1. 1 of 14 What’s at the End of the Rainbow? A Pot of Golden Research Ann Gordon-Ross Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Florida, Gainesville

2. 2 of 15 About me …. PhD in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of California, Riverside in 2007 Undergraduate and graduate experiences have lead me to an academic position –Undergraduate research opportunities –Grader for many, many years –Had a job offer after BS, but desired not to “leave the student lifestyle” –Taught a programming course for 3 ½ years during graduate school –Graduate student life is great! –Excellent mentor and advisor! This is the most important choice you will make!!

3. 3 of 15 Graduate School ≠ Academic Position In today’s job market, you need higher education –Highly competitive, set yourself apart –Lack of advanced degree limits progress MS degree –More hirable, likely a better position –Higher starting pay (but some argue that the raises over those two years nullify the higher starting pay) –Many non-thesis students, so thesis option sets you apart PhD –Large change to future job description – You come up with the ideas instead of implementing another’s ideas

4. 4 of 15 Trials as a Woman in ECE For me? None, but….. More challenging for women –Inappropriate stereotypes –Potentially a lack of family support –Prejudice from other students –Feelings of inadequacy How to cope? –Join organizations and be involved WECE – Women in Electrical and Computer Engineering SWE – Society of Women Engineers Phi Sigma Rho - National Society for Women in Engineering and Engineering Technology

5. 5 of 15 Does Luck Have It? YES!!!! Being a women almost “stacks the deck” for you Take advantage of luck, but don’t rely on it!!!! –More opportunities Specific funding opportunities Special programs Increased peer support Targeted recruitment But luck will only get your so far –Success always requires hard work!

6. 6 of 15 Research Opportunities…. What is CHREC?

7. 7 of 15

8. 8 of 15 8 What is CHREC? CHREC –Unique US national research center in RC field, established Jan’07 –Leading research groups in RC for HPC/HPEC @ 4 major universities University of Florida (lead) Brigham Young University George Washington University Virginia Tech Under auspices of I/UCRC Program at NSF –Industry/University Cooperative Research Center CHREC reviews & growth among best of any NSF Center on record –CHREC is both a National Center and a Research Consortium University groups serve as research base (faculty, students, staff) Industry & government organizations are research partners, sponsors, collaborators, advisory board, & technology-transfer recipients

9. 9 of 15 Reconfigurable Computing ?

10. 10 of 15 10 From Satellites to Supercomputers! 10-100x speedups with 2-10x energy savings not uncommon vs. FMC Reconfigurable Computing RC: Application-oriented, software-controlled, hardware-adaptive computing

11. 11 of 15 More Research Opportunities….

12. 12 of 15 12 Power-Constrained Domains Embedded Systems Domain –Increased battery life –Decreased cooling requirements

13. 13 of 15 Dynamic Optimizations

14. 14 of 15 14 Dynamic Optimizations Benefits No user effort –User doesn’t know what dynamic optimizations are No application-designer effort –Reduced time to market –Reduced NRE costs System reacts to changing environment –Changes in input stimulus –Changes in software/firmware Reduced power consumption –Longer battery life –Reduced cooling requirements

15. 15 of 15 Questions??