BE Undergraduate Newsletter
Announcements
Internships and Job Training from Google: STEP & SWE coming to UCSC
If you are interested in a career in computer engineering - specifically one at Google - you're strongly encouraged to look into these programs!
Here are the links in the flyer below (you may not be able to click them from the image).
STEP Newsletter: https://rsvp.withgoogle.com/events/coe-c-step-swe-newsletter/forms/registration
Careers: https://careers.google.com/students
Slug Security - Embedded Security Competition 2024
Slug Security, UCSC's Cybersecurity Club, is looking for competitors for UCSC's 2024 MITRE eCTF team. Additional information on the Embedded Capture the Flag Competition can be found on MITRE's eCTF site. The competition is split into two phases, the design phase and the attack phase. The design phase is where the team will be building some embedded application on a microcontroller, while ensuring security requirements are met. The attack phase is where the team will be attacking other teams' designs to capture flags.
In the 2023 competition, UCSC's team secured 2nd place. Our eCTF 2023 blog post is available online and our previous codebase is public for anyone to view on GitHub.
If you are interested, please review the information document and apply at this Google Form (CruzID restricted) by December 1st, 2023.
For any questions please reach out to SlugSec@ucsc.edu or visit slugsec.ucsc.edu.
Scholarship Opportunity for Women in Engineering
The Applied Materials Momentum Fund
Applied Materials is now offering support for female identifying engineering students to help them overcome unexpected financial obstacles and to empower their educational careers in the form of three core grants:
1. Rapid-response emergency financial assistance
2. Bridge grants
3. Last Mile grants
Qualifying students may be eligible for all three grants!
Additionally, recipients of these grants and other interested parties are encouraged to consider internship opportunities with Applied Materials.
Check the application page to learn more about the scholarship funds.
Find out more about internships with Applied Materials here.
Bioprocessing Master's Program @ Berkley: Now Holding Info Sessions for Prospective Applicants
Graduates in biotechnology and related fields: Are you looking for a competitive, career-focused Masters program that will give you the skills you need to compete in the food science, pharmaceutical, and/or bioprocess industries? You need a program that provides hands-on, applicable training with relevant tools and equipment – the kind of training that will put you a cut above other candidates and give you the capacity to hit the ground running!
UCSC graduates are encouraged to apply to the UC Berkeley Master of Bioprocess Engineering Program. The 9-month program is focused on bioprocess fundamentals, advanced concepts, and hands-on training to give students career preparation and relevant experience with industry-standard equipment and methods. The program boasts alumni employed with such industry giants as Pfizer, LanzaTech, Sutro Biopharma, and other major players in the bioprocess industry.
See the attached flyer and check out their website for more information.
New Course for Game Developers With Game Industry Veteran
CMPM 123: Advanced Programming
Lecture:
Tuesday and Thursday 11:40am - 1:15pm in Thim Lecture Hall 1.
Course Overview:
CMPM 123, titled "Advanced Programming", is introduced as a revamped version of the previously offered CSE 111: Advanced Programming. Unlike its predecessor, this course is now an elective rather than a mandatory subject and welcomes students beyond the domain of CS:GD. The prerequisites for this course are either CSE 101 or CMPM 35.
Course Focus:
CMPM 123 covers an a more advanced introduction to C++ programming, specifically tailored for the gaming industry. Key subjects that will be covered include understanding the core classes used in making a game viable. Here's a tentative outline for the initial weeks:
- Introduction to the code framework for the course.
- Exploring image loading and data formats.
- Looking at class structures and building an efficient base class.
- Deciphering when to utilize the standard library and when to abstain.
- Strategies for scaling a build process.
The course will delve into intricate topics like assembly code, debugging techniques, and profiling, ensuring that students grasp not just the theoretical, but also the practical aspects of the programming world.
Instructor Profile:
The course is led by Mr. Graeme Devine, a renowned figure in the gaming industry with a prolific background spanning over four decades. Some of his accolades include:
- Co-founder of Trilobyte in the 1990s.
- Former Chairman of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA).
- Pioneer in early gaming with works dating back to the 1970s.
- Key contributor to iconic games such as 'The 7th Guest', 'Quake III Arena', and 'Halo Wars'.
- Founder of GRL Games, Santa Cruz, emphasizing innovative game titles for iOS and Mac platforms.
- One of the initial members at the mixed reality startup, Magic Leap.
Real-World Applications:
The teaching methodology prioritizes real-world applications, drawing from Mr. Devine's extensive industry experience. Students will engage in detailed case studies, such as the challenges faced during the building process of "Age of Empires 3". Such examples bring forth the complex decisions developers often encounter, such as the choice between revamping an existing system and adhering to impending deadlines.
Interested to know how these challenges were overcome? Join CMPM 123 to discover the intricacies of the gaming industry!
Lead by Design: New SlugWorks Course
Baskin Voices
BASKIN VOICES is a section of our website that includes quotes and interviews with the people who make up the staff and faculty of the Baskin School of Engineering. You will find the experiences of graduate students, instructors, administrators, facility staff, and many other amazing people who represent the backbone of our institution. Check it out!
Rocket Team at UCSC
Rocket Team is an aerospace engineering club that competes in NASA's annual University Student Launch Competition. This competition challenges our team to build a high powered rocket each year and launch it to a pre-designated altitude. Following our rocket's decent, we are also challenged to successfully execute a payload mission mirroring the type of challenges NASA faces with their own payload challenges.
We are looking for new members at Basking Engineering that can help us rank within the top universities in this intercollegiate competition.
Please direct any questions to rockets@ucsc.edu and JOIN OUR SLACK.
TechGuide: Find Scholarships For Your Journey in Tech
Online education is more accessible than ever. But, it can be pricey. Instead of piling on debt or drastic measures like a second mortgage, consider scholarships. They're out there if you take the time to look. This useful article has the scoop on where to find tech scholarships and how to apply! Follow this link to TechGuide.
STUDY STEM ABROAD!
Do you want a beautiful European vista in the background of your instagram profile photo?
Would you like the vibrant panorama of Honk Kong city lights behind you and your college friends?
What about the sun-kissed bays of Sydney, Australia on the other side of your laptop screen while you gain coveted technological training?
Or why not take a quick stroll down to THE GREAT PYRAMIDS OF GIZA, during your afternoon lunch break because no big deal, but you're studying mechanical engineering in Cairo?
That's right. It's STUDY ABROAD time!
You can gain UC Credit while studying STEM all over the world! So what are you waiting for?
Check out the UCEAP's Website. It's a really great opportunity to travel the world, meet new people, learn different perspectives, and make lasting, global connections.
Also, check out the upcoming Virtual Study Abroad Fair to see what it's all about!
MA in Statistics at Columbia University
Columbia University is offering a new Master of Arts in Statistics!
In an effort to prepare students for their success, the program provides a myriad of free student resources and academic support, from Math Refresher workshop and R Bootcamp in the Summer to career development workshops and the Peer Study Support during the entire academic year.
There will be six upcoming virtual MA in Statistics Information Sessions led by the Program Director and student support team starting October 27, 2023. These events are for students who want to learn more about the program, admission requirements, curriculum, student support and community, as well as scholarship opportunities.
Baskin Engineering Advising: Drop-In Hours Update
Dear BE students!
This message is to provide you with an update on our Advising Services. We will now be open for in-person drop-in advising one afternoon a week, on Thursdays!
Please view the following schedule for our availability and modality:
Monday:
9:30 - 11:30 am PA Google Chat
2:00 - 4:00 pm PA Google Chat & Staff Drop-in via Zoom
Tuesday:
9:30 - 11:30 am PA Google Chat
2:00 - 4:00 pm PA Google Chat & Staff Drop-in via Zoom
Wednesday:
9:30 - 11:30 am PA Google Chat & Staff Drop-in via Zoom
2:00 - 4:00 pm PA Google Chat & Staff Drop-in via Zoom
Thursday:
9:30 - 11:30 am PA Google Chat
2:00 - 4:00 pm In-person Staff Drop-in (no PA Google chat)
Friday:
9:30 - 11:30 am PA Google Chat
2:00 - 4:00 pm PA Google Chat & Staff Drop-in via Zoom
Please note that all Zoom Drop-ins will start as referrals from the PA Google chat!
Nov 8 Wiki-a-thon Supporting BIPOC Scientists
Bring your laptop and invite a friend to enjoy FREE PIZZA while participating in a great cause!
Wikipedia overwhelmingly recognizes the achievements of white people. Join us as we try to reverse this trend by adding and editing wikipedia pages for BIPOC scientists, engineers, and technologists.
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY- We will provide a list of scientists who don't yet have pages, as well as training on how to contribute to Wikipedia.
When: Wednesday, November 8th from 2-5pm. Come for the whole time or just an hour or two!
Where: E2-180 and zoom (link will be mailed out to people who register before the event)
Introducing SlugLoop: Revolutionize Your Campus Commute!
Ever found yourself stranded, waiting for a campus shuttle that's late or lost? Do you wish you had real-time updates on exactly when your ride is arriving? If so, SlugLoop, a new app from UC Santa Cruz, is here to transform your transit experience!
Born out of CruzHacks 2023, SlugLoop is a student-created app aimed at making transportation around the UC Santa Cruz campus more efficient and convenient. We've worked tirelessly since our beta phase, refining and enhancing features based on your feedback.
We're always eager for more suggestions on how we can improve. Your input will help us make SlugLoop an indispensable tool for all UC Santa Cruz students. Together, we can make campus transportation as seamless as possible.
Check us out at https://www.slugloop.tech. If you have any questions, suggestions, or bugs to report, don't hesitate to use our "Contact Us" form on the SlugLoop website. We're all ears and ready to make your commuting experience better!
Upgrade your campus commute today with SlugLoop!
Research Mentoring Internship Program
The Genomics Institute's Research Mentoring Internship (RMI) program is a research training program for UCSC undergraduates. RMI scholars receive hands-on experience performing wet-lab, computational, or faculty-directed research into the ethical, legal, and social implications of genomic research. Award recipients will also receive a $3,000 quarterly scholarship and professional development and networking opportunities. Application cycles occur twice a year in the fall (transfer students only) and spring. Visit the RMI website to learn more about the program and RMI sponsored workshops that are open to all students.
For more information, contact Alondra Figueroa Olivo at afigue30@ucsc.edu.
Black Staff and Faculty Organization (BSFO) Annual Scholarship
The University of California, Office of the President’s Black Staff and Faculty Organization (BSFO) is encouraging systemwide UC-enrolled African American students to apply for BSFO’s Annual Scholarship.
In these days and times, scholarships are used to help towards the astronomical costs of completing your educational goals and meeting daily expenses. BSFO recognizes the hard work, sacrifices, and dedication it takes to reach your educational goals. We provide a $1,000 scholarship annually to students to use towards items of your choosing and help lighten some of your financial obligations.
We want to hear from you, tell us a little about yourself, your passions, motivations, and examples of your persistence throughout your educational journey. Tell us about your academic achievements, professional goals, and scholastic endeavors. The Application process is simple, complete and submit UCOP’s BSFO Scholarship Application by December 31, 2023. You will not need to wait long to receive the funds, BSFO notifies selected students of their selection status by the end of January 2024 and funds are provided by the end of February 2024. Selected students will also have an opportunity to speak at BSFO's Scholarship Awards Ceremony that will be held in February 2024.
We look forward to receiving your application.
Info Sessions for Job Opportubnities at The Urban Institure
The Urban Institute’s 2023 Fall Recruitment Season is underway. There will be info sessions held regarding career opportunities within the Urban Institute’s Public Policy & Research centers.
• October 17th 3PM – 4PM ET
• October 19th 12PM – 1PM ET
• November 14th 12PM – 1PM ET
There will also be an information session focusing on early career opportunities in Urba’s Operational offices (Finance & Accounting, Human Resources, Communications, Contracts, Data Science):
• October 24th 12PM – 1PM ET
See the attached flyers. Check The Urban Institute website for more information.
Contact Jasmine Smith (JASmith@urban.org) for more details on the available opportunities and other pertinent information.
NSA Codebreaker Challenge 2023
NSA Codebreaker Challenge 2023
For the past three years, UC Santa Cruz has competed in the National Security Agency's Codebreaker competition and consistently secured a spot in the top 10 schools. The competition involves a series of challenges designed to build core cybersecurity skills such as cryptography, forensics, and reverse engineering. No prior experience is required for this competition and it is open to all. For more information, head over to the NSA Codebreaker Challenge site: https://nsa-codebreaker.org/home Resources are also available on that page. Please note that even though you are competing for the school's ranking, this is an individual competition. Collaboration with other competitors on the challenges is not allowed.
Why participate?
The NSA Codebreaker Challenge is a great opportunity to build cybersecurity skills, even for those that do not have any experience in the field. It's a great way to build experience and open the door to many opportunities in the cybersecurity field.
For those who are interested in career opportunities at the NSA, top performers in the NSA Codebreaker Challenge will stand out in the application process. In addition, they will receive swag and prizes from the NSA.
Getting Started
Currently, UC Santa Cruz sits in third place, but with your help, we can seize first place! Get started by heading to the NSA Codebreaker Challenge website https://nsa-codebreaker.org/home. Be sure to sign up with your UCSC email!
Questions?
Feel free to ask questions in the Slug Security Discord https://discord.gg/fbC4ey3DUr
UCSC Collegiate Cyber Defense Team Recruitment
UCSC Collegiate Cyber Defense Team Recruitment
UCSC is forming its Cyber Defense Team for the 2023-24 Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC) season. If you have expertise in writing tools, system hardening, Linux/Windows, or strong skills in writing & management, this is your chance to showcase your skills!
About the CCDC
The CCDC offers an immersive environment where teams defend and secure their networks from professional penetration testers. Beyond just defense, you'll also manage some business operations to ensure everything runs flawlessly. Details at the WRCCDC Official Website https://wrccdc.org/
Why Join?
This is more than just a competition. By participating, you will open doors to potential internships and job opportunities at big names like Microsoft, AWS, Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, and multiple defense companies.
Key Dates:
* Practice Rounds (Non-scoring):
* Invitational 1: November 4, 2023, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
* Invitational 2: December 2, 2023, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
* Official Competition:
* Qualifier: February 17, 2024, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
* Regional Finals: April 5-6, 2024, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
* Awards Ceremony: April 7, 2024, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Ready to be a part of UCSC's Cyber Defense Team? Apply now and start your path in cybersecurity!
Google Form: https://forms.gle/Rbk5bD2JJh1xigyM7
Questions?
Feel free to ask questions in the Slug Security Discord https://discord.gg/fbC4ey3DUr
Looking for Motivated Part Time Front End Devs and Software Engineers to join our AI EdTech Project
Hi,
About Us:
We are building a Career Mentorship platform powered by AI - you type in your career questions and we use AI to connect you to the right mentors who have the most similar past experience and struggles as you to answer them!
e.g. You are a Biology major trying to switch into Machine Learning? We will use AI to find you to the exact person who has already done that switch that you can ask questions to.
Our old website is here: https://pathfinder.fyi/ , we are pivoting our direction to revolving around an AI Search interface and much better social experience.
Team:
We are a small team of 8 that consists of mission driven designers, engineers, and students. We all work on this project part time to solve the challenge of exploring, choosing, and changing careers that we all faced personally. Our engineering team is lead by our co-founders who work at Google, Amazon, and Nvidia. We are currently applying for funding so there is potential to conversion to full time paid roles.
Why join us?
1. You will learn how to build real products in a software engineer environment (engineering best practices, working with cross-func teams, etc.)
2. We build and deploy new features rapidly, often giving you ownership and autonomy of the feature that you own. We iterate fast therefore you will learn more.
3. You get to learn from our co-founders who are all UCSC Alumni including Software Engineer and Machine Learning Engineers from Google, Amazon, Nvidia.
4. You will be exposed to everything that makes up a startup (product, marketing, engineering) and participate in system design of a Full Stack Application.
5. You will be exposed to building a LLM AI Application!!!! (VectorDB, Semantic Search, NLP, etc. are all super hot new in-demand skills being introduced to the industry
Open Roles:
We are looking for like-minded people to fill the following roles:
- Front End Engineer:
a. A product minded front end developer that will work very closely with our designers to build the User facing features that will be used by our users directly.
b. Good eye for design and ability to make product decisions.
c. Very comfortable with using HTML/CSS, React, and other modern JS frameworks
- Software Engineer (Full Stack):
a. We are looking for someone with strong App Development skills to be able to contribute to the entire stack (React, Node.js, Express, MongoDB) and pick up new skills/technology when needed.
b. Comfortable with Javascript
c. Past experiences with building Backend API Endpoints
d. Past experience working with DBs for applications (preferably noSQL)
If you’re interested, please email team@pathfinder.fyi with your resume and fill out this form first: https://forms.gle/Y2eAbuJrzfcW9iXR9
Apply to be a SlugLoop Developer!
Are you interested in building your resume and gaining project experience? Do you have experience with JavaScript? Apply to be a SlugLoop developer and join the team building a service for the entire UCSC community!
We're looking for students with a strong background in JavaScript and/or students who have taken CSE186 (Full Stack Web Development I) or a similar course.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to one of the current developers, Bill Zhang (jzhan411@ucsc.edu).
Apply online by Friday, October 20th! Selected applicants will be contacted for interview availability shortly after.
Friday Workshops at SlugWorks
GradPath: Find Your Grad School Mentor
Google Women in Tech Panel - ACM-W w/ Google
ACM-W w/ Google
❗️Google Women in Tech Panel❗️
Association for computing machinery- women is partnering with Google to provide a panel for you!
Our panel includes a software engineer, product manager, technical solutions engineer, and a quantitative analyst!
Google will provide snacks and merch too!
EVENT DETAILS:
Date = October 25
Time = 5:20-6:55
Location = Oakes Academy 105
Don’t miss out on this experience with Google engineers as you can ask them questions and hear their advice for students in their roles!
You must secure your spot with our registration form for an entry.
https://forms.gle/QKazFeaD2rfdgkwb8
More information is on this form as well.
If you would like to enjoy more events like this follow us on Instagram @acmw.ucsc or join our mailing list by emailing acmw.ucsc@gmail.com!
Ayanna Howard: Recorded Presentation
Thank you to all who came to the 10/11 Diverse Voices talk, "A Roboticist’s Story: How AI and Diversity of Thought Drive Innovation," featuring Ayanna Howard, accomplished roboticist, entrepreneur, and dean of The Ohio State University College of Engineering.
We hope you enjoyed Ayanna's talk. If you would like to rewatch or share Ayanna's talk, or if you were unable to attend, the recording is now available on our Baskin Engineering YouTube channel.
Events
Cyber Security Competition: International Capture the Flag
Event Date and Time: 12/02/2023 10:00 amEvent Location: N/A
The Women in Computuer Science (WiCS) chapter at UC Santa Barbara, The NSF AI Institute, and Shellphish hacking group present the International Capture the Flag hacking competition!
- The Shellphish iCTF is a multi-site, multi-team, challenge-based hacking competition in which a number of teams compete independently against each other. Teams do not attack each other, but operate independently to solve a set of challenges. Each challenge has a flag that can only be obtained by solving the challenge.
- This educational compeition is open to teams composed of high-school and undergraduate students. There will be two separate competitions for the two student levels, but the challenges will be the same. Each team cannot be composed of more than 10 people (but an institution can have multiple, non-colluding teams) and must have an associated, institution-affiliated instructor.
- Teams must register by November 24!
- Please see the iCTF website for a more detailed rundown of the competition.
- Register here.
- Contact ictf@shellphish.net for any questions about the competition.
Follow the ACTION NSF AI Institute Discord
BASKIN DAY is this Friday 10/27 – Join us!
Event Date and Time: 10/23/2023 9:23 amEvent Location: Baskin Engineering Courtyard
Baskin Day is an annual student-run event open to everyone, where we celebrate the achievements and community of students and faculty within the Jack Baskin School of Engineering. This annual event is a great way to meet new people who share your interests and just an all-around fun time! In addition to showcasing engineering research and student organizations, Baskin Day will also be hosting a recruiting fair and several fun activities, like an engineering-themed Jeopardy! game show.
Come check us out from 12 to 5 p.m. in the Baskin Courtyard on October 27th.
Wiki-a-thon for BIPOC Engineers and Scientists
Event Date and Time: 11/08/2023 1:00 pmEvent Location: Jack Baskin Engineering B2 180
Join us for an afternoon of creating and editing pages for BIPOC engineers, scientists, and technologists! Bring your laptop and a friend and enjoy some pizza while making a difference!
Wikipedia overwhelmingly recognizes the achievements of white people. This wiki-a-thon works to reverse this trend, highlighting the often overlooked accomplishments of BIPOC leaders in science and technology, and ensuring that the next generation can see role models who look like them.
NO EXPERIENCE NECESARY - We will provide a list of scientists who don't yet have pages, as well as training on how to contribute to Wikipedia.
Hosted by the UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute and the Jack Baskin School of Engineering. All are welcome!
UCSC Genomics Website.
Access Computing: Resources for Computer Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities
Event Date and Time: 10/16/2023 10:00 amEvent Location:
College and graduate students with disabilities can connect with mentors and professionals to learn about internships and other opportunities in computing fields through Access Computing.
Students do not need to be registered as disabled with their respective institutions in order to qualify for the the benefits offered through this program.
Learn how to earn your Bachelor's AND your CSE M.S. degree in just FIVE years! - CSE Grad Advising 4+1 Workshop
Event Date and Time: 11/01/2023 11:00 amEvent Location: Engineering 2, rm 180
The Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) department graduate advisors will be holding an informational workshop for students interested in the 4+1 program.
This workshop is open to all Baskin Engineering undergraduates!
RSVP at this link. Free Slug Goodie Bags for the first 25 students that RSVP!
Got questions? Send them to cse-gradadvising@ucsc.edu
Virtual Career & Internship Fair
Event Date and Time: 10/24/2023 10:00 amEvent Location: Online
Undergraduate and graduate students and recent alumni interested in pursuing careers in all industries are welcome to attend. Get the chance to meet recruiters from all industries/firms seeking to fill positions from a wide variety of company representatives and hiring managers looking to fill both internship, full-time, and part-time roles. Come take essential steps toward laying the foundation for your future career and potentially even land an interview!
Please register through Handshake HERE.