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School Of Computing Newsletter - February 2026

What’s Inside This Issue

  • Updates
  • Achievements
  • Welcome
  • Student Highlight

Welcome Ameyaa Biwalkar

Portrait of Ameyaa Biwalkar, School of Computing instructor

Ameyaa Biwalkar joined the School of Computing in the summer of 2025 as an adjunct and has since become a visiting instructor. She received her Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics from the University of Mumbai, an MTech in Information Technology from NMIMS University, and her Master’s in Computer Science from the University of California Santa Cruz.

Her academic background includes software development, machine learning, and data science, with a focus on designing data-driven and scalable solutions.

Biwalkar enjoys teaching introductory programming and problem-solving courses, along with collaborating with students and colleagues to create a positive learning environment. Outside of work, she enjoys badminton, traveling, and learning about different cultures.

Biwalkar will officially become a permanent instructor for the School of Computing in May 2026.

Important Information

  • Osprey for a Day — February 6

Achievements

Congratulations to Ella Luedeke for being named the O.U.R.’s January Researcher of the Month for her work with Dr. Kahanda. Luedeke has also had her abstract, “Exploring the Feasibility of Detecting Physics Student Misconceptions Through Writing Assignments Using Large Language Models,” accepted to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), April 2026, Richmond, VA.

Congratulations to Dr. Umapathy as he speaks at the National Community Partnership Convening Conference at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with UNF Psychology and the Cathedral Arts Project. Dr. Umapathy will speak about his work with Data Science for Social Good and the Cathedral Arts Project.

Upcoming Meetings

  • SoC Town Hall — February 11, 12:00 p.m.
  • Computing Advisory Board Meeting — February 13, 8:00 a.m.
  • SoC Faculty & Staff Meeting — February 20, 12:00 p.m.

Student Highlight

Ella Luedeke headshot

Research is a major aspect of academia, and the School of Computing is committed to expanding its research profile with both graduate and undergraduate research. Ella Luedeke is one of the students who has begun her research journey while working on her undergraduate degree in Computer Science.

The decision to pursue computer science was made after she was able to take college courses in the field while she was in high school.

Luedeke is a senior with a minor in leadership and has been doing research under Dr. Kahanda since Spring 2025. Many of her friends are majoring in other STEM fields such as biology and chemistry, so she was familiar with what research looked like in those disciplines. While she was interested in research, there was not a clear place to start.

After learning that one of Dr. Kahanda’s students had completed a Directed Independent Study, she inquired about pursuing one herself. Her independent study began in Spring 2025.

Since then, she has dived headfirst into research and has enjoyed it very much. Her current research focuses on the use of large language models to detect misconceptions in STEM courses. She will present her findings at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) 2026 in Richmond, Virginia.

The future is bright for this impressive researcher. She will graduate with her undergraduate degree in May 2026 and will be interning with Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico this summer. She plans to attend graduate school and has already been offered a spot in a Master’s program at Cambridge University. Luedeke is also in the process of applying to PhD programs in the United States.

Research opportunities can be found by inquiring with professors in the School of Computing and through the Office of Undergraduate Research. Conducting research can also fulfill the experiential learning requirement for graduation.