Laure Thompson

I'm a first year Computer Science PhD student at Cornell. My research interests are in programming languages and theoretical security.

I am currently working with Nate Foster and Dexter Kozen.

I received my BS in Computer Science and my BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington in June 2013. While there, I did research with Michael Ernst and Steve Seitz.

I have done internships at Google (2012) and Microsoft (2011).

I am the recipient of a Cornell University Fellowship.

I am interested in programming languages and theoretical security, with a particular interest in the intersection between theory and application. I am currently working with Nate Foster and Dexter Kozen. As an undergraduate, I had the opportunity to work on two different research projects. I have worked with Michael Ernst as part of the Programming Languages and Software Engineering (PLSE) group and with Steve Seitz and Ira Kemelmacher-Shlizermanas part of the Graphics and Imaging Lab (GRAIL).

Research Projects

NetKAT (Ongoing)
NetKAT is a programming language for networks that is based on a solid mathematical foundation. NetKAT is an instance of a Kleene algebra with tests (KAT).

Daikon (10/10-6/11)
For a year, I worked directly with Michael Ernst on Daikon, a dynamic invariant detector, which uses machine learning to determine likely program invariants. I primarily worked with Chicory, Daikon's Java frontend, which creates traces for Java program executions. In my project, I enhanced Chicory so that is could accomodate pure methods with arguments. Prior to my work, Chicory only had the functionality to include pure methods with zero parameters.

Using the Xbox Kinect for 3D Face Modeling in Real-Time (3/12-6/12)
For a quarter, I worked with Steve Seitz and Ira Kemelmacher-Shlizerman on using the Xbox Kinect for creating 3D face models in real-time. I explored using KinectFusion's 3D reconstruction techniques to create 3D face models in real-time. I primarily worked with the Point Cloud Library's open source implementation of KinectFusion.

Teaching Assistantships

CSE331: Software Design and Implementation (Winter 2012)
Instructor: Hal Perkins

CSE401: Introduction to Compiler Construction (Winter 2013)
Instructor: Michael Ringenburg

Graduate Coursework

Analysis of Algorithms (CS 6820): Fall 2013, instructor Robert Kleinberg
Language-Based Security (CS 6820): Fall 2013, instructor Andrew Myers
Programming Languages (CSE 505): Fall 2012, instructor Dan Grossman

Sample of Undergraduate Coursework

Reading in Model Checking (CSE 499): Fall 2012, instructor: Paul Beame
Axiomatic Set Theory (PHIL 472): Fall 2012
Topics in Number Theory (MATH 480B): Spring 2012
Digital Signals & Filtering Capstone Sequence (EE 442/443): Winter/Spring 2012
Internet Services Capstone (CSE 454): Winter 2012
Compilers (CSE 401): Fall 2011
Network Security & Cryptography (EE 418): Fall 2011

Education History

B.S. Computer Science, University of Washington, 2008 - 2013.
B.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Washington, 2008 - 2013.

In my spare time, I enjoy learning about the ancient peoples of the Mediterranean (Greece, Rome, Egypt, Etruria, etc.), skiing, playing board games, going to concerts, reading, and solving puzzles (both jigsaw and puzzlehunt varieties).