Bradford Larsen, originally of Nashua, New Hampshire, is a first year master’s student in computer science. During the summer of 2007, with the aid of an International Research Opportunities Program grant from the University of New Hampshire, Brad conducted research in Erlangen, Germany, where he worked on a project to streamline the effectiveness of supercomputers. The project, which was large in scope and complex in its implementation, provided more than just practical experience in the field of computer science. Based largely on the work he produced while in Germany, Brad and the project’s leader collaborated to publish a paper that took the “Best Paper Award” in the category of “Distributed Information and Systems” at the 2008 International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Computing and Systems sponsored by the International Association of Science and Technology for Development. Brad continues the pursuit of his graduate degree with his eyes set on the Ph.D., recognizing that his summer research experience and the resulting publication will be important in his future study and grant opportunities.
Professor Philip Hatcher has worked since 1986 with students in the Department of Computer Science at the University of New Hampshire, where he is currently chairperson. Specializing in the areas of programming languages and compilers, parallel and distributed computing, and bioinformatics, as well as once being a recipient of the “Outstanding Assistant Professor” award, Hatcher is no stranger to mentoring. In his time at UNH he has advised a number of honors thesis students and six candidates for International Research Opportunities Program (IROP) grants. Hatcher describes an IROP project as “a life–changing experience,” one that is “always very rewarding” for a student. In Brad’s case, Hatcher was particularly happy to see Brad working side by side with “a very intense and very bright foreign mentor,” and how exciting it was to see him “rise to the occasion and meet that high standard.”
Brad’s foreign mentor, Dr. Ronald Veldema, has been at the University of Erlangen–Nuremberg for the last six years, where he teaches and conducts research in programming language and parallelization. As well as being Brad’s foreign mentor and co–author, Dr. Veldema also introduced Brad to a new work methodology, one of fast–paced, hands–on–the–keyboard programming. While this break–neck approach didn’t always mesh with Brad’s work style, it forced him out of his comfort zone and helped him see the values (and shortcomings) inherent in any approach to solving a problem. When asked about his time spent with Brad and the work they performed together, Dr. Veldema replied simply: “Satisfactory, not difficult, fun and interesting.”
Read Bradford Larsen’s commentary Misconceptions and Computer Science >>
