Computer Science

Engineering an AI-ready future

Hanna Nordwall — Thu, 21 May 2026 17:51:26 +0000

Engineering an AI-ready future Hanna Nordwall Thu, 05/21/2026 - 11:51

Caitlin Rockett

С�� Engineering strives for an intentional approach to incorporating AI in its research and teaching mission

When it comes to engaging with artificial intelligence in education, С�� Engineering is “unique,” said Sriram Sankaranarayanan, associate dean and professor of computer science. His Office of Digital Education places “a lot of focus” on how his colleagues incorporate AI into curricula.

“If the future requires students to be good at using AI and also good engineers,” he said, “then we train students to be strong in both.”

Across the college, PhD students use AI to build interactive diagrams from static textbooks, researchers study its biases and costs, and students are enrolling in a new professional master’s program focused on AI. Faculty have created space to help one another learn about AI, while others encourage students to use it to refine papers and iterate ideas.

Illustration by Hanna Nordwall

The why of AI in the classroom

Diane Sieber, an associate professor in the Herbst Program for Engineering, Ethics and Society, runs the Generative Futures Lab, an informal space where faculty, staff and students can explore AI. She developed a framework to help instructors decide what level of AI use is appropriate for different assignments.

“We even made icons for syllabi, ranging from ‘full AI use encouraged’ to ‘AI use restricted,’ with explanations for each,” Sieber said.

Alvaro Velasquez, assistant professor of computer science, has already seen the benefits of AI in graduate-student writing. “They write the paper, and by iterating with AI, they refine it to a point where it’s actually very, very well written,” he said.

For students with AI anxiety, Sankaranarayanan asks they “treat this as a challenge.”

“Try to gain expertise beyond what AI can replace,” he says. “Think broadly about opportunities and the skills you need to thrive, so you don’t feel victimized by a changing technological landscape.”

Making STEM accessible through AI

“I have a very bullish idea of what AI can do and how it can help us. I understand why people are cautious, but universities are supposed to look at the long arc of history.”

— Daniel Acuña

Many faculty see AI as a tool for broadening access to STEM education. Velasquez believes AI could eventually help close gender and socioeconomic gaps by functioning as a personalized tutor.

To that end, ATLAS Institute Assistant Professor Ryo Suzuki is developing tools such as Augmented Physics, which uses AI alongside augmented and virtual reality to turn static textbook diagrams into interactive simulations.

“Now, imagine if AI could not only respond in text but also generate animated explanations in real time, going beyond text to make learning engaging, visual and playful,” Suzuki said.

Thomas Breideband, associate director of the NSF National AI Institute for Student- AI Teaming, works with an interdisciplinary community of researchers to study how AI can support collaboration in learning environments — particularly in middle and high school, where STEM participation gaps often emerge.

“Collaboration is a critical 21st-century skill, but it is very rarely explicitly practiced,” Breideband said. He and his colleagues are currently working with schools to integrate AI-enhanced curriculum units in classrooms.

AI in the lab

Researchers also interrogate AI. In Associate Professor Daniel Acuña’s lab, his team uses AI techniques to study how large language models absorb “prestige bias” from language used to describe scientific research.

“Instead of saying, ‘scientists found X,’ journalists say, ‘Harvard scientists found X,’” Acuña said. Because LLMs learn from that same data, Acuña hopes his work can help highlight — and eventually correct — those patterns.

Velasquez is tackling another challenge: AI’s immense computational cost. His research on neurosymbolic AI seeks to end “gatekeeping” and "monopolization" in AI.

“When it comes to natural language generation, it comes at a tremendous cost,” Velasquez said. “The neurosymbolic AI community has seen cases where we can use 100,000 to a million times less data.”

New AI degree program

The newly launched Professional Master’s in Artificial Intelligence merges technical skills with ethical considerations.

“If one of our graduates is hired by a company like Walmart, they should be able to analyze consumer data to decide what products to buy and how to manage inventory,” Sankaranarayanan said. “But they should also be able to say, ‘This approach preserves privacy, complies with regulations and is ethically sound.’”

The online degree option through Coursera is up and running, while the on-campus version begins in fall 2026.

Educators agree that they must be intentional in their approach to teaching AI.

“Technology has a very mixed record,” said Sankaranarayanan. “People fear losing jobs, and that is a valid fear, but it doesn’t have to go that way. That’s where education becomes extremely important.”

С�� Engineering strives for an intentional approach to incorporating AI in its research and teaching missions

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Cyber team reaches national cyber defense competition after first place regional finish

Charles Ferrer — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:50:33 +0000

Cyber team reaches national cyber defense competition after first place regional finish Charles Ferrer Wed, 04/01/2026 - 10:50

A team of computer science students earned first place at the 2026 Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, marking the team’s first time qualifying for its national cyber defense competition.

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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 С�� Boulder 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 С�� Boulder 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 С��. 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), Boulder 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 С�� 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 С�� Boulder. 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 (MCompSci'92)

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

Gregory Greenstreet (MCompSci'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 С�� 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 Boulder 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 С�� 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 Boulder in Four Mile Canyon with his wife Anne, their daughter Adeline and son Elan. His older daughter Tamar currently attends С�� 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 С�� Boulder 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 Boulder, 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 С�� Boulder 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 С�� Boulder, 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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С�� Boulder students win big at collegiate hydropower competition

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

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

The С�� 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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Computer Science

Engineering an AI-ready future

The why of AI in the classroom

Making STEM accessible through AI

AI in the lab

New AI degree program

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Cyber team reaches national cyber defense competition after first place regional finish

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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 (MCompSci'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

Off

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

Off

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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С���� Boulder students win big at collegiate hydropower competition

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С�� Boulder students win big at collegiate hydropower competition