My name is Geoffrey Werner-Allen, although I’m frequently hailed as /gwä/, the pronunciation of my initials. I’m a fourth-year Computer Science Ph.D. candidate in the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) at Harvard University, where I am advised by Matt Welsh. I received my undergraduate degree in Physics, also from Harvard.

Research

As a computer scientist I investigate ways to use networks of small, cheap, resource-limited computers to improve our understanding of the world around us. Over the last century improvements in scientific instrumentation advanced our understanding of the world on small scales. Now, furthering scientific understanding requires marshaling technology to provide larger views, allowing scientists to observe entire systems with planetary-scale high-resolution sensing. Some have termed this new instrument the macroscope. Sensor networks, my primary interest, are an important part of this effort, which will eventually require connecting many different types of devices, as well as collaboration between computer and domain scientists.

My project has involved instrumenting active volcanos using sensor networks. Using small, light, cheap devices allows us to quickly achieve a scale and resolution difficult to achieve with more traditional volcano monitoring instrumentation. However, the resource-limited nature of our nodes makes providing high-quality output suitable for scientific analysis challenging, particularly given the high data rates and complex signal processing required by this application. To date we have fielded three sensor networks on active Ecuadorean volcanos, each yielding valuable insights and furthering our scientific goals. Further information can be found on my publications page.

Teaching/Tutoring

I maintain an active role in undergraduate life at Harvard in two primary ways. For five years I have served as a teaching fellow for CS161: Operating Systems. Widely held to be a challenging and rewarding course, it perennially receives excellent course ratings.

Additionally, I serve as a resident tutor at Eliot House, one of the twelve major undergraduate residence halls at Harvard. While aspects of the role are similar to what might be termed “Resident Advisors” at other schools, we like to think that Harvard tutors play a more central and vital role than simply supervising parties. We live in the house and are available to dispense academic, career and personal advice to students, while also participating and encouraging the vibrant communities that center around house life at Harvard. It’s a great pleasure and responsibility and something I greatly enjoy.

Contact Information

Email is easy. My username is the part after the tilde in my homepage URL above, and it’s AT eecs DOT harvard DOT edu.

I currently reside in Eliot House at Harvard University, room D-24. It’s official address is 101 Dunster St., which unfortunately does not geocode. However, it’s located at the end of Dunster St. and almost anyone in the area can point you in the right direction. My office is in Maxwell-Dworkin, room 238. My mailing addresses are as follows:

Home: 553 Eliot Mail Center
Work: 33 Oxford St
Home/Work: Cambridge, MA 02138