Orrin E. and Margaret M. Taulbee Graduate Award for Excellence in Computer Science

In 1966, Dr. Orrin Taulbee founded Pitt’s Department of Computer Science and served as its chair until 1984—an amazingly long time to hold that position. Following his time at Pitt, Taulbee sered as a visiting scientist at the National Bureau of Standards in 1971. Taulbee was a founding member of the Computing Science Board, now called the Computer Research Association (CRA), in 1972. Since 1974, the CRA has conducted an annual Taulbee Survey, which is the principal source of information on the enrollment, production, and employment of Ph.D.s in information, computer science and computer engineering (I, CS & CE) and in providing salary and demographic data for faculty in I, CS & CE in North America.The survey is named in tribute to Taulbee's efforts to collect important data on students and faculty in computing higher-education. Read here to learn more about Dr. Taulbee. 

In October 1989, the four sons of Dr. Taulbee initiated this award in memory and honor of their parents.
To be considered for the annual award, a candidate must:

• be a full-time PhD student, with a high QPA,
• pass the PhD preliminary exams and make significant progress towards the degree,
• complete at least two semesters with classroom experience as a teaching assistant or teaching fellow with evidence of outstanding teaching skills demonstrate strong research interests, as confirmed by the faculty advisor show a marked interest in pursuing an academic career.