People
CSGSG Officers
All graduate students, Master’s and PhD, within the department of computer science or in the computer engineering program are automatically members of the CSGSG.
Elizabeth Palmieri
General Co-Chair
I am a third year PhD student advised by Yangfeng Ji researching natural language processing. My research interests include text summarization, news framing, and the intersection of the social sciences with computer science. I received my M.S. in computer science from UVA in 2022 and my B.A. in political science from Binghamton University in 2016. Before starting my PhD, I worked as a software engineer for WillowTree.
Maria Cardei
General Co-Chair
Hi, I’m Maria. I am a Computer Science Ph.D. student at the University of Virginia advised by Professor Afsaneh Doryab in the Human-AI Technology Lab. I graduated Cum Laude from the University of Florida in May of 2023 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering and a minor in Computer Science. My research interests include computational behavior modeling and AI for health.
Saket Upadhyay
CS Graduate Student Representative
I’m a Ph.D. candidate in the Computer Science department at the University of Virginia, working with Dr. Ashish Venkat. My research is all about diving into the nitty-gritty of software security using compiler-based methods.
I’m exploring how compilers can be leveraged to enforce security policies and how memory handling affects what happens at the hardware level and overall system security.
When I’m not tangled up in LLVM, you can find me cruising around on my motorcycle or on the hunt for the perfect cup of coffee.
Simantika Bhattacharjee Dristi
Leadership Co-Chair
Hi, I am Simantika. I am a PhD student in Computer Science at the University of Virginia (UVA), advised by Prof. Matthew B. Dwyer. My research lies at the intersection of software engineering and generative AI, with a focus on leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) to enhance the testing, evaluation, and reasoning capabilities of software systems.
I earned my B.Sc. in Computer Science and Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Before starting my PhD, I worked as a lecturer of Computer Science and Engineering at BRAC University, Dhaka.
Wenqian Ye
Mentoring Chair
I am a PhD candidate in Computer Science at University of Virginia, advised by Prof. Aidong Zhang. I am also fortunate to work closely with Prof. Henry Kautz. Previously, I received my M.S. in Computer Science at NYU Courant and my B.S. in Mathematics from UIUC, with minors in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.
My research mainly falls into the general domains of machine learning, with a focus on improving the robustness and generalizability of machine learning models. Lately, I am interested in the LLM alignment and Agentic AI.
Jaren Bresnick
Graduate Experience Co-Chair
Hey, I'm Jaren. I'm a first-year PhD student advised by Professor Aidong Zhang, working on temporal machine learning for healthcare. I also completed my undergraduate studies at UVA. In my free time, I enjoy playing and watching sports, as well as reading fantasy and science fiction novels.
Saleha Muzammil
Graduate Experience Co-Chair
I am a first-year CS PhD student researching on system security for AI agents under the supervision of Prof. Wajih Ul Hassan. I did my Bachelor’s from NUCES, Pakistan. Before starting my PhD, I worked as a software engineer in finance startups in Pakistan.
When I’m not working (or questioning my life choices), I am probably doing Ashtanga Yoga, swimming, or playing padel ( i am good at none).
Shreejeet Sahay
Graduate Experience Co-Chair
I am a Master’s student in Computer Science at the University of Virginia, where my thesis research focuses on the intersection of Large Language Models (LLMs), Graph Machine Learning, and Interpretability under the guidance of Dr. Jundong Li. I am also working as a Research Assistant under Dr. Kevin Skadron, developing AI-driven solutions to optimize GPU simulator configurations. Before joining UVA, I worked in the areas of data engineering and ETL/ELT development back in India. Deeply committed to the graduate student community, I served as the CSGSG Social Chair for 2025 and currently hold the role of Graduate Experience Chair for 2026. Outside of my academic pursuits, I enjoy reading fiction and non-fiction, writing stories and poems, watching TV series, and cooking.
Wish Shao
Graduate Experience Co-Chair
Hi, I’m Wish. I’m a CS PhD student at UVA, advised by Dr. Matheus V. X. Ferreira. My research interests lie in cryptographic proof systems and the security and economics of distributed systems. I graduated from the College of Charleston in 2025 and love fine art and backpacking. Before starting my PhD, I worked as a tour guide in Egypt.