Carnegie Mellon to host Rising Stars workshop

This weekend, Carnegie Mellon University will host the world’s brightest female Ph.D. students, postdocs, and engineers in the fields of electrical engineering and computer science at the 2016 Rising Stars Workshop. This two-day career-building conference of scientific interactions and career-oriented discussions aims to identify and mentor young stars in electrical engineering and computer science (EECS).

Originally founded by MIT in 2012, the workshop focuses on navigating the early stages of careers in academia. This year, the workshop is hosted and sponsored by Carnegie Mellon University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Center for Faculty Success, and the School of Computer Science, in collaboration with MIT’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

“We are excited to welcome the participants to Carnegie Mellon University,” says Jim Garrett, dean of Carnegie Mellon’s College of Engineering. “The workshop is an important leadership and development program to help to change the equation and bring more women into positions of influence and leadership.”

The workshop will include three poster sessions as well as presentations and panels on aspects of life in academia—from finding a faculty position to how to succeed as a junior faculty member. Participants will have the opportunity to present their ongoing research, interact with faculty members from top institutions, and receive advice for advancing their careers.

“The Rising Stars workshop is a great opportunity to become acquainted with the latest research, to meet future leaders in the field, and to network with Carnegie Mellon faculty,” says Jelena Kovačević, department head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “The participants will showcase their passion for research and education, while creating societal impact.”

This year’s participants will have the opportunity to learn by doing, with sessions focused on landing a faculty job, navigating the promotion process, and building a professional support network, as well as many other sessions with topics of interest to women in academia. The workshop will feature presentations and discussions by participants spanning the spectrum of EECS from devices, circuits, and nanosystems, to cyber-physical systems, data science, and security and privacy, with particular focus on making an impact on society through work on energy, mobility, smart infrastructure, health, and quality-of-life.

“I've got good news and bad news for the participants,” says Andrew Moore, dean of Carnegie Mellon’s School of Computer Science. “The bad news first: being in their position is a big responsibility. Technology is one of the best bets for getting the planet through the 21st century and, as future thought and organizational leaders, it’s all on their shoulders. The good news is that I can’t imagine a more rewarding and interesting career!”