Valerie Summet, a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science, has been awarded a Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship by the National Academies in Washington, D.C. Run out of the National Academies' Policy and Global Affairs Division, the program is designed to engage its fellows in the analytical process that informs U.S. science and technology policy.

Summet is due to finish her doctorate in May 2010, and her research interests include mobile/ubiquitous computing, assistive technology and computer science education. Her advisor is Thad Starner, associate professor in Interactive Computing. During her fellowship, Summet will work in the National Academy of Engineering in the Center for Engineering Ethics & Society, under the direction of Rachelle Hollander.

"The fellowship is a wonderful opportunity to work with 25 other scientists from many different disciplines including astrophysics, geology, neurobiology, ocean sciences and engineering, just to name a few," Summet said. "I've been struck by how many issues are common to all the disciplines. Themes like intellectual property, emerging technologies and ethical implications of discovery are threads that run through everyone's work. Having a broad education in computer science has allowed me to add a technical dimension to many of these discussions."

For more information on the program, visit its website.