Diversity Workshop

The Diversity Workshop provides a forum for underrepresented students at the graduate and advanced undergraduate levels who have an interest in computer systems research. The workshop program will include technical talks, panel sessions, and interactive events offered and organized by leading researchers in academia and industry, covering topics about system research and general career development tips. The overall goal of the workshop is to strengthen the pipeline of underrepresented systems students, providing them with advice and networking opportunities that they might not otherwise receive.

The workshop will take place in the Lawren Harris Room.

Workshop Program

7:30 Breakfast
9:00 Academia or industry?
Yiying Zhang (UCSD), (Enjoy) Research in Academia
Sujata Banerjee (VMware), Research in industry
10:00 Panel and Q&A
Moderator: Irina Calciu (VMware)
Participants:
Matei Zaharia (Stanford and Databricks)
Rebecca Isaacs (Twitter)
Sandhya Dwarkadas (University of Rochester)
Sujata Banerjee (VMware)
Yiying Zhang (UCSD)
10:30 Break and networking
11:00 Yao Yue (Twitter), Building High-performance Cache for Fun and Profit
11:30 john wilkes (Google), Elevator pitches
  Abstract: Ever wanted to know how to get an idea across in 30 seconds? Come learn the magic trick :-). And have fun trying it out.
  Homework: Pick something you want to explain to somebody else, such as your project or a possible new idea you want to get adopted. Then think about what problem it is solving. Now: reread that last sentence, very, very carefully!
12:30 Conference lunch and networking
14:00 Rebecca Isaacs (Twitter), How to read a paper
14:30 Sandhya Dwarkadas (University of Rochester), Presentation advice
15:00 Liuba Shrira (Brandeis University), Multiparty transactions in blockchain stores
15:30 Break and networking
16:00 Recent graduates session
Ana Klimovic (Google and ETH Zurich), The Academic Job Search
Amy Tai (VMware), How to Combat Decision Paralysis
Irene Zhang (Microsoft Research), Choosing a Research Topic
17:00 Recent graduates panel
Moderator: Ana Klimovic (Google and ETH Zurich)
Participants:
Amy Tai (VMware)
Irene Zhang (Microsoft Research)
Nandita Vijaykumar (CMU and ETH Zurich and University of Toronto)
Sebastian Angel (University of Pennsylvania)
Sangeetha Abdu Jyothi (VMware and UC Irvine)
18:00 Workshop dinner and networking

Workshop Organizers

Irina Calciu (VMware)
Sasha Fedorova (UBC)