AI MATTERS, VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 WINTER 2017 AI Profiles: An Interview with Jim Kurose Amy McGovern (University of Oklahoma; [email protected]) Eric Eaton (University of Pennsylvania; [email protected]) DOI: 10.1145/3054837.3054842 Abstract This column is the second in a new series pro- filing senior AI researchers. This month fo- cuses on Jim Kurose. Introduction Our second profile for the interview series is Jim Kurose, Assistant Director of the Na- tional Science Foundation (NSF) for the Com- puter and Information Science and Engineer- ing (CISE). Please note that NSF is hiring and would love to have you apply! Bio Figure 1: Jim Kurose Dr. Jim Kurose is an Assistant Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), where he leads the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) in its mission to support fundamental CISE Copyright c 2017 by the author(s). research, education and transformative ad- vances in cyberinfrastructure across the na- tion. He is currently a Distinguished Professor in the College of Information and Computer Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he has been a faculty mem- ber since receiving his PhD in Computer Sci- ence from Columbia University. His research area is computer networking, but he did man- age to pass a PhD qualifying exam in AI. He is proud to have received a number of re- search, teaching and service awards over the years, and is particularly proud of the many students with whom he’s been so fortunate to work. With Keith Ross, he is the author of the widely adopted textbook Computer Network- ing: a Top Down Approach. Jim is a Fellow of the ACM and IEEE. Getting to know Jim Kurose How did you become interested in CS? My undergraduate degree is in Physics (from Wesleyan University), which didn’t have a pro- gram in CS at the time. But I took the only two CS courses offered—and loved them both; I worked in the computing center, and had a student job that involved analyzing the var- ious plays run by Wesleyan’s football oppo- nents (definitely “small data”!). Probably most importantly, I did some Monte Carlo model- ing that complemented the experimental part of my undergrad thesis. I loved physics, but I also had a sense that I’d love computer sci- ence, and so I went to grad school expecting to get a MS degree in CS. There, I fell in love with CS research when I met a couple of great faculty who became my PhD advisors. What was your most difficult professional decision and why? The hardest decisions are always the ones that affect other people. When there are deci- sions that run contrary to what a person wants (e.g., passing a PhD qualifying exam), you re- 14
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AI MATTERS VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1 WINTER 2017
AI Profiles An Interview with Jim KuroseAmy McGovern (University of Oklahoma amcgovernouedu)Eric Eaton (University of Pennsylvania eeatoncisupennedu)DOI 10114530548373054842
Abstract
This column is the second in a new series pro-filing senior AI researchers This month fo-cuses on Jim Kurose
Introduction
Our second profile for the interview seriesis Jim Kurose Assistant Director of the Na-tional Science Foundation (NSF) for the Com-puter and Information Science and Engineer-ing (CISE) Please note that NSF is hiring andwould love to have you apply
Bio
Figure 1 Jim Kurose
Dr Jim Kurose is an Assistant Director of theNational Science Foundation (NSF) wherehe leads the Directorate for Computer andInformation Science and Engineering (CISE)in its mission to support fundamental CISE
Copyright ccopy 2017 by the author(s)
research education and transformative ad-vances in cyberinfrastructure across the na-tion He is currently a Distinguished Professorin the College of Information and ComputerSciences at the University of MassachusettsAmherst where he has been a faculty mem-ber since receiving his PhD in Computer Sci-ence from Columbia University His researcharea is computer networking but he did man-age to pass a PhD qualifying exam in AI Heis proud to have received a number of re-search teaching and service awards over theyears and is particularly proud of the manystudents with whom hersquos been so fortunate towork With Keith Ross he is the author of thewidely adopted textbook Computer Network-ing a Top Down Approach Jim is a Fellow ofthe ACM and IEEE
Getting to know Jim Kurose
How did you become interested in CS
My undergraduate degree is in Physics (fromWesleyan University) which didnrsquot have a pro-gram in CS at the time But I took the only twoCS courses offeredmdashand loved them both Iworked in the computing center and had astudent job that involved analyzing the var-ious plays run by Wesleyanrsquos football oppo-nents (definitely ldquosmall datardquo) Probably mostimportantly I did some Monte Carlo model-ing that complemented the experimental partof my undergrad thesis I loved physics butI also had a sense that Irsquod love computer sci-ence and so I went to grad school expectingto get a MS degree in CS There I fell in lovewith CS research when I met a couple of greatfaculty who became my PhD advisors
What was your most difficult professionaldecision and why
The hardest decisions are always the onesthat affect other people When there are deci-sions that run contrary to what a person wants(eg passing a PhD qualifying exam) you re-
14
AI MATTERS VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1 WINTER 2017
ally need to believe that the decision is in thatpersonrsquos best interests The people we workwith are always so talented that the challengeis really one of helping find the environment inwhich a given individual will thrive be happyand grow
What professional achievement are youmost proud of
Without a doubtmdashthe students Irsquove taught andmentored that includes nearly 30 PhD stu-dents and many many MS and undergradstudents Itrsquos really a privilege to have a jobthat can impact others Therersquos nothing thatmakes a day (or a week) like getting a notefrom a former student and hearing that yoursquovehelped make a difference in that personrsquos lifeIn second place is the undergraduate text-book (Computer Networking a Top-Down Ap-proach) that Irsquove written with Keith Rossmdashwewrote that because we both love to write andteach and have been incredibly pleased (andperhaps a bit shocked) to see how it has beenadopted at so many universities around theworld I am also very proud and honored to beable to serve the CS community in my currentposition as Assistant Director at the NationalScience Foundation where I lead the Direc-torate for Computer and Information Scienceand Engineering
What do you wish you had known as aPhD student or early researcher
Heymdashgreat question Irsquove given a talk on ex-actly that topic ldquoTen pieces of advice I wishedmy advisor had told merdquo Irsquove given this talkat a bunch of student workshops in my re-search area over the years Among my fa-vorites in that list are learning how to commu-nicate (write speak and tell the narrative ofyour work) finding role models and studyingbroadly
What would you want for your career ifyou couldnrsquot do CS
Impossible to say I think therersquos a surpris-ing degree of randomness in where we endup and how we get there As the sayinggoes ldquoWhat a long strange trip itrsquos beenrdquo AsI mentioned I didnrsquot go to grad school plan-ning to get a PhDmdashbut my grad school expe-
rience turned out to be phenomenal Nor didI really choose grad school from a particularlycareer-oriented point-of-view I just wanted tobe where my girlfriend (and now wife) wantedto be Both turned out great but the lesson Ithink is to be open to opportunities and to fol-low your passion Sounds a bit trite perhapsbut definitely true
What is a ldquotypicalrdquo day like for you
No two days are alike in my job at NSF I spendlots of time working with the amazing CISEstaff (program directors division directors andadministrative team) on both current and fu-ture programs I spend a lot of time interactingwith staff from the other directorates at NSFmdasha real treat as well and I also spend a gooddeal of time working with other Federal agen-cies Last I really enjoy spending time in theCS community at meetings and visiting cam-puses and hearing about the amazing thingsgoing on as well as individual and institutionalhopes aspirations and concerns
What is the most interesting project youare currently involved with
Pretty much all of the aspects of my job atNSF Let me add that CISE is always lookingfor smart dedicated and talented folks fromthe research community who might be inter-ested in serving a rotation as an NSFCISEProgram Director Irsquod encourage anyone in-terested to contact the relevant CISE divisiondirector or memdashwersquoll be happy to tell you moreabout the opportunities
How do you balance being involved in somany different aspects of the CScommunity
We all depend on so many other people Asstudents we depend on our teachers staffmentors and other students as faculty we de-pend on our students colleagues and collabo-rators in academic leadership we depend onthe people with whom we work to help makethings happen For these many activities to besuccessful we need to rely on other peopleand be reliable to those with whom we workwe really do achieve both more and betterthings by working together At NSF itrsquos been
15
AI MATTERS VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1 WINTER 2017
great to work with Lynne Parker NSFCISE Di-vision Director for Information and IntelligentSystems and her team who provide NSFrsquostechnical vision leadership and managementof programs in AI and Information and Intelli-gent Systems more broadly
What is your favorite CS or AI-relatedmovie or book and why
I can still remember being completely blownaway as a kid when I saw 2001 A SpaceOdyssey It was visually stunning had theHAL 9000 computer (of course Irsquod never evenseen a computer then) and was wildly in-scrutable to a twelve-year-old For CSAI-related books my favorites are anything writ-ten by Isaac Asimov and Snowcrash by NealStephenson Beyond science fiction Irsquove justfinished The Second Machine Age WorkProgress and Prosperity in a Time of BrilliantTechnologies by Erik Brynjolfsson and AndrewMcAfee All of these books speak to the rela-tionship between humans and technologymdashatopic of increasing importance for everyone
Help us determine whoshould be in the AI Mat-ters spotlight
If you have suggestionsfor who we should pro-file next please feel freeto contact us via email ataimatterssigaiacmorg
16
AI MATTERS VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1 WINTER 2017
ally need to believe that the decision is in thatpersonrsquos best interests The people we workwith are always so talented that the challengeis really one of helping find the environment inwhich a given individual will thrive be happyand grow
What professional achievement are youmost proud of
Without a doubtmdashthe students Irsquove taught andmentored that includes nearly 30 PhD stu-dents and many many MS and undergradstudents Itrsquos really a privilege to have a jobthat can impact others Therersquos nothing thatmakes a day (or a week) like getting a notefrom a former student and hearing that yoursquovehelped make a difference in that personrsquos lifeIn second place is the undergraduate text-book (Computer Networking a Top-Down Ap-proach) that Irsquove written with Keith Rossmdashwewrote that because we both love to write andteach and have been incredibly pleased (andperhaps a bit shocked) to see how it has beenadopted at so many universities around theworld I am also very proud and honored to beable to serve the CS community in my currentposition as Assistant Director at the NationalScience Foundation where I lead the Direc-torate for Computer and Information Scienceand Engineering
What do you wish you had known as aPhD student or early researcher
Heymdashgreat question Irsquove given a talk on ex-actly that topic ldquoTen pieces of advice I wishedmy advisor had told merdquo Irsquove given this talkat a bunch of student workshops in my re-search area over the years Among my fa-vorites in that list are learning how to commu-nicate (write speak and tell the narrative ofyour work) finding role models and studyingbroadly
What would you want for your career ifyou couldnrsquot do CS
Impossible to say I think therersquos a surpris-ing degree of randomness in where we endup and how we get there As the sayinggoes ldquoWhat a long strange trip itrsquos beenrdquo AsI mentioned I didnrsquot go to grad school plan-ning to get a PhDmdashbut my grad school expe-
rience turned out to be phenomenal Nor didI really choose grad school from a particularlycareer-oriented point-of-view I just wanted tobe where my girlfriend (and now wife) wantedto be Both turned out great but the lesson Ithink is to be open to opportunities and to fol-low your passion Sounds a bit trite perhapsbut definitely true
What is a ldquotypicalrdquo day like for you
No two days are alike in my job at NSF I spendlots of time working with the amazing CISEstaff (program directors division directors andadministrative team) on both current and fu-ture programs I spend a lot of time interactingwith staff from the other directorates at NSFmdasha real treat as well and I also spend a gooddeal of time working with other Federal agen-cies Last I really enjoy spending time in theCS community at meetings and visiting cam-puses and hearing about the amazing thingsgoing on as well as individual and institutionalhopes aspirations and concerns
What is the most interesting project youare currently involved with
Pretty much all of the aspects of my job atNSF Let me add that CISE is always lookingfor smart dedicated and talented folks fromthe research community who might be inter-ested in serving a rotation as an NSFCISEProgram Director Irsquod encourage anyone in-terested to contact the relevant CISE divisiondirector or memdashwersquoll be happy to tell you moreabout the opportunities
How do you balance being involved in somany different aspects of the CScommunity
We all depend on so many other people Asstudents we depend on our teachers staffmentors and other students as faculty we de-pend on our students colleagues and collabo-rators in academic leadership we depend onthe people with whom we work to help makethings happen For these many activities to besuccessful we need to rely on other peopleand be reliable to those with whom we workwe really do achieve both more and betterthings by working together At NSF itrsquos been
15
AI MATTERS VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1 WINTER 2017
great to work with Lynne Parker NSFCISE Di-vision Director for Information and IntelligentSystems and her team who provide NSFrsquostechnical vision leadership and managementof programs in AI and Information and Intelli-gent Systems more broadly
What is your favorite CS or AI-relatedmovie or book and why
I can still remember being completely blownaway as a kid when I saw 2001 A SpaceOdyssey It was visually stunning had theHAL 9000 computer (of course Irsquod never evenseen a computer then) and was wildly in-scrutable to a twelve-year-old For CSAI-related books my favorites are anything writ-ten by Isaac Asimov and Snowcrash by NealStephenson Beyond science fiction Irsquove justfinished The Second Machine Age WorkProgress and Prosperity in a Time of BrilliantTechnologies by Erik Brynjolfsson and AndrewMcAfee All of these books speak to the rela-tionship between humans and technologymdashatopic of increasing importance for everyone
Help us determine whoshould be in the AI Mat-ters spotlight
If you have suggestionsfor who we should pro-file next please feel freeto contact us via email ataimatterssigaiacmorg
16
AI MATTERS VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1 WINTER 2017
great to work with Lynne Parker NSFCISE Di-vision Director for Information and IntelligentSystems and her team who provide NSFrsquostechnical vision leadership and managementof programs in AI and Information and Intelli-gent Systems more broadly
What is your favorite CS or AI-relatedmovie or book and why
I can still remember being completely blownaway as a kid when I saw 2001 A SpaceOdyssey It was visually stunning had theHAL 9000 computer (of course Irsquod never evenseen a computer then) and was wildly in-scrutable to a twelve-year-old For CSAI-related books my favorites are anything writ-ten by Isaac Asimov and Snowcrash by NealStephenson Beyond science fiction Irsquove justfinished The Second Machine Age WorkProgress and Prosperity in a Time of BrilliantTechnologies by Erik Brynjolfsson and AndrewMcAfee All of these books speak to the rela-tionship between humans and technologymdashatopic of increasing importance for everyone
Help us determine whoshould be in the AI Mat-ters spotlight
If you have suggestionsfor who we should pro-file next please feel freeto contact us via email ataimatterssigaiacmorg
16
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