Dr. Edward B. Allen

Mississippi State University.

Information for students

This page reflects my own opinions and not policies of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

If you are seeking a job. . .

If you are interested in a teaching-assistant job rather than a research job, contact Dr. Julia Hodges, the head of the department.  

The following explains my hiring practices only.

Usually, I openly advertise when a position is available to work for me.  I do not want your resume unless I am currently seeking applicants.  I am willing to hire students whose major professor is someone else.

I consider a research-assistant position to be a job for a student, not a grant.  At any point in time, only a few students are my employees. I only hire for research-related jobs that I supervise, such as graduate research assistants and undergraduate assistants.

If you are not yet a student at MSU. . .

• If you want a job, see above.
• If you want information about admissions, see the Department of Computer Science and Engineering Web site.
• If you want to know the status of your application, check the University's admissions system or send an email to the office staff (office@cse.msstate.edu).

After you arrive, as a new graduate student, the Graduate Coordinator (currently me) will be your temporary advisor to help you select courses. Later, you will choose a major professor who will be your permanent advisor.  Your goal is to select a major professor by the middle of your second semester here.
 

If you are a graduate student seeking a major professor. . .

 I am not willing to be major professor for graduate students in Computer Engineering, but I sometimes serve as a Committee member.

If you would like an appointment to see me, sign up for an open time slot on the calendar posted by my office door.  If you are not a member of the MSU community, send me an email suggesting an appointment day/time.  I have decided to put all my appointments on the MSU Web portal. If you are a member of the MSU community, check my availability for an appointment by:
1. Using a Web browser, log in to http://oncampus.msstate.edu
2. Click the My Calendar area
3. Click "Calendars"
4. Click "Subscribe"
5. Search for "Edward B. Allen" or "Allen"
6. Check Dr. Edward B. Allen's calendar
7. Click "Ok"
8. Click "Dr. Edward B. Allen" to view my calendar. It will say "Busy" when I am not available.

I never have funds to financially support all students whom I advise as major professor. Do not expect preference for a job from me just because I become your major professor.  In my view, selecting a major professor is independent from finding financial support.
 
If I become your major professor, I will expect you to participate in the Empirical Software Engineering research group, which meets weekly for one hour.  It is not a course for credit. Its purpose is mutual help.

If you are considering a Ph.D degree. . .

If you do not have a Master's degree yet, I recommend that you pursue an M.S. degree in Computer Science before enrolling for a Ph.D. degree.  This is not required, but it is my opinion.

The goal of a Ph.D. degree is for you to become a computer science researcher. Completion of a dissertation is determined by research results, not by duration or effort.  Consequently, different students take different amounts of time and effort (and Research credits) to  complete their Ph.D. degree.

My research interests are in the following areas.

• No-surprises software development
• Software metrics
• Software process
• Software quality
• Certification of software for critical applications
  
• Software verification
• Software reliability
• Software security
• Empirical methods in software engineering

I am willing to work with you on other software-engineering dissertation topics, as well.  When appropriate, your Dissertation Director may be a different person from your Major Professor.  I am willing to perform either role.

I require all of my students to typeset their reports, proposals, and dissertations using LaTeX, so that conforming to departmental formatting requirements is assured.  Learning LaTeX requires some work, but tools are available.

If you are considering an M.S. thesis. . .

The goal of a thesis is for you to participate in research that integrates your M.S. studies.  In my opinion, a thesis should be about the same amount of work as two challenging courses (6 credits).  In addition, a thesis proposal entails a review of relevant literature which is often about the same amount of work as one course.  However, completion of a thesis is determined by research results, not by duration or effort.  Consequently, different students take different amounts of time and effort (and Research credits) to  complete their theses.

My research interests are in the following areas.

• No-surprises software development
• Software metrics
• Software process
• Software quality
• Certification of software for critical applications
  
• Software verification
• Software reliability
• Software security
• Empirical methods in software engineering

I am willing to work with you on other software-engineering thesis topics, as well.  When appropriate, your Thesis Director may be a different person from your Major Professor.  I am willing to perform either role.

I require all of my students to typeset their proposals and theses using LaTeX, so that conforming to departmental formatting requirements is assured.  Learning LaTeX requires some work, but tools are available.

When I am major professor,  we try to follow this schedule.
 

Schedule	Milestone
During first semester:
	1. Select major professor
	2. Begin to learn to use LaTeX for typesetting term papers, etc.
	3. Choose a thesis topic.
	4. Select your Committee.
3 semesters prior to graduation:
	5. (optional) Enroll in 3 credits of CS 8000 Research/Thesis  instead of a course.
	6. Perform review of relevant literature and plan research.
	7. Write thesis proposal and present to Committee  before beginning of next-to-last semester.
During next-to-last semester:
	8. Enroll in 3 credits of CS 8000 Research/Thesis.
	9. Perform technical work of thesis.
	10. Write draft material for thesis.
During last semester:
	11. Enroll in 3 credits of CS 8000 Research/Thesis.
	12. Write thesis. Complete draft is due to Dr. Allen at mid-term  (earlier in Summer).
	13. Revise thesis to satisfy Dr. Allen
By due date for defense:	14. Defend thesis and take comprehensive exam.
As soon as possible	15. Revise thesis to satisfy Committee.
By due dates:	16. Submit approved thesis for all subsequent approvals, including finally, approval by the Library.

If you are considering an M.S. project. . .

The goal of a Computer Science project is to give you a "professional experience" that integrates your M.S. studies.  A project should be about the same amount of work as a challenging course (3 credits).  However, completion of a project is determined by results, not by duration or effort.  The following are examples of projects in software engineering.

• You develop or enhance a software package for a client.
• You perform a consulting service for a client, such as data analysis.

Unless your client has another preference, I require all of my students to typeset their project reports using LaTeX, so that conforming to departmental formatting requirements is assured.  Learning LaTeX requires some work, but tools are available.

When I am major professor,  we try to follow this schedule.
 

Schedule	Milestone
During second semester:
	1. Select major professor
	2. Begin to learn to use LaTeX for typesetting term papers, etc.
	3. Choose a project topic and identify your client.
	4. Select your Committee.
During next-to-last semester:
	5. (optional) Enroll in 3 credits of CS 8080 Directed Project
	6. Write a project contract.
	7. Obtain approval of contract by client and Committee.
	8. Perform most of technical work
During last semester:
	9. Enroll in 3 credits of CS 8080 Directed Project.
	10. Complete technical work.
	11. Write project report. Complete draft is due to Dr. Allen at mid-term  (earlier in Summer).
	12. Revise project report to satisfy Dr. Allen.
By due date for comprehensive exam:	13. Present project to Committee and take comprehensive exam.
As soon as possible.	14. Revise project report to satisfy Committee.

If you are considering an M.S. courses-only option. . .

When I am major professor,  we try to follow this schedule.
 

Schedule	Milestone
During second semester:
	1. Select major professor
During last semester:
By due date for comprehensive exam:	2. Take comprehensive exam.

--- Edward B. Allen

Last Updated:7 May 2008