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Computer science graduate student receives Griffith Fellowship

April 19, 2022 - by Kim Delker

photo: Vanessa Job
Vanessa Job

Vanessa Job, a Ph.D. student in the UNM Department of Computer Science, has been selected as a Charles Griffith Graduate Fellow in Science and Technology by UNM Graduate Studies.

The Griffith Fellowship is reserved for UNM doctoral students in STEM programs and can be used for tuition and associated expenses to support research activities. Fellows are nominated by a department and subsequently selected by a subcommittee of UNM’s Faculty Senate. Selection is based partially on academic achievement.

Job is researching machine learning with advisor Trilce Estrada. She began her academic journey at Emory University, where she earned both a bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics and a master’s degree in computer science, both in the 1980s. She then moved on to the University of Illinois to earn her first Ph.D., this one in mathematics.

After earning her degree, she held a variety of jobs, such as an associate professor of mathematics and computer science and department chair at Marymount University in Virginia and working in industry, then decided to update her skillset at UNM. Since 2018, she has been a graduate research assistant at Ultrascale Systems Research Center in Santa Fe.

Job was the graduate student speaker at the spring 2020 School of Engineering Convocation ceremony, held virtually.