Welcome to CSE 351!
- The most important information throughout the quarter will be found on the (course policies) and the (course materials and assignment specs)
- All announcements for this class are made via the (NOT email), so make sure you are enrolled on Ed and checking regularly.
- Use the menu bar at the top for navigating to other useful tools and references.
Asking Questions & Getting Help
It is very important to us that you succeed in CSE 351! Outside of lectures and sections, there are several ways to ask questions or discuss course issues:
- Find a study group! This quarter, all assignments, other than exams, can be completed and submitted in partnerships (labs) or larger groups (reading, homework), allowing you to discuss material, code, and debug together.
- Visit support hours! See the for current availability.
- Make a public post about course content on the , where they benefit the whole class. This also allows other students to answer your question so can receive a faster response. This is the best way of asking questions about class-related topics.
- Make a private post to just the course staff on the with any issues you would prefer to discuss privately or questions that involve solutions or partial solutions for ongoing assignments.
- Request a 1-on-1 by making a private post on the . If you feel like you need extra time, can't make it to support hours, or want to discuss something privately, please feel free to request a 1-on-1 from the staff!
- Send to the course staff. The instructor will try to address the issue and share it with others only as appropriate, but will not have a way to reply to you without addressing the whole class.
Course Staff & Mini-Bios
Staff Mini-Bio: Alexandra
WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? WHAT WAS YOUR ACADEMIC PATH?
- I grew up in the Bay Area, California, where I was lucky enough to take my first programming class in high school from an amazing teacher. That experience sparked my interest in CS, and I went on to earn my bachelor's in CS at UC San Diego. Along the way, I became involved in both research and undergraduate TAing. After graduating from UCSD, I came to UW for my PhD, where I just finished my third year studying hardware security and programming languages.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOBBIES, TALENTS, AND SKILLS?
- In my free time, I enjoy reading, drawing, video games, and martial arts: I practice Aikido (a self-defense-oriented Japanese martial art) with the UW Rec Club, as well as longsword fighting. I've also recently been learning to knit!
HAVE YOU DONE OR EXPERIENCED ANYTHING REMARKABLE OR MEMORABLE?
- I did synchronized figure skating for 10 years, until I graduated high school; this despite growing up in a place whose idea of a cold winter is seeing a little bit of frost in the mornings.
WHAT COMMITMENTS WILL BE CONSUMING YOUR CYCLES THIS QUARTER?
- I'm continuing my regular research.
- I grew up in the Bay Area, California, where I was lucky enough to take my first programming class in high school from an amazing teacher. That experience sparked my interest in CS, and I went on to earn my bachelor's in CS at UC San Diego. Along the way, I became involved in both research and undergraduate TAing. After graduating from UCSD, I came to UW for my PhD, where I just finished my third year studying hardware security and programming languages.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOBBIES, TALENTS, AND SKILLS?
- In my free time, I enjoy reading, drawing, video games, and martial arts: I practice Aikido (a self-defense-oriented Japanese martial art) with the UW Rec Club, as well as longsword fighting. I've also recently been learning to knit!
HAVE YOU DONE OR EXPERIENCED ANYTHING REMARKABLE OR MEMORABLE?
- I did synchronized figure skating for 10 years, until I graduated high school; this despite growing up in a place whose idea of a cold winter is seeing a little bit of frost in the mornings.
WHAT COMMITMENTS WILL BE CONSUMING YOUR CYCLES THIS QUARTER?
- I'm continuing my regular research.
Alexandra Michael
(she/her)
aemichae@cs
Lecture A
Staff Mini-Bio: Liander
WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? WHAT WAS YOUR ACADEMIC PATH?
- I lived in Washington for most of my life, first in eastern Washington, then Seattle, and then moved to Germany and graduated high school there. I decided to come back to the US for college.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOBBIES, TALENTS, AND SKILLS?
- In my free time, I enjoy roller blading (when it's not this hot out), swing dancing, bouldering, and going on runs! I also repair and maintain organs (the instrument). If you attend a silent film at the paramount theater, where they play the Mighty Würlitzer Organ for the duration of the film, you'll see me around!
HAVE YOU DONE OR EXPERIENCED ANYTHING REMARKABLE OR MEMORABLE?
- On a rainy day while I was mountain biking, I crashed, was ejected from my bike, and left a human-shaped wet imprint on a tree.
WHAT COMMITMENTS WILL BE CONSUMING YOUR CYCLES THIS QUARTER?
- This quarter, I will be working on a research project, hopefully getting a paper out, and going on lots of hiking/climbing trips.
- I lived in Washington for most of my life, first in eastern Washington, then Seattle, and then moved to Germany and graduated high school there. I decided to come back to the US for college.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOBBIES, TALENTS, AND SKILLS?
- In my free time, I enjoy roller blading (when it's not this hot out), swing dancing, bouldering, and going on runs! I also repair and maintain organs (the instrument). If you attend a silent film at the paramount theater, where they play the Mighty Würlitzer Organ for the duration of the film, you'll see me around!
HAVE YOU DONE OR EXPERIENCED ANYTHING REMARKABLE OR MEMORABLE?
- On a rainy day while I was mountain biking, I crashed, was ejected from my bike, and left a human-shaped wet imprint on a tree.
WHAT COMMITMENTS WILL BE CONSUMING YOUR CYCLES THIS QUARTER?
- This quarter, I will be working on a research project, hopefully getting a paper out, and going on lots of hiking/climbing trips.
Liander Rainbolt
(he/him)
lrainb@cs
Section AA
Staff Mini-Bio: Mendel
WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? WHAT WAS YOUR ACADEMIC PATH?
- I grew up in an Orthodox Jewish community called Chabad in Miami, FL. I attended a religious school system called Yeshiva until I was 15, then transferred to an online high school where I finished high school. I did a couple more things (such as serving in the army, working in ecommerce for 6 years, owning my own business) before starting college at 26 in community college. I transferred to UW in Autumn 2024.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOBBIES, TALENTS, AND SKILLS?
- I am currently training for a half-ironman and have plans to finish a full ironman in the next two years. I am a great runner, a decent biker, and a terrible swimmer, but I am slowly improving. I am also on a flag football team, The Turf Titans.
HAVE YOU DONE OR EXPERIENCED ANYTHING REMARKABLE OR MEMORABLE?
- I served in the army for 3 years as a combat medic. I have several rescue missions in Syria during the Syrian civil war that I was a part of. I was released as a first sergeant in 2018.
WHAT COMMITMENTS WILL BE CONSUMING YOUR CYCLES THIS QUARTER?
- I am taking MATH208, working on personal projects (such as building an ASR system from scratch, excited!), and TAing this class for the second time!
- I grew up in an Orthodox Jewish community called Chabad in Miami, FL. I attended a religious school system called Yeshiva until I was 15, then transferred to an online high school where I finished high school. I did a couple more things (such as serving in the army, working in ecommerce for 6 years, owning my own business) before starting college at 26 in community college. I transferred to UW in Autumn 2024.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOBBIES, TALENTS, AND SKILLS?
- I am currently training for a half-ironman and have plans to finish a full ironman in the next two years. I am a great runner, a decent biker, and a terrible swimmer, but I am slowly improving. I am also on a flag football team, The Turf Titans.
HAVE YOU DONE OR EXPERIENCED ANYTHING REMARKABLE OR MEMORABLE?
- I served in the army for 3 years as a combat medic. I have several rescue missions in Syria during the Syrian civil war that I was a part of. I was released as a first sergeant in 2018.
WHAT COMMITMENTS WILL BE CONSUMING YOUR CYCLES THIS QUARTER?
- I am taking MATH208, working on personal projects (such as building an ASR system from scratch, excited!), and TAing this class for the second time!
Mendel Carroll
(he/him)
mcarro5@uw.edu
Section AA
Staff Mini-Bio: Samantha
WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? WHAT WAS YOUR ACADEMIC PATH?
- I grew up in Franklin, TN right outside Nashville. I didn't start programming until I took the Intro to Engineering class at my undergrad, Purdue. I really enjoyed it and decided to major in Computer Engineering after looking at the course catalog and deciding that it seemed the coolest of all the engineering majors. I loved my computer architecture class which led me to starting my PhD here at UW where I'm in the architecture lab!
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOBBIES, TALENTS, AND SKILLS?
- I like knitting, crocheting, and cross-stitching in my free time. Really excited for the hiking here in the PNW. Been reading a lot lately, mostly sci-fi and fantasy.
HAVE YOU DONE OR EXPERIENCED ANYTHING REMARKABLE OR MEMORABLE?
- I've driven across the USA two times (Tennessee to California). Kansas was surprisingly enjoyable to drive through! And southern Utah very boring.
WHAT COMMITMENTS WILL BE CONSUMING YOUR CYCLES THIS QUARTER?
- TA-ing CSE 351 and research :)
- I grew up in Franklin, TN right outside Nashville. I didn't start programming until I took the Intro to Engineering class at my undergrad, Purdue. I really enjoyed it and decided to major in Computer Engineering after looking at the course catalog and deciding that it seemed the coolest of all the engineering majors. I loved my computer architecture class which led me to starting my PhD here at UW where I'm in the architecture lab!
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOBBIES, TALENTS, AND SKILLS?
- I like knitting, crocheting, and cross-stitching in my free time. Really excited for the hiking here in the PNW. Been reading a lot lately, mostly sci-fi and fantasy.
HAVE YOU DONE OR EXPERIENCED ANYTHING REMARKABLE OR MEMORABLE?
- I've driven across the USA two times (Tennessee to California). Kansas was surprisingly enjoyable to drive through! And southern Utah very boring.
WHAT COMMITMENTS WILL BE CONSUMING YOUR CYCLES THIS QUARTER?
- TA-ing CSE 351 and research :)
Samantha Dreussi
(she/her)
sdreussi@cs
Section AB
Staff Mini-Bio: Sami
WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? WHAT WAS YOUR ACADEMIC PATH?
- I grew up in Hyderabad, India and moved to Redmond during middle and high school. I've always been a Physics nerd and it really pushed my interest in the theory more broadly. I'm lucky to have had this interest nurtured here at the Allen School, where my focus area is Quantum Computing and its applications. I hope to continue doing research in future years and take as many fun classes at UW CSE!
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOBBIES, TALENTS, AND SKILLS?
- I enjoy hiking, playing racquet sports (I played tennis for 6 years), watching anime, and playing video games (RPGs in particular:))! A skill of mine is to be able to make random, (hopefully) wholesome laser cut woodcrafts for my friends’ birthdays.
HAVE YOU DONE OR EXPERIENCED ANYTHING REMARKABLE OR MEMORABLE?
- I hiked through mailbox peak’s old trail and made it all the way to the top. It is the most strenuous thing I’ve ever done and the view up top was breathtaking :)
WHAT COMMITMENTS WILL BE CONSUMING YOUR CYCLES THIS QUARTER?
- I’m doing research with one of the professors from the Quantum Group and taking intensive Chinese this quarter!
- I grew up in Hyderabad, India and moved to Redmond during middle and high school. I've always been a Physics nerd and it really pushed my interest in the theory more broadly. I'm lucky to have had this interest nurtured here at the Allen School, where my focus area is Quantum Computing and its applications. I hope to continue doing research in future years and take as many fun classes at UW CSE!
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOBBIES, TALENTS, AND SKILLS?
- I enjoy hiking, playing racquet sports (I played tennis for 6 years), watching anime, and playing video games (RPGs in particular:))! A skill of mine is to be able to make random, (hopefully) wholesome laser cut woodcrafts for my friends’ birthdays.
HAVE YOU DONE OR EXPERIENCED ANYTHING REMARKABLE OR MEMORABLE?
- I hiked through mailbox peak’s old trail and made it all the way to the top. It is the most strenuous thing I’ve ever done and the view up top was breathtaking :)
WHAT COMMITMENTS WILL BE CONSUMING YOUR CYCLES THIS QUARTER?
- I’m doing research with one of the professors from the Quantum Group and taking intensive Chinese this quarter!
Sami Badal Khan
(he/him)
skbk@cs
Section AB
Acknowledgements
Many of the materials posted here were shared and refined by many staff members in previous offerings of CSE 351. This version of the course was significantly influenced by Gaetano Boriello, Ruth Anderson, Justin Hsia, and Mara Kirdani-Ryan.
This website is derived from , maintained by the CSE Lab and originally written by Xi Wang.
Though we cannot list them all, we are also extremely grateful for the contributions of countless TAs and students who have given feedback and improved CSE 351 from quarter to quarter.