Eli Kujawa

Year in School
Junior

Major
Math + CS

Research Interests
Programming Languages, Formal Methods, and Software Engineering Security and Privacy Theory and Algorithms

Research Mentor
Prof. Jeff Erickson

Research/Engagement Experience
My research the past year has focused on computational geometry. Last semester, I designed a simulation to enable visualization of morphs of a planar graph projected onto a sphere, to assist in a project aiming to generalize results on morphing planar graphs to their spherical projections--where morphing behaves a bit differently. The previous semester, I wrote a survey paper on geometric models of computation, where I identified, classified, and hierarchically organized models based on capabilities and limitations, and proved 2 original results. Though CS STARS, I lead organization of the SAIL Parent Track, was a project mentor for Girls Who Code, and assisted in events to provide information about UIUC to admitted students and their families. I also worked last year as a course assistant for CS 173 (and hope to do so again in the future, though I'm taking this semester off). Outside of the CS department, I worked last summer as a camp counselor and lab assistant for WYSE (Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering) camps, and am a member of the Illinois Geometry Lab Outreach Board, where we organize events exposing local students to the creative and fun aspects of mathematics.

Interests
Math (especially geometry!), theoretical computer science, physics, improving STEM education, weightlifting, drawing and painting, cooking, baking

Project Title
SphereMorph

How did I get interested in Computer Science?
I first became interested in computer science due to the applications of math in the field, as I've always been pretty enamored with math. I grew to love the problem solving aspects of programming and the creativity it affords. I also grew fascinated with the whole new fields of math opened up by computer science, and the math behind the scenes when a computer is operating at any given moment. I additionally find it so thrilling to use computer science tools to facilitate mathematical exploration and break through barriers of human capability (proving the 4-color theorem, for example!).

What social interests matter to me?
Empowering women, nonbinary and transgender individuals to pursue STEM; LGBTQ rights; gender equality; improving STEM education and curriculum and making STEM more accessible

What is my most impactful college experience?
My most impactful college experience occurred in a group project which entailed fulfilling a client's vision. My group, after many hours of research, determined it would be unethical to fulfill the client's request as he desired, as it would result in spreading misinformation. We brought this to our client's attention, but he insisted we were to go ahead with the project as initially intended anyway. My group and I had to fulfill the client's request while maintaining ethical research and design practices, which proved quite challenging. I found this experience very impactful, as it taught me how to deal with difficult clients and unethical requests while maintaining high moral standards, and still get the job done as required.

These are a few of my favorite things!
Math, visual art, weightlifting, baking and cooking, chess, teaching, small-venue concerts and house shows, trains, spending time with friends, programming, physics

Research Description
My research aims to determine whether a representation of a graph on a sphere can be transformed to another through continuous morphs. I am creating an interactive simulation using Python to assist with visualizing this problem.

Biography
---Biography (share some information about yourself i.e. where you grew up--- I'm a junior studying Math and Computer Science, and minoring in Physics. I grew up on the far southwest side of Chicago, and explored all over the city via public transportation. As a transgender student who has been interested in STEM for most of my life, I've faced hostility from both ends of the gender spectrum, both in the classroom and out. This has made it vital for me, as I pursue my passions, to work towards ensuring no girl, transgender child, or LGBTQ individual feels discouraged from pursuing their passions on the basis of their identity. In my free time, I can commonly be found at the gym, lifting and practicing calisthenics skills, or at home, exercising creativity through painting, cooking, or baking.