Bio

Sam Schwartz is a PhD candidate in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Oregon.
Sam is advised by Dr. Steve Fickas and Dr. Boyana Norris.

Sam's research interests

I do two things:

I work with a variety of domain scientists to create enabling tools and technologies in their field. These tools are usually driven by complex machine learning or graph-theoretical algorithms. I also work with scientists to do statistical analysis of (usually messy) domain-specific datasets.

Areas where I have publicized work include the domain of theoretical mathematics, scientific visualization, student sense of belonging, ecology, supercomputing memory management, and more.

I do empirical quantitative analysis of research software engineering projects, particularly in the advanced scientific computing space. This is my PhD dissertation work. I'm asking questions like, "Just how many scientific software projects are out there? (Especially government-funded projects?) What do they look like? How do they compare to other types of software? Based on these kinds of analyses, what are the tools we can create to enable and support developers of scientific software?"

Teaching. I love exploring the world around me as it relates to computing, and I love sharing it with others. Providing a high quality undergraduate education lights up my work life. It's why I went to graduate school instead of working as a software developer somewhere in industry.
Public service and advocacy. I was a boy scout as a kid, and that love for service inculcated in me as a young'n has never left. Bring on the committee work!
Spending time with my dog, Chico. After returning to the United States after teaching high school English in Chile I started volunteering at the local animal shelter. I lasted four months before adopting my dog during the first semester of my master's program. He's been with me ever since.

Bachelor of Science, Dual Major in Computer Science and Mathematics, Utah State University, 2013 - 2016