Distinguished Entrepreneurial Lecture in Computer Science
Dr. Mark E. Segal
Executive Director of Software Technology Research
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Distinguished Entrepreneurial Lecture in Computer Science
Dr. Mark E. Segal
Executive Director of Software Technology Research
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Computer Science Careers in Telecommunications
Abstract
This talk will give a brief overview of the telecommunications industry, and describe some of the kinds of work done by computer scientists in telecommunications. The talk will focus on both the work done in telecommunications product organizations, as well as some of the important technical problems being investigated in telecommunications research laboratories. Examples from Telcordia Technologies will be used throughout the presentation to illustrate key points. The talk will conclude with advice for students interested in pursuing careers in the telecommunications industry.
Bio of the Speaker
Mark was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 18, 1964. He earned BS (1985), MS (1986), and PhD (1989) degrees in Computer and Communication Sciences from the University of Michigan. After completing his PhD, Mark joined the research organization of Telcordia Technologies (then called Bellcore) in Morristown, New Jersey. He was one of the two original architects and developers of a research multimedia communications system called Touring Machine (tm). This system was built using advanced distributed computing concepts as a mechanism to study scaling and reliability issues in large, complex, communications systems.
Mark launched Telcordia research initiatives in high availability and distributed computing. He led research projects that created one of the first approaches for building highly-available CORBA applications, and a highly available DCE Cell Directory Service (name server). Mark was appointed Director of High Availability and Distributed Computing Research at Telcordia in 1995. In 1999 and 2000, Telcordia, along with its parent company SAIC, sponsored the AmericaOne America's Cup Challenger. Mark led the Telcordia team that was part of the AmericaOne Performance Analysis and Maximization team. Mark's team developed an approach for performing and analyzing the results of the AmericaOne two-boat testing program. The team also used advanced Telcordia software testing technology to analyze the onboard software used by AmericaOne to ensure that the software would not fail during a race, when communication with the shore crew was not permitted.
Mark has served as Executive Director of Software Technology Research at Telcordia since 1998. In his roles as a researcher and research manager, he works closely with university researchers. Mark's organization is a member of two NSF-sponsored University/Industrial Cooperative Research Centers: the Purdue/Ball State/ Flordia/Oregon Software Engineering Research Center (SERC), and the Duke/NC State Center for Advanced Computing and Communications (CACC). Mark serves on the CACC Industrial Advisory Board, and was its chairman in 2000.
Mark, his wife Carol, and his daughter Jenna reside in Branchburg, New Jersey. Mark's main hobby outside of work is sailing. He and his family enjoy racing and cruising their J/32 sailboat in Sandy Hook Bay, Long Island Sound, and the Atlantic Ocean. Mark previously owned and raced a J/24 on Sandy Hook Bay and has served as Fleet Captain of J/24 Fleet 128 in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey. Mark and Carol also enjoy digital photography and videography.