Jon Ullman
@thejonullman.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Computer Science at Northeastern University in Boston. Dad. Imposter.
Huge congratulations to my student Konstantina Bairaktari for defending her thesis on Monday!🍾🥳🎊
I'm kinda jealous that Konstantina is headed to Aarhus to do a postdoc with the amazing @kasperglarsen.bsky.social. I can't wait to see what she does next!
I'm kinda jealous that Konstantina is headed to Aarhus to do a postdoc with the amazing @kasperglarsen.bsky.social. I can't wait to see what she does next!
November 6, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Huge congratulations to my student Konstantina Bairaktari for defending her thesis on Monday!🍾🥳🎊
I'm kinda jealous that Konstantina is headed to Aarhus to do a postdoc with the amazing @kasperglarsen.bsky.social. I can't wait to see what she does next!
I'm kinda jealous that Konstantina is headed to Aarhus to do a postdoc with the amazing @kasperglarsen.bsky.social. I can't wait to see what she does next!
Reposted by Jon Ullman
Announcing (w @adamsmith.xyz @thejonullman.bsky.social) the 2025 edition of the Foundations of Responsible Computing Job Market Profiles!
Check out 40 job market candidates in mathematical research in computation and society writ large!
Link:
drive.google.com/file/d/1zvsr...
Check out 40 job market candidates in mathematical research in computation and society writ large!
Link:
drive.google.com/file/d/1zvsr...
October 20, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Announcing (w @adamsmith.xyz @thejonullman.bsky.social) the 2025 edition of the Foundations of Responsible Computing Job Market Profiles!
Check out 40 job market candidates in mathematical research in computation and society writ large!
Link:
drive.google.com/file/d/1zvsr...
Check out 40 job market candidates in mathematical research in computation and society writ large!
Link:
drive.google.com/file/d/1zvsr...
📢Adam Smith, @gautamkamath.com, and I are putting together a list of job market candidates in Foundations of Responsible Computing! Last year's list was a great success so we're keeping it going!
If you want to be included, or nominate someone, see link in the replies!
If you want to be included, or nominate someone, see link in the replies!
September 15, 2025 at 12:41 PM
📢Adam Smith, @gautamkamath.com, and I are putting together a list of job market candidates in Foundations of Responsible Computing! Last year's list was a great success so we're keeping it going!
If you want to be included, or nominate someone, see link in the replies!
If you want to be included, or nominate someone, see link in the replies!
🚨 I am co-chairing ALT 2026 this year with Matus Telgarsky. The submission server is open so please submit your best work!
Deadline: Oct 2, 2025 AoE
Confernece: Feb 23-26, 2026 in Toronto!
Website: algorithmiclearningtheory.org/alt2026/
Deadline: Oct 2, 2025 AoE
Confernece: Feb 23-26, 2026 in Toronto!
Website: algorithmiclearningtheory.org/alt2026/
ALT 2026 | ALT 2026 Homepage
The 37th International Conference on Algorithmic Learning Theory
algorithmiclearningtheory.org
September 4, 2025 at 7:01 PM
🚨 I am co-chairing ALT 2026 this year with Matus Telgarsky. The submission server is open so please submit your best work!
Deadline: Oct 2, 2025 AoE
Confernece: Feb 23-26, 2026 in Toronto!
Website: algorithmiclearningtheory.org/alt2026/
Deadline: Oct 2, 2025 AoE
Confernece: Feb 23-26, 2026 in Toronto!
Website: algorithmiclearningtheory.org/alt2026/
In their defense, I don't remember what my contribution was either 🤷
March 26, 2025 at 7:36 PM
In their defense, I don't remember what my contribution was either 🤷
Reposted by Jon Ullman
Another thought-provoking* talk by @thejonullman.bsky.social at the #EnCOREPrivacy25 workshop, on auditing differentially private algorithms by designing membership inference attacks(and why we should, and how).
encoredp.github.io
*The thoughts! They were provoked!
encoredp.github.io
*The thoughts! They were provoked!
January 9, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Another thought-provoking* talk by @thejonullman.bsky.social at the #EnCOREPrivacy25 workshop, on auditing differentially private algorithms by designing membership inference attacks(and why we should, and how).
encoredp.github.io
*The thoughts! They were provoked!
encoredp.github.io
*The thoughts! They were provoked!
Reposted by Jon Ullman
With @adamsmith.xyz and @thejonullman.bsky.social, we have compiled a set of profiles of 29 people in the "foundations of responsible computing" community ("mathematical research in computation and society writ large") who are on the faculty job market.
Link: drive.google.com/file/d/1Hyvg... 1/3
Link: drive.google.com/file/d/1Hyvg... 1/3
December 24, 2024 at 7:50 PM
With @adamsmith.xyz and @thejonullman.bsky.social, we have compiled a set of profiles of 29 people in the "foundations of responsible computing" community ("mathematical research in computation and society writ large") who are on the faculty job market.
Link: drive.google.com/file/d/1Hyvg... 1/3
Link: drive.google.com/file/d/1Hyvg... 1/3
Adam Smith, @gautamkamath.com, and I compiled this list of FORC Job Market Profiles---faculty candidates who work in the foundations of computing and society, broadly defined. There are 29 awesome candidates for you to check out!
drive.google.com/file/d/1Hyvg...
drive.google.com/file/d/1Hyvg...
FORC Job Market Profiles 2024.pdf
drive.google.com
December 24, 2024 at 7:36 PM
Adam Smith, @gautamkamath.com, and I compiled this list of FORC Job Market Profiles---faculty candidates who work in the foundations of computing and society, broadly defined. There are 29 awesome candidates for you to check out!
drive.google.com/file/d/1Hyvg...
drive.google.com/file/d/1Hyvg...
Reposted by Jon Ullman
i recently gave a talk about questions like this at a workshop organized by the amazing "learning theory alliance" (let-all.com), and several students reached out to tell me how much my talk resonated with them.
link to the slides here:
docs.google.com/presentation...
link to the slides here:
docs.google.com/presentation...
let-all-gergo
Research styles: “fast” or “slow”? Some thoughts by Gergely Neu
docs.google.com
December 17, 2024 at 12:19 PM
i recently gave a talk about questions like this at a workshop organized by the amazing "learning theory alliance" (let-all.com), and several students reached out to tell me how much my talk resonated with them.
link to the slides here:
docs.google.com/presentation...
link to the slides here:
docs.google.com/presentation...
I received a splashy email announcing our new dept website www.khoury.northeastern.edu
Perfect microcosm of NEU: very slick, but doesn't accurately list members of each research area, even though faculty said this was a top priority.
This is what an administrator-driven university looks like.
Perfect microcosm of NEU: very slick, but doesn't accurately list members of each research area, even though faculty said this was a top priority.
This is what an administrator-driven university looks like.
Home - Khoury College of Computer Sciences
Explore cutting-edge computer science programs at Khoury College. Empower your future with innovative education and research opportunities.
www.khoury.northeastern.edu
December 17, 2024 at 4:18 PM
I received a splashy email announcing our new dept website www.khoury.northeastern.edu
Perfect microcosm of NEU: very slick, but doesn't accurately list members of each research area, even though faculty said this was a top priority.
This is what an administrator-driven university looks like.
Perfect microcosm of NEU: very slick, but doesn't accurately list members of each research area, even though faculty said this was a top priority.
This is what an administrator-driven university looks like.
Reposted by Jon Ullman
Postdoc positions @ EPFL (soft deadline Jan 20) available in vibrant theory group that covers complexity, quantum, algorithms, theory of ML ... and includes faculty E. Abbe, A. Chiesa, F. Eisenbrand, M. Göös, M. Kapralov, O. Svensson, and last but not least T. Vidick.
go.epfl.ch/theory-postdoc
go.epfl.ch/theory-postdoc
Postdoctoral position in the Theory Group
Postdoctoral position in the Theory Group
go.epfl.ch
December 17, 2024 at 8:18 AM
Postdoc positions @ EPFL (soft deadline Jan 20) available in vibrant theory group that covers complexity, quantum, algorithms, theory of ML ... and includes faculty E. Abbe, A. Chiesa, F. Eisenbrand, M. Göös, M. Kapralov, O. Svensson, and last but not least T. Vidick.
go.epfl.ch/theory-postdoc
go.epfl.ch/theory-postdoc
Reposted by Jon Ullman
Interested in a post-doc position in theoretical computer science? Want to find out why they call it "Wonderful Copenhagen"? Look here! Application deadline January 10. Hiring in multiple areas including geometry, complexity, learning, and privacy.
jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabeli...
jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabeli...
Postdoctoral positions in Theoretical Computer Science
jobportal.ku.dk
December 13, 2024 at 8:42 AM
Interested in a post-doc position in theoretical computer science? Want to find out why they call it "Wonderful Copenhagen"? Look here! Application deadline January 10. Hiring in multiple areas including geometry, complexity, learning, and privacy.
jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabeli...
jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabeli...
Reposted by Jon Ullman
I’ll be at #NeurIPS2024 this week! Looking forward to presenting my joint work with Thomas Steinke(@stein.ke) and Jon Ullman(@thejonullman.bsky.social)
NeurIPS page with video: neurips.cc/virtual/2024...
Link to arxiv: arxiv.org/abs/2406.07407
NeurIPS page with video: neurips.cc/virtual/2024...
Link to arxiv: arxiv.org/abs/2406.07407
December 11, 2024 at 12:22 PM
I’ll be at #NeurIPS2024 this week! Looking forward to presenting my joint work with Thomas Steinke(@stein.ke) and Jon Ullman(@thejonullman.bsky.social)
NeurIPS page with video: neurips.cc/virtual/2024...
Link to arxiv: arxiv.org/abs/2406.07407
NeurIPS page with video: neurips.cc/virtual/2024...
Link to arxiv: arxiv.org/abs/2406.07407
Is there a more pointless criticism than "this paper doesn't have a conclusion section" to put in a review?
December 10, 2024 at 2:26 PM
Is there a more pointless criticism than "this paper doesn't have a conclusion section" to put in a review?
My personal experience is that I spent a year outside of academia before my PhD precisely so that I could experience the boundaries of a 40hr week and not be preoccupied with work I could be doing. I was just as preoccupied, so I figured I should at least be preoccupied with something of value.
Academia is where you work 60 hours a week to avoid working 40 hours a week
December 5, 2024 at 1:44 PM
My personal experience is that I spent a year outside of academia before my PhD precisely so that I could experience the boundaries of a 40hr week and not be preoccupied with work I could be doing. I was just as preoccupied, so I figured I should at least be preoccupied with something of value.
Charles River Privacy Day 2024 was a great success! Thanks to all the awesome speakers @thegautamkamath.bsky.social, @jalajupadhyay.bsky.social, Priyanka Nanayakkara, and Ginger Smith!
Also thanks to Mahdi Haghifam for organizing!
Also thanks to Mahdi Haghifam for organizing!
November 25, 2024 at 1:55 PM
Charles River Privacy Day 2024 was a great success! Thanks to all the awesome speakers @thegautamkamath.bsky.social, @jalajupadhyay.bsky.social, Priyanka Nanayakkara, and Ginger Smith!
Also thanks to Mahdi Haghifam for organizing!
Also thanks to Mahdi Haghifam for organizing!
What bothers me about terms like "compute" isn't really the abuse of language, but the way some communities create a constant stream of shibboleths to keep up with that act like a membership fee for the club.
I know this ship has long sailed, but am I the only one to find the use of "compute" as a noun so off-putting?
November 23, 2024 at 4:38 PM
What bothers me about terms like "compute" isn't really the abuse of language, but the way some communities create a constant stream of shibboleths to keep up with that act like a membership fee for the club.
I'm sure this varies, but when I applied for tenure I had to submit a 1000-page dossier with every paper I'd published, every grant proposal I'd submitted, every teaching evaluation, and supportive evidence for every service role I claimed I had. Would have been nice if I'd kept a folder 😬
What should one keep in a tenure folder and how does everyone organize it?
November 21, 2024 at 3:55 PM
I'm sure this varies, but when I applied for tenure I had to submit a 1000-page dossier with every paper I'd published, every grant proposal I'd submitted, every teaching evaluation, and supportive evidence for every service role I claimed I had. Would have been nice if I'd kept a folder 😬
Really good advice, for life as junior faculty, and basically everything else.
I wrote a Part IV postscript to my job market blog post to add what I've learned as faculty.
TL;DR: No one is out to get you. For anything not going your way, it's probably due to people being busy or bureaucracy. And there are probably people working very hard for you behind the scenes regardless.
TL;DR: No one is out to get you. For anything not going your way, it's probably due to people being busy or bureaucracy. And there are probably people working very hard for you behind the scenes regardless.
The Job Market (Parts I, II, III, & IV)
www.kiragoldner.com
November 19, 2024 at 2:21 PM
Really good advice, for life as junior faculty, and basically everything else.
This is a really fantastic act of service to the community that we happily aped for the FORC community. Thanks Vasilis!
This year’s SIGecom job market candidate profiles are now available. Please share the following link with anyone you think may be interested in hiring from our community in either postdoctoral or faculty positions: www.cs.drexel.edu/~vg399/SIGec...
www.cs.drexel.edu
November 18, 2024 at 1:30 PM
This is a really fantastic act of service to the community that we happily aped for the FORC community. Thanks Vasilis!
With production values and colleagues like these, how can you not want to come to UMich CSE?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h3q...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h3q...
Inside CSE's Theory of Computation Lab
YouTube video by U-M Computer Science and Engineering
www.youtube.com
November 18, 2024 at 1:23 PM
With production values and colleagues like these, how can you not want to come to UMich CSE?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h3q...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h3q...
📣 We're putting together a list of job market candidates in Foundations of Responsible Computing! This is inspired by the awesome lists for AGT maintained by @gkatzelis.bsky.social! If you're interested in being included, or want to nominate someone, use this form!
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
FORC Job List 2024-2025
If you would like to be included in the "FORC" job list for graduating PhDs, postdocs and other junior researchers, or if you would like to nominate someone, fill out the form below. The intention is ...
docs.google.com
November 18, 2024 at 1:20 PM
📣 We're putting together a list of job market candidates in Foundations of Responsible Computing! This is inspired by the awesome lists for AGT maintained by @gkatzelis.bsky.social! If you're interested in being included, or want to nominate someone, use this form!
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
I've noticed a split between people who primarily think of themselves as working in academia the concept vs. people who think of themselves as working for the university per se. Life is a balance, but I prefer the former.
Turns out this has a (grandiose) name!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_P...
Turns out this has a (grandiose) name!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_P...
Jerry Pournelle - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 14, 2024 at 3:02 PM
I've noticed a split between people who primarily think of themselves as working in academia the concept vs. people who think of themselves as working for the university per se. Life is a balance, but I prefer the former.
Turns out this has a (grandiose) name!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_P...
Turns out this has a (grandiose) name!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_P...
Reposted by Jon Ullman
I don't know if this is any different, but I made it into a "starter pack" in case that's helpful: go.bsky.app/6A6GRSi
November 10, 2024 at 5:39 PM
I don't know if this is any different, but I made it into a "starter pack" in case that's helpful: go.bsky.app/6A6GRSi
Reposted by Jon Ullman