Summer Undergraduate Research Experience 2012

The Computer Science Department is pleased to invite undergraduate student applications for a short research internship during the 2012/2013 summer vacation.

We will accept approximately 12 undergraduate students who: are interested in these areas; want to learn more about the research process; want to do some interesting Computer Science work over their vacation; add to the experience on their CVs; etc.  Each student will be paid a nominal stipend of R2900.

The internship has 5 elements:

(a) Workshop
There will be a day-long workshop immediately after the November 2012 exams are completed at UCT to provide foundation information in different areas of computing that are fundamental for conducting research.  Topics for the workshop include: research techniques in CS; research writing; and the research process in general.

(b) Project
You will be expected to work for at least 35 hours on a research project during the summer vacation - the timing is flexible and you do not need to be in Cape Town but you will need to communicate by email.  Topics for the research projects will be specified by the following staff in the following areas:

James Gain: Computer Graphics; Touch-based Interaction Design; High Performance Computing; Computer Games; Mobile Computing

Michelle Kuttel: Relative performance of parallel computing methodologies; Interface Design; Scientific Visualization; Computational Astronomy; Genetic Algorithms

Hussein Suleman: Digital Libraries; Internet Technology; Search Engine Design; Information Management; Cultural Heritage Preservation

(c) Report
You will write a short technical report on your project when it is complete.  This must be completed before the commencement of lectures for 2013, preferably earlier.

(d) SAICSIT Conference
If you have completed the report satisfactorily, you will be invited to attend the annual Computer Science research conference - SAICSIT 2013 in September/October.  It is being organised by Rhodes University in 2013 so will probably be held somewhere near Grahamstown.  This is a 3 day event and all travel/registration/accommodation costs will be covered by the SURE project.

(e) Open Evening
You will participate in the departmental open evening event by presenting a poster on your work.  We will provide lots of advice and support to make this as simple as possible.

Rules:

• You must have done CS1 or CS2 or CS3 in 2012.
• You MUST be a CS major, intending to eventually do Honours.
  
• You need to apply by filling out and returning the following survey to Hussein Suleman (hussein@cs.uct.ac.za) by 2 November 2012.
• The criteria are academic record and aptitude/alignment with the research area.  As a rough guide for academic record, you should have scored at least: 70% in 1016; or 65% in CSC2002; or 60% in CSC3003.
  
• Students from previously disadvantaged groups (SA female and Black students) are especially encouraged to apply and will be given preference.
  

Survey

Full Name: [                             ]
Preferred Email address: [                                ]
Student Number: [         ]
CS course completed in 2012 : (1/2/3) [ ]
Shirt size (if we make t-shirts): (S/M/L/XL) [  ]
Project Supervisor: (James Gain/Michelle Kuttel/Hussein Suleman) [                                 ]

Other (voluntary/paid) work planned for 2012/2013 summer break:
Dates when you expect to be in Cape Town in Nov/Dec/Jan/Feb:

Note: This is an aptitude and alignment survey - there are no right answers!

1. Why are you applying for this internship?
2. How will you ensure that 50 years later you will still be able to read the electronic documents you are producing today?
3. Should we develop specific software systems for Africa? Justify your answer.
4. If you are hired to improve on or redesign Google's basic search service, what will you focus on?
5. If you are hired as Steve Jobs' replacement, how would you improve on the iPad design?
   
6. What do you think is the biggest problem with software systems today?
7. Is free software and free information sustainable? Justify your answer.