W&L Computer Science Blog

Computer Science students Trey Custodio ’26 and Sanjog Basnet ’27 co-authored a paper with CS Professor Liz Matthews titled “Exploring User Demographics for Research on Video Games,”. Their work used a survey to study gaming preferences and identify patterns in player behavior, helping improve how researchers classify gamers.

Custodio (CS major; Creative Writing and German minor) and Basnet (double major in Cognitive and Behavioral Science and Computer Science; Japanese minor) conducted the research as Summer Scholars in 2025.

The research will be presented at the Gaming and Technology Conference, held July 25–27 in Valencia, Spain.

Congratulations to Trey and Sanjog on this exciting accomplishment!

You can read the full Columns article here: https://columns.wlu.edu/wl-students-accepted-for-publication-at-the-gaming-and-technology-conference/

In February 2026, W&L’s, Sana Habib, presented the paper Evaluating the Impact of Legacy DNS Vulnerabilities in FutureG Mobile Networks at the Network and Distributed System Security Symposium in San Diego, CA. The research explores how older DNS security weaknesses still pose risks to today’s 5G and future 6G mobile networks, where DNS is used for important tasks like routing calls and connecting services. By studying 84 known DNS threats, the paper shows how small DNS issues can spread across shared network systems and affect multiple services, emphasizing the need for stronger security in future mobile networks.

Through this research, Professor Habib continues to contribute important insights into the future of secure 5G and 6G networks.

To learn more about the symposium, Sana;s presentation and to access the paper, visit the following resources:

workshop webpage: https://www.ndss-symposium.org/ndss-program/futureg-2026/

NDSS paper page: NDSS Symposium Paper Page

Livestream and video recordings: NDSS 2026 Video Playlist

Washington and Lee University welcomed 53 juniors and seniors into Phi Beta Kappa during the university’s annual Phi Beta Kappa/Society of the Cincinnati Convocation on March 26.

Founded in 1776 at the College of William & Mary, Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and one of its most prestigious academic honor societies. The organization recognizes students for exceptional achievement in the arts and sciences, with membership regarded as one of the highest honors for undergraduate academic excellence.

The Gamma of Virginia Chapter at Washington and Lee was chartered in 1911.

This year’s inductees from the Classes of 2026 and 2027 were selected for their outstanding academic accomplishments.  Of those inducted, the following are computer science majors or minors:

Class of 2026

• Marsha Chung
• Wonjun Jo
• Ciel Morrill
• Kriya Shah

Class of 2027

• Saad Ahmed Khan Ghori
• Kidus Tegene
• Abigail Watson

Click here for the full Columns article: https://columns.wlu.edu/phi-beta-kappa-initiates-new-members-during-2026-convocation-ceremony/

On Tuesday, May 5, students and faculty from the Computer Science Department gathered outside for the annual lunchtime picnic—a breezy, sunny break from the usual routine.

Yard games were a big draw, with giant Jenga, interactive Tetris, and a Coney Island toss game!

The picnic was a chance to relax, catch up, and spend time together outside of class, making it another fun and relaxing department tradition.

Ciel Morrill ’26, a computer science and Japanese double major, has been awarded a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) for Summer 2026. Morrill will study Japanese in Okayama, Japan, through an intensive eight‑week program at Okayama University.

Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the Critical Language Scholarship is a highly competitive, fully funded study‑abroad opportunity that helps U.S. college students gain proficiency in languages critical to global engagement. The program requires full language immersion—students use only the target language throughout the program—allowing participants to achieve rapid progress equivalent to a year of coursework.

The CLS supports Morrill’s interest in combining computer science and language study, helping her prepare for graduate school and a career where technology and cross‑cultural communication intersect.

Congratulations, Ciel, on this outstanding achievement!

Click here to read the full Columns article: https://columns.wlu.edu/wls-ciel-morrill-to-study-abroad-with-critical-language-scholarship/

On Saturday, April 11, the Great Hall hosted Game Demo Day, an exciting display of student innovation and design.

Students from Professor Liz Matthews’ Computer Science 319: Video Game Design course presented their final game projects, the culmination of a semester of hard work, problem‑solving, and imagination. 

Visitors were invited to do more than just watch—they were encouraged to play the games themselves, interact with the student developers, and learn about the design process behind each project. The event provided an interactive environment for students to present their work to the campus community.

Game Demo Day 2026 was a fun and successful celebration of student creativity and game design.

On Friday, April 10, Janeet Bajracharya ’26, a Computer Science and Mathematics major, presented his Honors Thesis, An Empirical Evaluation of Learning‑Augmented Combinatorial Auction Algorithms.  Janeet explored how machine learning can improve complex auctions used in areas like wireless spectrum sales and online advertising, sharing results that show how learning‑augmented algorithms can make these systems faster and more effective. The thesis was completed under the supervision of Professor Kefu Lu.

Congratulations to Janeet on an excellent Honors Thesis presentation and this impressive research achievement!

On Thursday, April 9, Joe Holden ’26, an Accounting and Computer Science major, presented his Honors Thesis, Faster Risk Estimation for Bond Portfolios through Accelerated Computing. He explored how newer computing technologies can help financial institutions assess bond risk more quickly and efficiently. Using a common bond as a case study, Joe compared different hardware platforms and showed that specialized, accelerated systems can deliver faster results—underscoring their increasing role in modern financial analysis. The thesis was completed under the supervision of Professor Simon Levy.

Congratulations to Joe on an excellent Honors Thesis presentation and meaningful research at the intersection of computing and finance.

Gabriel Hogan ’26, a computer science and business administration major, co-authored a research paper with former Visiting Assistant Professor William Tolley (now an assistant professor at Hampden-Sydney College) at FOCI 2026 (Free and Open Communication on the Internet). Gabe was instrumental in collecting data and testing iOS devices—key components of the team’s broader exploration into internet freedom and communication technologies.

FOCI is recognized as a well‑respected workshop for cutting‑edge research in Internet Freedom, making Gabe’s involvement an impressive achievement and a clear reflection of his dedication and curiosity.

Well done, Gabe!