Computer Science

In a South Carolina swamp, researchers uncover secrets of firefly synchrony

emad5542 — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 17:12:29 +0000

In a South Carolina swamp, researchers uncover secrets of firefly synchrony emad5542 Mon, 03/16/2026 - 11:12

In a new study, computer scientists from CU ��ý�� have uncovered the mathematical rules fireflies follow to sync up their flashes. The team’s findings could one day lead to new designs for robots that move in swarms and could help scientists better understand other examples of synchrony in biology.

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Adam Griff (PhDCompSci'00)

miwi9607 — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:15:07 +0000

Adam Griff (PhDCompSci'00) miwi9607 Mon, 02/02/2026 - 11:15

Adam Griff, 2026 Alumni Engagement Medal Recipient

Engineering Alumni Awards

2026 Alumni Engagement Medal Recipient

Computer Science Recipient

Adam J. Griff, PhD received his Computer Science (CS) PhD and an unofficial MFA in Dance from CU ��ý�� after receiving his undergraduate degree in CS and Economics from Lehigh University. Griff has worked on his own startups, other people's micro startups being the glue and building the teams, a ~100 person startup, and even a large startup (aka Uber). Griff has been a Conference on World Affairs (CWA) chair organizing the annual event. He has been sharing his Open Inventions for decades and has recently brought those ideas to the CS students at CU. He has 3 student groups in CS Capstone this year working on his startup ideas and has setup focus groups including Colorado Center for the Blind (CCB) for the I'm Puzzled group (an app to assist with jigsaw puzzles), ��ý�� County Farmers Markets (BCFM) for EcoLocate.Org (search now and into the future for items near you), and Rattlesnake Rambler fund raiser race (See My Race crowd sourcing of photos from races) to give those students wider perspectives on the projects. He joined the CU Center for Leadership Mentor program and received the 2026 Alumni Engagement Medal. He volunteers every Friday and some additional days with Ignite Adaptive Sports at Eldora mountain teaching and providing snowsport opportunities to people with various disabilities to enjoy the winter outdoors. Griff is raising a 6 year old, volunteers teaching French to the kindergartners at the school, and making sure to have time for himself to go biking, skiing, and do Contact Improv dance.

Adam J. Griff has a PhD in computer science and an unofficial MFA in dance from CU ��ý��. Griff has worked on his own startups; other people's micro startups; building teams and being the glue; an approximately 100-person startup; and even a large startup (aka Uber).

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Gregory Greenstreet (CompSci'92)

miwi9607 — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 15:29:56 +0000

Gregory Greenstreet (CompSci'92) miwi9607 Mon, 02/02/2026 - 08:29

Gregory Greenstreet, 2026 Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award Recipient

Engineering Alumni Awards

2026 Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award recipient

Gregory received his MS in Computer Science from CU in 1992. He has since spent the last 35 years in commercial software building and selling companies to the likes of Hewlett Packard, Oracle and Twitter. As an engineer he also helped start DigitalGlobe which went IPO in 2009.

Gregory served as the ��ý�� Site Lead for both Twitter and Splunk, where he built out large engineering presences locally.

In addition to working in Industry, Gregory has taught for over 13 years in ATLAS/Computer Science - teaching a Big Data Architecture class each spring, as well as serving on the CU Computer Science Advisory Board. He has also mentored for the TechStars accelerator for over 10 years, helping young companies get their start.

Gregory lives above ��ý�� in Four Mile Canyon with his wife Anne, their daughter Adeline and son Elan. His older daughter Tamar currently attends CU as a sophomore in the Leeds school of business.

Outside of software he enjoys mountain biking, snowboarding, nordic skiing and playing mandolin.

Gregory Greenstreet, a CU ��ý�� MS CS alum, is a longtime software entrepreneur who founded and sold multiple companies and helped launch DigitalGlobe. He has led major engineering teams in ��ý��, taught Big Data Architecture for over a decade, and mentors startups through TechStars. He lives in Four Mile Canyon with his family and enjoys mountain sports and playing mandolin.

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Inside the Internship: Fernando Picoral, Google

Michelle Wiese — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 16:37:05 +0000

Inside the Internship: Fernando Picoral, Google Michelle Wiese Wed, 01/14/2026 - 09:37

Fernando Picoral, CompSci'26
Google, Software Engineering Intern

Designing for Scale at Google

In summer 2025, Fernando Picoral (CompSci'26) wrapped up his third internship at Google, where he learned that great engineering is as much about “designing for others” as it is about writing code. Over the years, he’s discovered that the best software doesn’t just work well — it scales, evolves and empowers others to build on top of it.

“Treat every internship like an opportunity to learn how the industry really works, both technically and collaboratively.” Fernando shared. “Focus on writing clear design documents and asking thoughtful questions early, even before you start coding.” – Picoral

At Google, Picoral found himself doing far more than debugging or implementing features. He spent time drafting technical design documents, weighing trade-offs and defending his decisions in design reviews, all while learning to communicate ideas clearly across teams.

“Designing reliable systems isn’t just about efficiency, it’s about creating solutions that can evolve over time and communicating clearly so others can build on them” – Picoral

Taking Ownership and Growing Through Feedback

Picoral encourages other students to embrace challenging projects and approach them with curiosity. In addition, Picoral has pushed himself by taking ownership of big projects, as he believes that this is where the best learning occurs — by stepping outside of your comfort zone.

“Seek feedback, iterate often, and remember that great engineers combine technical depth with strong communication and teamwork.” – Picoral

Having that mindset paid off. After three summers at Google, Picoral received a full-time offer to return as a software engineer after graduation.

Landing Your Dream Internship

Picoral’s journey with Google began before he ever set foot on the CU ��ý�� campus. He had dreamed of working there since high school — he was drawn to technology and, he admits, inspired by the movie The Internship.

During his first year at CU ��ý��, he applied early to a handful of big tech companies, determined to make that dream a reality.

“For my first Google internship in 2023, I applied as soon as applications opened,” Picoral said. “I interviewed in January and received my offer at the end of the month.”

That first role came through the Student Training in Engineering Program (STEP), a Google initiative designed for first- and second-year students. The experience became the foundation for his future internships, giving him the chance to grow both technically and professionally.

Finding Mentorship and Support

Picoral credits his preparation and success to both mentorship and consistent practice.

“One of my freshman-year roommate’s dads worked at Google for many years,” he said. “He gave me valuable tips and even did a mock interview with me, which really helped me understand what to expect.”

Beyond that, Picoral focused on building a strong resume through meaningful projects and experiences that demonstrated his skills in action.

Get Involved

Fernando’s story highlights the importance of taking initiative, communicating clearly, and learning from every challenge. The Engineering Career Hub is here to support students every step of the way. From resume reviews and mock interviews to internship connections and career fairs.

Learn more about how the Engineering Career Hub can support your journey.

Read more Inside the Internship stories.

In his third Google internship, Fernando Picoral (CompSci'26) learned that great engineering goes beyond coding—it’s about designing systems that scale, evolve, and empower others.

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New open-source software allows for efficient 3D printing with multiple materials

Alexander James Servantez — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 22:48:57 +0000

New open-source software allows for efficient 3D printing with multiple materials Alexander Jame… Mon, 10/13/2025 - 16:48

Assistant Professor Robert MacCurdy and fourth-year PhD student Charles Wade have created an open-source design system software package that uses functions and code to map not just shapes, but where different materials belong in a 3D object. The project, called OpenVCAD, has the potential to transform 3D printing by enabling engineers to design multi-material objects smarter and more efficiently.

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Achey earns Department of Defense NDSEG fellowship

Charles Ferrer — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 19:14:38 +0000

Achey earns Department of Defense NDSEG fellowship Charles Ferrer Tue, 08/26/2025 - 13:14

Lorin Achey, a second-year computer science PhD student, has earned the prestigious 2025 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship for her promising research in robotic perception systems. The Department of Defense fellowship was established to recognize and support science and engineering PhD students in disciplines of military importance.

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Computer science PhD student is making waves in research and the open water

Alexander James Servantez — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 16:27:34 +0000

Computer science PhD student is making waves in research and the open water Alexander Jame… Wed, 07/09/2025 - 10:27

Corey Murphey is working to understand the spread of pathogens through these aerosols and limit the transmission of airborne, infectious diseases. But she's also an accomplished marathon open-water swimmer who recently took first place in the SCAR Swim Challenge.

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CU ��ý�� students win big at collegiate hydropower competition

Alexander James Servantez — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 23:11:36 +0000

CU ��ý�� students win big at collegiate hydropower competition Alexander Jame… Wed, 06/18/2025 - 17:11

The CU Hydropower Team had a strong showing in this year's Hydropower Collegiate Competition, bringing home multiple awards including the best design award, the cybersecurity award, the best quick pitch award and the highly coveted first-place honor in the overall competition.

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Lifelong learner

Hanna Nordwall — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 21:49:20 +0000

Lifelong learner Hanna Nordwall Fri, 06/06/2025 - 15:49

Grace Wilson

"Computers are at the base of almost everything."

Lloyd Botway (MCompSci’70)

Donor pays it forward by supporting master’s students in computer science

Lloyd Botway’s (MCompSci’70) degree was the second master’s ever granted by the Department of Computer Science at CU ��ý��.

He’s so grateful for how it helped to shape his life that he decided to pay it forward. Botway and his wife created the Lloyd and Yaemi Botway Computer Science Endowed Scholarship Fund, which has already supported 20 master’s students since its inception in 2021. In addition, in 2024 they endowed a fellowship fund to support faculty research.

From creating one of the first computerized library systems to being chief data architect at Quest Diagnostics, Botway has had a remarkable career. He has also led a rich life that includes music, Japanese language studies and writing. In fact, he’s working on a mystery novel right now from his new home in Japan.

How did CU ��ý�� prepare you for your career and your life?

The grounding in how computer logic works and the practice that I got at CU ��ý�� enabled me to have a very successful career. I loved the creation of intricate software systems. I give a lot of credit to a professor emeritus, William Waite, my thesis advisor. That 30-year career and the success I had were made possible by the grounding I got at CU.

You’re a lifelong learner — what skills help you do that?

Curiosity. It’s driven me to delve into many different hobbies. Some friends accuse me of being a faddist, getting into something and then dropping it, but part of what keeps me alive is continuing to expand my interests. For example, I’m teaching piano in Japan, which means I’m learning all of the Japanese music vocabulary, and a couple of months ago I started learning the shakuhachi, a bamboo flute that’s immensely difficult. I just keep looking for new things to do.

Why did you decide to support graduate students in computer science at CU ��ý��?

I’m so grateful for the grounding that I got in making my career possible. I also remember how difficult it was when I was in graduate school learning how computers work; it takes so much time and study. I would like to make it easier for other people to do the same thing so they don’t have to worry about their next meal or if they can afford a room. I would also like the recipients of the awards to, when they become successful, remember what CU ��ý�� meant to them and see if they can in turn give back. Maybe it’s not through money, either. Consider volunteering or tutoring.

What is the utility of a computer science degree?

Flexibility and purpose. Computers are at the base of almost everything. I had so many different jobs in my career, from helping diagnosticians read X-rays to cleaning imperfections in images from the Hubble space telescope. You might start writing some software in one subject and then do something completely different with the same ideas.

Humans are tool creators and tool users, and the purpose of a program is to make someone’s job more pleasant. We program because we are creating wonderful tools.

Donor pays it forward by supporting master’s students in computer science

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Shaping the future of quantum systems

Susan Glairon — Fri, 09 May 2025 11:53:41 +0000

Shaping the future of quantum systems Susan Glairon Fri, 05/09/2025 - 05:53

Susan Glairon

Ramin Ayanzadeh's research focuses on trustworthy quantum computing to enhance the reliability and security of quantum systems.

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Computer Science

In a South Carolina swamp, researchers uncover secrets of firefly synchrony

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Adam Griff (PhDCompSci'00)

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Gregory Greenstreet (CompSci'92)

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Inside the Internship: Fernando Picoral, Google

Designing for Scale at Google

Taking Ownership and Growing Through Feedback

Landing Your Dream Internship

Finding Mentorship and Support

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New open-source software allows for efficient 3D printing with multiple materials

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Achey earns Department of Defense NDSEG fellowship

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Computer science PhD student is making waves in research and the open water

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CU ������ý���� students win big at collegiate hydropower competition

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Lifelong learner

"Computers are at the base of almost everything."

How did CU ������ý���� prepare you for your career and your life?

You’re a lifelong learner — what skills help you do that?

Why did you decide to support graduate students in computer science at CU ������ý����?

What is the utility of a computer science degree?

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Shaping the future of quantum systems

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CU ��ý�� students win big at collegiate hydropower competition

How did CU ��ý�� prepare you for your career and your life?

Why did you decide to support graduate students in computer science at CU ��ý��?