About

My research interests include compilers, numerics, formal verification, and fabrication. Even outside of the lab, programming is one of my favorite activities, though sometimes I struggle to fit personal projects into a tight schedule. I also help organize our running club, attempt small knitting projects, and practice cooking vegan food. I can juggle and solve Rubik’s cubes, but not at the same time. Also, my name has a wicked cool anagram.

I spent six sunny years at UC San Diego working on my PhD with my incredible advisor Sorin Lerner. Throughout grad school, Sorin set a stellar example of how remarkable doing research can be when you put students first, an example I strive to emulate. I also learned many invaluable lessons from the great Ranjit Jhala, especially when it comes to writing and presentation: less is more!

I graduated from Purdue University back in Spring 2007 with degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics. As an undergraduate, I was fortunate to perform research with Suresh Jagannathan on the SML compiler MLton. For our Honors Project, advised by Antony Hosking, my good friend Bill Harris and I designed and implemented a domain specific language to control a giant neon sculpture over the web. Over nearly three years, I ran the lab component of Purdue’s introductory Java programming course.

Miscellaneous

We have a great running group, Race Condition Running, that trots all over Seattle and gets brunch each week.

I am a big fan of Baja hoodies. Luckily the PLSE faculty also have incredible fashion sense.

I help out with a bunch of stuff around the Allen School, including TGIF. Sometimes famous guests swing by :)

I also help Hank Levy and Adriana Schulz write the annual faculty skit where we dress up and try to take things a little less seriously.

There is always something happening in the Allen School; it can be tricky to juggle everything going on 🤹

Once while interning at MSR India, I got to drive an auto rickshaw.

My academic genealogy has some interesting characters:

The best bound I know my Erdős number, is 4 via James:

or via Pavel:

or via Tom:

I have been very fortunate to work on projects with many amazing collaborators. If your first name starts with F, Q, U or your last name starts with I, U, V, X, Y let’s write a paper together!