The FSTTCS Mentoring Workshop is designed to broaden attendees' exposure to research and career opportunities across the foundational areas of computer science, including algorithms, complexity theory, logic, automata theory, and programming languages. It is modeled after the PLMW and LMW series and will be co-located with the annual FSTTCS conference. The workshop is aimed at late-stage undergraduate students and early-stage graduate (Master's or PhD) students. The program will include technical sessions that provide a broad overview of subfields represented at FSTTCS—such as algorithms, complexity theory, logic, automata theory, and programming languages—along with mentoring sessions focused on effective research practices and social sessions that create opportunities for attendees to interact with researchers in the field. We especially encourage first-time conference attendees and students from diverse or underrepresented backgrounds to participate in the workshop.
The FSTTCS Mentoring Workshop 2025 is scheduled for December 16, 2025 at the BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus.
Schedule:
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 10:15 AM - 10:25 AM | Registration and Welcome |
| 10:35 AM - 11:50 AM | Talk 1: I want to be a Theoretical Computer Scientist, by Sandeep Sen (Ashoka University) |
| 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM | Talk 2: Building Visibility with Purpose, by Aalok Thakkar (Ashoka University) |
| 12:45 PM - 2:00 PM | Lunch Break |
| 2:00 PM – 2:10 PM | Group Photo |
| 2:10 PM – 2:30 PM | Lightning Talk by Pramaana Labs |
| 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Talk 3: Runtime Systems Research: Tales from the Engine Room, by KC Sivaramakrishnan (IIT Madras) |
| 3:40 PM – 4:20 PM | Ask Me Anything Session |
| 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM |
Panel: Theoretical Computer Science Beyond Academia Panelists: Vijay Ganesh (Georgia Tech), Ajaykrishnan Jayagopal (Pramaana Labs), Divyesh Unadkat (Synopsys Inc) Moderator: Neeldhara Misra (IIT Gandhinagar) |
Organising Committee:
- Neeldhara Misra (IIT Gandhinagar)
- K. C. Sivaramakrishnan (IIT Madras)
- Aalok Thakkar (Ashoka University)
Sponsors: This workshop is made possible through the generous support of our sponsor Pramaana Labs.
Registration: Registration for the mentoring workshop is integrated with the main FSTTCS 2025 registration. Early registration closes on November 30, 2025 (AoE).