Brown CS Alum Layla Oesper Receives The CRA Undergraduate Research Faculty Mentoring Award
- Posted by Robayet Hossain
- on April 23, 2025
Brown CS alum Layla Oesper (advised by former faculty member Ben Raphael, now at Princeton University) has just received the 2025 Computing Research Association (CRA) Undergraduate Research Faculty Mentoring Award. This honor recognizes individual faculty members who have provided exceptional mentorship, undergraduate research experiences, and in parallel, guidance on admission and matriculation of these students to research-focused graduate programs in computing. Currently an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Carleton College, Layla specializes in developing algorithms for computational biology, with a particular emphasis on cancer research.
The CRA’s Education Committee praised Layla’s mentorship, stating, "Professor Oesper has been a driving force in empowering undergraduate researchers to excel and push the boundaries of computational biology. Her students have co-authored peer-reviewed publications, presented at conferences, and launched successful careers in both academia and industry. By creating a collaborative and inclusive research environment, she ensures that her students not only develop technical expertise but also cultivate the critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary to lead the future of computer science. Professor Oesper’s mentorship continues to inspire her students to achieve greatness and make meaningful contributions to society."
Layla’s research focuses on designing algorithms that facilitate the analysis of high-throughput DNA sequencing data, aiming to enhance our understanding of cancerous tumor evolution. Since joining Carleton College in 2015, she has been recognized as a leader in her field, with numerous publications and presentations in esteemed computer science, bioinformatics, and biology journals and conferences.
"I'm honored to have been selected for this award. I feel very lucky to have had the privilege to work with such an amazing group of undergraduate students,” Layla says.
For more information, click the link that follows to contact Brown CS Communications Manager Jesse C. Polhemus.
