A University of Arkansas at Little Rock doctoral candidate has been selected for a prestigious workshop designed to prepare graduate students for careers in the computer science industry. 

Adewale Obadimu, a fourth-year computer science doctoral student from Nigeria, has been selected for the 2019 URMD Grad Cohort Workshop March 22-24 in Waikoloa, Hawaii.

The Computing Research Association, an organization dedicated to bringing industry, government and academia together to support research and advanced education in computing, hosts the workshop, which is designed specifically for underrepresented minorities and person with disabilities who are attending graduate school in computing fields.

Obadimu will receive a stipend that will cover his flight, accommodations, and other costs to attend the event. The workshop offers participants the chance to interact and learn from senior computing researchers and professionals, who will provide them with valuable insight about their field, graduate school, and their personal experiences. It is a unique opportunity to develop mentoring relationships and foster peer networks.

“This workshop is an amazing opportunity to meet people at the forefront of computer technology and innovation,” Obadimu said. “They will provide mentorship opportunities, so you get information from the top people in the industry and tips about how to progress in your career. We will also make a poster presentation on our current research and get feedback and tips on how to proceed with our research topics.”

During the workshop, Obadimu will present his research on how to leverage social media analytics tools to understand Information operations in modern communication platforms.

Obadimu earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria in 2013. He worked as a lead software developer at Health Informatics Research Laboratory and a technologist for the Center for Energy Research and Development in Nigeria before coming to UA Little Rock.

At UA Little Rock, Obadimu conducts research on social computing with Dr. Nitin Agarwal, UA Little Rock Jerry L. Maulden-Entergy endowed chair and information science professor. He also serves as a mentor for the Google’s Code Success, an initiative committed to increasing the number of black engineers in the field of computer science, with the UA Little Rock chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers.