Teaching Faculty Candidate Seminar: Gerald Soosai Raj

Zoom link for remote participants, passcode 703886

Dynamic Memory Allocation – How Memory Allocators Work

Abstract: In my talk, I will present the topic of dynamic memory allocation. Specifically, we will learn the internals of how memory allocators work. We will begin with a high level overview of the implementation issues associated with memory allocators such as free block organization, placement, splitting, etc., and we will dive deep into one of these topics (e.g., free block organization). We will be using active learning techniques like peer instruction and worksheets during my presentation. At the end of my talk, I will provide a brief overview of my research on non-native English speakers learning computing and determining the effectiveness of live coding on student learning in introductory programming.

Bio:  Gerald Soosai Raj is an Assistant Teaching Professor in Computer Science and Engineering at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Prior to joining UCSD, he completed an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Computer Sciences and Education and a Masters in Computer Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He did his undergraduate studies in Information Technology at College of Engineering Guindy (CEG), Anna University in Chennai, India.

Gerald studies effective, equitable, and inclusive ways to teach computing to a diverse set of learners. Specifically, he focuses on understanding and removing the barriers that non-native English speakers face while learning programming. He also works on an NSF funded research project on determining the effectiveness of live coding, a teaching method based on cognitive apprenticeship, to teach programming processes (e.g., incremental development) to students with no prior programming experience (typically students from underrepresented groups).

He is extremely passionate about teaching and has experience teaching multiple lower and upper division computing classes at UC San Diego and UW-Madison. He has co-authored two free online interactive textbooks for introductory programming in Python and Java. He deeply cares about improving equity, diversity, and inclusion in computing. He received the UW-Madison’s Capstone PhD Teaching Award and Best Graduate Student Instructor Award for his excellence in teaching.

In his free time, Gerald enjoys playing tennis and basketball. He is an adventure enthusiast and has tried activities like skydiving, bungee jumping, and scuba diving.