Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences at Boston University

Faculty of Computing and Data Sciences Join us this Giving Tuesday and make a difference!

📢 Giving Tuesday is here! The Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences at Boston University has made great strides since its founding, and CDS continues to grow! Give today: spr.ly/633247LXEq

The DS+X Hackathon 2025 is officially underway! 💥
Breakfast fueled creativity and collaboration, the opening ceremony set the stage, and teams dove right into hacking, designing, and innovating BU Spark!

🚀 Let’s build something extraordinary together.

🔗 www.bu.edu/articles/202...

A 'New Faculty Fellow Spotlight' features Brian DePasquale, a Faculty Fellow in Computing & Data Sciences and Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. His research interests include theoretical neuroscience, NeuroAI, and machine learning.

New Faculty Fellow Spotlight features Boqing Gong, a Faculty Fellow in Computing & Data Sciences and Assistant Professor in Computer Science at the College of Arts & Sciences. His research interests include visual understanding, generation, generalization, and foundation models.

Spotlight on Patrick Keys, Faculty Fellow in Computing & Data Sciences, Assistant Professor of Earth & Environment, College of Arts & Sciences, with research interests in climate futures.

We’re thrilled to welcome the 2025–26 Faculty Fellows to CDS!

Brian DePasquale — Neuroscience & Artificial Intelligence
Boqing Gong — Computer Vision & Machine Learning
Patrick Keys — Climate Science & Sustainability

🔗 spr.ly/63328AAtGk

A Spring 2026 Course Spotlight from Boston University Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences. It lists CDS DS 593: Theory and Applications of Large Language Models with Lauren Wheelock; CDS DS 595: AI for Science with Siddharth Mishra-Sharma; CDS DS 596: Learning From Large-Scale Biological Data with Pawel Przytycki.

🚀 CDS is excited to announce three new courses for Spring 2026, giving students fresh opportunities to explore the frontiers of data science—from LLMs and AI for science to computational biology.

🔗 Learn more about the lineup: spr.ly/63329AAZvD

A smiling Brian Cleary, CDS Assistant Professor, in a patterned shirt. He was awarded a $2.25 Million NIH Grant for Pioneering Research in Computational Biology. Boston University logo at top right.

Congratulations Brian Cleary, Assistant Professor of Computing & Data Sciences, Biology & Biomedical Engineering, on receiving a $2.25M NIH grant for his groundbreaking work in computational biology. 👏👏
🔗 spr.ly/63328A25su

A poster advertising the 'Social Justice for Data Science Lecture Series' features 'The Problem of Prediction' with Ari Waldman, Professor at UC Irvine School of Law. It's on Tuesday, October 21, 3:30-5:00 PM at BU Computing & Data Sciences, Room 1101.

Save the date! Social Justice for Data Science Lecture: The Problem of Prediction
✨ Presenter: Ari Waldman, Professor of Law and Professor of Sociology (by courtesy) at the University of California, Irvine School of Law
📅 Tues., Oct. 21 | 3:30–5 PM
Learn more: spr.ly/63326Atcn2

A smiling woman with brown hair and a light purple top is outside with fall foliage in the background. She is fair-skinned and looks directly at the camera.

A young man with curly brown hair and round glasses smiles at the camera. He is wearing a teal shirt, and buildings are slightly blurred in the background.

Big news from BU CDS 🎉 Doctoral students Heila Precel & Tyler Calabrese—advised by Prof. Allison McDonald—have earned highly competitive fellowships from the NSF & Computing Research Association for their groundbreaking research in AI ethics, digital privacy & computing access. spr.ly/63329Atdkv

Spotlight on new faculty at BU Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences: Elizabeth Barnes, Kinan Albab, Siddharth Mishra-Sharma, Naomi Sapra, and Lauren Wheelock. Titles & roles are listed.

Meet Our New Faculty! CDS is excited to welcome a dynamic group of scholars—Elizabeth A. Barnes, Kinan Dak Albab, Siddharth Mishra-Sharma, Naomi Saphra & Lauren Wheelock—whose research spans climate science, data systems and privacy, optimization, AI for physics & LLMs.

🔗 spr.ly/63321AUdDX

You Are Why - Boston University You Are Why You Are Why is a university-wide reputation and fundraising campaign intended to shift focus from the University to the public, who directly benefit from our research, scholarship, education, and enga...

You are why partnership drives discovery and transforms lives. By working together with our peers, industry experts, elected officials, and more, we are able to drive discovery and transform lives. Learn more: bit.ly/3Kznkoa

Classroom setting in higher education.

🚀 At BU’s Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences, we don’t just welcome students—we launch them! That’s the spirit of DS109: Data Science First-Year Seminar, a course blends academics, advising, community, and practical skills. 👉 spr.ly/63328AbQPo

A woman with short brown hair smiles while sitting on a curved, light-wood bench. She wears a blue plaid suit and colorful socks. A blue wall with red circles behind her adds a modern touch to the indoor setting.

We’re excited to see @nsaphra.bsky.social’s work featured in @quantamagazine.bsky.social—& even more excited that she will be joining the CDS faculty in 2026!

Read about Naomi's research via @benbenbrubaker.bsky.social spr.ly/63323AbqfH

📸 Ken Richardson

BU Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences

How do you design a graduate program that keeps pace w/one of the fastest-moving fields in the world? At CDS, the MS in Data Science program is doing just that. In this new Q&A, Program Director Thomas Gardos shares how the MSDS is preparing students for an AI-driven future.

🔗 bit.ly/4gwS3hC

Social Justice for Data Science Fall 2025 Lecture Series announced! Happening today (9/18) at 3:30 PM: The Immigration Enforcement Reporter: A BU Law × BU Spark! Collaboration.

Learn more and view the fall 2025 schedule: bit.ly/4gwQUXl

Virtual Event: Thurs., Sept. 18 | 12 PM
Level Up Your Career with BU's AI Thought Leaders

Join us for a virtual panel moderated by CDS Associate Provost Azer Bestavros, where @bostonu.bsky.social alumni & faculty explore how generative AI is reshaping industries, jobs, & skills. 🔗 bit.ly/4mipeGY

🍵 At @bostonu.bsky.social CDS, faculty development is built into our culture. Teaching Tea, developed by Kevin Gold, Professor of the Practice & Preceptor for Instruction, is a conversation space for instructors to connect, reflect and, sharpen their craft together.

Read more 🫖: bit.ly/TeachingTea

👏 Thank you to EY for hosting a dynamic Tech Talks panel in collaboration w/CDS & BU Spark! @bostonu.bsky.social

We’re grateful for EY’s partnership in creating opportunities for #terriers to learn from professionals shaping the field.

🔗 Learn more about the talk & presenters: bit.ly/4n79bNz

“The [CDS] Online Master's in Data Science program has given me the flexibility to pursue my degree while working full time, and the tools to apply data science to real-world challenges.” — James E. Kantor, OMDS student.

Learn more and attend a webinar: Wed., 9/17/2025!
Details👉 bit.ly/4p7Treu

Smiling woman with long brown hair. She's wearing a black top with a silver necklace. Text says: "A Welcome Message: MOLLY-KATE MACLEOD, Director of Student Experience at CDS."

🍁 Today’s the big day—first day of classes! 🍁 Molly-Kate MacLeod, CDS Director of Student Experience, kicks off the semester with a welcome message celebrating learning, community, and career opportunities.

Check out her full post to see what’s ahead this fall. 💻✨ spr.ly/63327A6HsS

An incredible day and an incredible welcome! 🎉🐾

The Class of 2029 has officially joined the CDS community, and tomorrow marks the start of their academic journey
@bostonu.bsky.social. 📚✨

Here’s to a successful semester for #TerrierTown — one filled with learning, discovery, and connection! 💻🍁

A person uses a smartphone in front of a laptop with a red triangle and a yellow exclamation mark indicating a warning.

🚨 Job seekers, beware. Scammers are increasingly targeting students and recent grads with fraudulent job postings.

✅ Check out this CDS guide to learn how to protect yourself during the job search. spr.ly/63322fNXTp
@bostonu.bsky.social

BU Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences

BU Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences

BU Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences

BU Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences

🎉🐾 A big Terrier welcome to our newest CDS students! Yesterday’s Orientation was filled with energy—meet & greets, games, insights from our advising panel, a warm welcome from @bostonu.bsky.social CDS Associate Provost Azer Bestavros, and more! We are excited for the year ahead!

BU Fall 2025 Calendar: Classes begin Sept. 2; Indigenous People's Day Oct. 13 (no classes); Substitute Monday class schedule Oct. 14; Thanksgiving recess Nov. 26-30; Classes resume Dec. 1; Last day of final exams Dec. 19. Building in the background.

📅 Mark your calendars—Classes start on September 2! With dates for classes, breaks, and finals set, our CDS community is ready to dive into a new semester of collaboration, research, and innovation in computing & data sciences! 📚 📚

Two young women smile, holding popcorn bags up in a friendly toast. One woman has blonde hair and wears a green top; the other has curly brown hair and a blue sweater, with headphones around her neck.

Cheers to Fall 2025! 🎉🍿5 things every CDS first-year should do before classes:
1️⃣ Check your schedule & find your classrooms
2️⃣ Download the BU Mobile App
3️⃣ Get your BU ID + Charlie Card
4️⃣ Grab books & supplies
5️⃣ Connect w/your mentor or CDS groups
✨ Bonus: Don’t forget to enroll in DS109!

Let the countdown begin! 🚀 Another year of discovery, data, and community at CDS is just around the corner. Here is a quick look 📸 at some of the faces, places, and spaces in and around CDS @bostonu.bsky.social. See you soon #TerrierTown #ProudtoBU #CDSatBU #Fall2025 ❤️🐾

The world's top fintech companies: 2025 With artificial intelligence and crypto taking the financial world by storm, CNBC and Statista name the key fintech players shaking up the industry globally.

Fintech is evolving—and data science plays a central role. Check out this new CNBC and Statista "World's Top Fintech Companies: 2025" list highlighting 300 leading companies across sectors like payments, digital banking, and asset management.

🔗 www.cnbc.com/the-worlds-t...

#CareerResource #CDSatBU

BU Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences

BU Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences

CDS Research Spotlight: Most LLMs treat users the same. @bostonu.bsky.social CDS Assistant Prof. Aldo Pacchiano has introduced PReF, a method for personalizing ChatGPT-like models using just a few examples—no retraining required.

📖 Read more: www.bu.edu/cds-faculty/...

💡What the #Data Says About Your Job Search💡 New research shows job applications drop after just a few days—& people are more likely to apply if they think few others have.

Full Q&A w/ @buquestrom.bsky.social prof & former Airbnb #datascientist Andrey Fradkin 👇👇

#JobSearchTips #JobSearchStrategy

BU Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences

BU Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences

🚀 Research Spotlight: AI + Behavioral Science 🚀

@bostonu.bsky.social CDS Assistant Prof. Joshua Peterson is bridging AI with behavioral science to better understand human decision‑making and drive interpretable machine learning.

📖 Read more: bit.ly/44UUrdW

BU Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences

In this @bostonu.bsky.social CDS Conversations, August Siu discusses the Online Master's in Data Science program—skill-building, academics, community, and more. “I didn’t think I was a tech person. Now, I’m learning to lead with both data & empathy." Read more 👉: www.bu.edu/cds-faculty/...

☀️ Hot research, 🍂 cool insights—don’t miss The Download, @bostonu.bsky.social CDS’s monthly newsletter. Each issue delivers the latest on groundbreaking faculty research, thought leadership, and more.

🔗 Subscribe today! bit.ly/3UgAtEe