2024 U.S. National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Research Fellowship
Connor Mclaughlin, PhD’27, computer engineering, was selected as one of the recipients of the U.S. Department of Defense National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Research Fellowship to work in the area of artificial Intelligence and machine learning. A highly competitive fellowship, it is awarded to promising U.S. scientists and engineers to encourage them to pursue doctoral degrees in designated research disciplines of military importance.
Connor McLaughlin, PhD’27, computer engineering, was selected as a 2024 recipient of the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship. This highly selective fellowship is awarded to doctoral students each year pursuing degrees in science and engineering fields related to research done by the Department of Defense.
McLaughlin’s academic journey began at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), where he majored in computer science. Initially drawn to a career in software engineering, McLaughlin’s interests took a new turn when he began working with machine learning. He subsequently remained at WPI to earn a master’s degree with a concentration on ML, where his thesis advisor, recognizing his passion and dedication, encouraged him to expand his research endeavors by pursuing a PhD.
Upon completing his master’s program, McLaughlin worked in a summer research position at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. His work centered on building trustworthy machine learning systems and incorporating uncertainty awareness into neural networks. McLaughlin continued his research in his doctoral studies at the Center for Signaling, Processing, Imaging, Reasoning, and Learning (SPIRAL) Group at the College of Engineering at Northeastern. Under the mentorship of Lili Su, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, McLaughlin expanded upon his previous research by exploring ways to scale robust machine learning methods to distributed settings. The research focus comes from the pairing of McLaughlin and Su’s backgrounds, with Su’s work focusing on distributed learning and fault tolerance.
“From the start, we identified the intersection of our interests,” says McLaughlin. “We then combined my experience in robust machine learning with her expertise in distributed systems to develop new methods and applications.”
McLaughlin was encouraged to apply for the NDSEG by his coworkers at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, who had previously received the scholarship. The fellowship presented an exciting opportunity for him to extend his research beyond an academic setting to various real-life applications. Starting this August, McLaughlin will begin his fellowship in collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory (ARFL), where he will continue his research from Northeastern.
Earning the fellowship reassured McLaughlin that he was on the right track. “It’s validation that the research direction I’ve chosen is interesting to people, that it matters, and that it will be useful,” he says. “It’s also comforting to see that the professors and researchers I admire were part of the same program a decade ago. It reassures me that I’m on the right path.”
McLaughlin is also looking forward to the fellowship’s networking opportunities, including the annual NDSEG conference, where current and former fellows can network and share their research.
At Northeastern, McLaughlin’s involvement extends beyond his research. He frequently helps coordinate visits from guest speakers as part of SPIRAL’s Seminar Series, which provides a unique opportunity to connect with other research community members. Through SPIRAL, McLaughlin also had the opportunity to attend and present his research at two international conferences.
“Both experiences were great. I had a blast exploring innovative research, networking, and making friends,” says McLaughlin. “I find it important to stay informed about the latest advancements. One way is to present your research to the public and build community connections.”
McLaughlin is eager about future opportunities but hopes to keep his research grounded in practical, impactful applications. He believes the fellowship broadens his possibilities. “I’m not certain where I’ll end up,” admits McLaughlin. “However, whether I continue in academia or with the Department of Defense, both value this fellowship. It supports both paths.”