PLMW@PLDI 2022

The Programming Language Mentoring Workshop (PLMW) aims to broaden the exposure of late-stage undergraduate students and early-stage graduate students to research and career opportunities in programming languages. The workshop includes mentoring sessions that cover effective habits for navigating research careers, technical sessions that cover core subfields of programming languages research, and social sessions that create opportunities for students to interact with researchers in the field. Applications from underrepresented groups in computing are especially welcome.

PLMW @ PLDI 2022 will be co-located with the conference on Programming Language Design and Implementation. It will be held over two days: Monday, June 13, 2022 and Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The workshop program will cover important topics such as:

• How to choose a research topic.
• How to navigate the ups and downs of a research career.
• How to leverage communication and your social network to better your research.

PLMW @ PLDI 2022 will be organized as a hybrid event. Most speakers and all panelists will be present in person. Students will be able to choose between in-person and virtual participation when they apply. We will try to provide an excellent experience to both in-person and virtual participants, but informal interactions during breaks will be limited to in-person participants only.

PLMW Talks and Panels

The PLMW program includes:

• Mentoring talks
  • Michael Hicks
  • Kathryn S McKinley
  • Martin C. Rinard
• Panels
  • Grad school: Sunjay Cauligi, Ethan Cecchetti,Niki Vazou, Ningning Xie
  • Career paths: Michael Greenberg, Chris Hawblitzel, Hila Peleg, Sukyoung Ryu
  • Hot topics: Nikhil Swamy, Michael Carbin, Andrew Myers, Nadia Polikarpova
• Technical talks
  • Philippa Gardner
  • John Regehr
• Small-group mentoring meetings (to be announced)
• Social events (to be announced)

Application and Scholarships

Applications are closed.

PLMW @ PLDI 2022 will offer a limited number of scholarships to students who wish to participate but cannot cover the costs from other sources. Every scholarship will cover the PLDI registration fee and, for those attending in person, the cost of accommodation shared with another student, and reasonable trip expenses.

To participate, you must apply online. The application form asks whether you prefer to attend in person or virtually, and whether you need a scholarship to cover your expenses (only if you wish to attend in person). Note that the number of participation spots and the number of available scholarships are both limited, so do not register for the event or make any travel plans till you receive the result of your application.

Submit your application by April 26 (AoE) for full consideration. Applications received after April 26th will be considered as space permits.

PLMW @ PLDI 2022 specifically welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups in computing.

PLMW is driven by two core values: diversity of the PL community and well-being of its members.

We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion strengthen the PL community both on an academic and on a personal level. We recognize that members of underrepresented and marginalized groups—including but not limited to women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, and people with disabilities—face unique challenges in their research careers. We are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, diverse environment that provides space for all to thrive and breathe. We are also committed to listening to your voices, admitting our mistakes, and working to address systemic issues that exist within the research community.

PLMW values the physical and mental well-being of all members of the PL community. We condemn all kinds of harassment, including sexual harassment. We are committed to talking openly about health and well-being issues that disproportionately affect the academic community, and to fighting the stigma of mental health issues.

PLMW organizers see its role in promoting these values as a three-part mission:

• Expose junior students to the PL research community: We want to provide the students with a genuine picture of what a research career in PL is like and with networking opportunities within the field. We want to establish mentoring relationships between junior and senior community members, connecting people from different areas, backgrounds, and geographic locations. In doing so, we place particular emphasis on students who lack exposure to PL research at their home institutions.

• Help students acquire skills necessary to successfully navigate a research career. These include technical and non-technical skills, such as reading research literature, technical communication, relationships with advisors, and coping with stressors of graduate school.

• Foster diversity and inclusion in the PL community by reaching out to, and mentoring, students from underrepresented groups.

We would like to bring our attendees’ attention to a few SIGPLAN initiatives beyond PLMW that share our values and goals. SIGPLAN CARES is a group of distinguished, senior researchers, available as a confidential resource for anyone who faces discrimination or harassment. SIGPLAN-M is an international long-term mentoring program for programming languages researchers.

Supporting PLMW is an opportunity to put your corporate name in front of the wider PLDI community — a superb investment for your organization — and demonstrate your leadership and commitment to the community and the students supported by PLMW.

If you are interested in sponsoring PLMW@PLDI 2022, please contact the PLDI Sponsorship Co-Chairs (Ravi Chugh and Sasa Misailovic). You can support PLMW at two levels:

PLMW Mentoring Gold: $2,500

• Logo on the PLMW 2022 web site.
• A table in the PLMW workshop area (Monday, Tuesday)

PLMW Mentoring Platinum: $5,000

• All of the benefits of PLMW Gold Mentoring.
• An opportunity to interact with students at PLMW (Monday, Tuesday).
• An opportunity to interact with students at the PLDI mentoring lunches. There are three mentoring lunches, one during each PLDI conference day (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday).
• A table in the PLDI conference area (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday), to provide networking opportunities with students attending PLDI.