Four Questions With Seasoned Students@SC Chair Mike Lam

Mike Lam, Associate Professor of Computer Science (CS) at James Madison University (JMU), brings a rich background in mentorship and student engagement to his role as SC24 Students@SC Chair.

With a solid foundation in teaching HPC, programming languages, and systems, Lam has consistently demonstrated his commitment to fostering educational and professional growth opportunities for students. Lam’s contributions to the computing community extend well beyond the classroom. He has significantly impacted student development through his leadership roles, including chairing his department’s systems curriculum and student wiki committees, serving as a CS transfer advisor, co-directing the madiSTEM conference to inspire young girls in STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics], and acting as advisor or co-advisor for several JMU CS clubs.

Lam’s involvement with the SC conference series has been marked by his efforts to improve student participation and networking within the HPC community. His leadership in the Mentor–Protégé Matching program during SC20 and SC21 showcased his ability to cultivate meaningful connections between students and professionals. He also served as a Student Mentoring and Networking Chair in SC23.

Engaging Students With the Community

For SC24, Lam is dedicated to prioritizing community building and professional development for all students who attend the conference. His goal is to ensure that students at the conference not only contribute to the success of the conference but also engage deeply with the HPC community, gaining valuable insights and forming lasting relationships.

MIKE LAM

Associate Professor of Computer Science, James Madison University

Mike on LinkedIN

Q: Are you planning any new initiatives for the Students@SC24 committee?

Lam: One new initiative I’m excited about this year is increased collaboration between the in-person Student Cluster Competition (SCC) and the remote IndySCC event. We have secured funding for at least two IndySCC teams to attend the conference in person, and we plan to share some applications and committee resources between the programs. Dan Dietz (SCC Chair) and Layla Freeborn (IndySCC Chair) have been the driving force behind this change, and I’ve been happy to support their efforts.

Q: What advice would you give to these students to make the most out of their SC24 experience? Are there specific sessions, workshops, or networking opportunities they should not miss?

Lam: Attending SC can be overwhelming. There is so much going on and so many fantastic opportunities. My recommendation would be to use a personal calendar or the Digital Experience in the days ahead of the conference to build a schedule of events that you would like to attend so your draft schedule is ready to go when you arrive. Make sure you include all of the Student Programming events in your schedule! Those events happen Sunday and Monday before the main conference and are custom-designed to be of maximum benefit to students. Also, make sure you take special note of any social events that require pre-registration – including student networking events that you may see advertised via email before the conference – because those may not appear on the official program.

Q: What is your favorite thing about SC?

Lam: My favorite thing about SC is getting to reconnect with the people I’ve built relationships with over the years. Although I recommend going in with a draft schedule, don’t be afraid to be flexible and change your schedule on the fly, especially if you spot an opportunity to chat with someone you share an interest with! Sometimes the most useful conversations happen outside of scheduled events, and those conversations can be a powerful means of building relationships and community.

Q: What would you like to see change about, within, or among the HPC/computing community?

Lam: Personally, I would love to see less cynicism among computing communities in general. Snark and non-constructive criticism are often satisfying to air, but this discourages innovation and experimentation. Keeping conversations positive and constructive requires more effort, but I believe it is an important part of building a stronger and more inclusive community.