TCS Workplace Meeting 15 Sept 2014


Updates on people:

- Stefan left.
- Christoph started as post-doc (Aug) in Mads's group.
- Susanna started as PhD student (Aug) in Jakob's group.
- Daniel started as PhD student (Aug) in Sonja's group.
- Jan started as PhD student (Sept) in Jakob's group.
- Douglas is back since three weeks, not yet at full speed.
- New lecturer in Software Engineering (1 Dec), time limited.
- New professor in Distributed Algorithms (1 Jan).
- Soon there'll be a new PhD student in Comp Sci Edu.


Updates on projects:

- Karl has a new Vinnova project with Scania.  Funds himself and a PhD 
  student.  Starts in October.
- Mads has a new Vinnova project with Ericsson.
- Mads and Karl are working on boosting the software engineering parts 
  in KTH.  It's a WIP and they'll keep us updated.


Information:

The D-programme got a bit of criticism from UKÄ in the evaluation.  
Mainly due to quality in the reports on Master level.  This has been 
remediated.  Everyone advising students on Master level will be notified 
of this work.

Again, emphasis on registering travel orders before going traveling.  
This is due to insurance reasons (among others) in case something 
happens.


New seminar responsible:

Musard hands the torch of enlightenment to Hamed.


Office plan:

We first thought we had too generous of space in TCS.  An inventory 
showed this is not the case, we're doing just fine.  No big changes 
coming.  However, there'll be some shuffling of PhD students to match 
the use of space to our needs.

We'll remove the room with the massage chair.

The idea of extending the lunch/fika room will be investigated.  Maybe 
extending it into the next room.


Equipment:

Some of the nettops will be replaced, possibly during October.


TCS Management Group:

It's been previously discussed.  This will be established, the current 
suggestion of implementation is as follows.

It should consist of Dept Head, Deputy Head, representatives from 
teaching staff (prof, lekt, adj) and PhD students.

The PhD students, lektorer, adjunkter will name their representatives.  
This should be done in two weeks time.  This will be organised by: 
Dilian (profs), Sten (lekt, adj), Pedro (PhDs).

The task for the group is suggested as meeting once a month, discuss 
what's happening, look into reports, projects etc. which need attention.

There'll be minutes from these meetings as well.


Doctoral programme:

Updates of ISPs is coming up (mid Sept).  Supervisors should drive this.

The first seminar, or licentiate, should be in 18 months from start.  
There should be a date for this established.  Then a reminder will be 
sent out two months before.

The course ``Masterpieces of Theoretical Computer Science'' will start 
after New Year.  This course is (sort of?) mandatory for new PhD 
students.


Annual School Contract:

Negotiating for a Assist Prof in Computer Security.  This must be 
prepared, Mads is working on it.

Alos negotiating for Assist Prof Software Engineering, this is already 
used -- hoping to get this in retrospect.

Negotiating for two Assoc Prof, one in Software Engineering and one in 
Computer Science (Dist Alg).

Also applying for more base funding.


Changes for Master's programme:

15 hp research oriented modules.  Each consists of lectures and 
projects.  This should be tied to research.

Should be twelve modules for starters, maybe more in the future.  
However, we need to remove some course to give these new ones, we cannot 
have too many.

Removing advanced level courses is bad for the PhD students, since these 
new modules cannot be used as PhD level courses.


Health checkup:

Everyone received the email, please react to it.