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NOVEMBER 2025
The Monthly Build
A newsletter for the alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of the University of Maryland's Department of Computer Science.
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Features
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CS Majors Help Develop AI System to Improve School Safety
The team’s project, DefenX, uses artificial intelligence to detect and track firearms, send alerts and offer post-incident mental health support. Read More » |
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UMD Team Wins Prestigious Best Paper Award for Solving 35-Year Mathematical Puzzle
Led by Mohammad Hajiaghayi, the breakthrough in network design could help make computer and AI chips more efficient. Read More »
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Q&A with Assistant Professor Ruohan Gao on Multi-Sensory AI
He discusses his path into the field, current projects, and the challenges of integrating vision, sound and touch. Read More »
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Students
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2025-26 Mokhtarzada Hatchery Teams Selected
The four student-led startups focus on mindfulness, financial access, site monitoring and knowledge management. READ MORE »
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UMD Students Create Gamified Mindfulness App for Kids
CS major Olivia Zhang co-developed Capy’s Journey, which transforms meditation into an interactive adventure to promote wellness and focus among young users. READ MORE »
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UMD Students Win First Place at hackUMBC 2025 Game Jamathon
Computer science and immersive media design students build a NASA-inspired game in 24 hours. READ MORE »
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Code:BLACK Strengthens Community and Career Readiness in Computer Science
Through mentorship, hands-on workshops and professional development, the student organization helps members build the skills and confidence needed for careers in tech. READ MORE »
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UMD Model Joins ‘Arms Race’ to Develop AI-Powered Tech that Understands Music
CS Ph.D. student Sreyan Ghosh leads the development of the NVIDIA-backed platform that breaks down songs based on personal taste, emotion and mood. READ MORE »
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UMD Student Recognized on Major League Hacking Top 50 List
Priyadarshan Narayanasamy, a CS and neuroscience double major, earned a spot on the list after winning 19 of 22 hackathons over the past two years. READ MORE »
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UMD Team Develops Novel Method to Recycle 3D Printed Circuit Boards
Led by CS Ph.D. student Zeyu Yan, UMD researchers created a recyclable 3D-printed circuit board that dissolves in water, enabling 98% recovery of its materials. READ MORE »
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New UMD Research Brings Smarter, More Subtle Assistance to AR Glasses
CS Ph.D. student Geonsun Lee and Google researcher Ruofei Du (M.S. ’15, Ph.D. ’18, computer science) developed Sensible Agent, a framework that allows AR glasses to anticipate user needs using gaze and gesture cues. READ MORE »
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Faculty & Research
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UMD Workshop Examines How AI Is Redefining the Tech Workforce
Industry professionals and faculty members discussed evolving skills, adaptability and collaboration as artificial intelligence reshapes education and employment. READ MORE » |
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Q&A with Assistant Professor Can Firtina on the Future of Bioinformatics and Real-Time Genomic Analysis
He discusses his path from undergraduate research to the development of efficient, AI-driven genomic data analysis systems. READ MORE »
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New AI Tool Fights Back Against Speech Eavesdropping
A team led by Nirupam Roy developed an AI-enhanced system that protects personal voice data from automated surveillance. READ MORE »
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‘Make AI a Force That Is Uplifting for All,’ UMD Leaders Urge at Global Summit
UMD President Darryll J. Pines and CS Professor Hal Daumé III urged global leaders to guide AI toward equity and social good at The Washington Post’s Global AI Summit. READ MORE »
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To Make Better AI, Stop Tackling Problems ‘Whack-a-Mole’-Style, Philip Resnik Says
His new paper argues that bias in large language models is built into their design and requires deeper, structural solutions. READ MORE »
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ALUMS
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Translating the Power of Artificial Intelligence
At Google, Sweta Agrawal (M.S. ’20, Ph.D. ’23, computer science) and Eleftheria Briakou (M.S. ’20, Ph.D. ’23, computer science) are working on the cutting edge of artificial intelligence, advancing Google Translate. READ MORE »
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We are grateful to alumni and friends whose generosity supports current and future students. To learn more about how you can make a difference, please visit cs.umd.edu/giving.
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