Science Mentorship Institute (Sci-MI). Sci-MI is an organization founded by college students to provide free research mentorship and bridge the gap between science/research engagement and high school students in vulnerable communities. The organization is made up of graduate students, recent college graduates, and current college students, and they would love to work with you to make science more accessible!

Sci-MI is debuting a new Computer Science Research Mentorship Program for Summer 2024 and are looking for motivated, passionate individuals to help develop this program and make it a success. they are looking for the following positions, anticipating around 5 hour/week commitment through the Fall 2023/Spring 2024 Semesters. Each position will develop didactic content (including lectures, Canvas modules, and journal clubs) about their area of expertise as well as computer science research in general.

· Human-Computer Interaction Content Developer

· Software Engineering Content Developer

· AI/ML Content Developer

· Cybersecurity Content Developer

· Organizational Web Developer

In addition, Sci-MI are looking for volunteers to provide meaningful mentorship in computer science research skills and methods to underrepresented high school students in a completely virtual format throughout the Summer 2024 semester. They rely on volunteers like you to provide equitable and accessible science education. All roles are no more than a 5 hour/week commitment over the summer, and the times are flexible based on your availability. These opportunities serve as great resources to gain new skills and expand your portfolio/resume.

For a detailed description of the organization, please check out their website.

If you are passionate about teaching and sharing your love for computer science with young underrepresented students, please apply to any of our roles through this link: https://forms.gle/M6ZgXfvZRWVEXaT19. Sci-MI will reach out to you within 2 weeks of your submission for an initial interview – they onboard people on a rolling basis :)

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Arianna Bunnell (arianna@sci-mi.org) or Ally (ally@sci-mi.org), the founding director. For recruitment or role-specific questions, please contact hr@sci-mi.org for more information!

Career Tips from L&S Successworks!

Be sure to check out the Technology, Data, and Analytics Career Community for some AMAZING resources!

What if I Don’t Get an Internship?

Don’t panic! All experience is valid -- consider working on-campus, bringing your tech skills to a nonprofit or local volunteer org, or starting a personal project. 

Key Question: What experience will best help me get an internship for next summer? Work on building that experience now.