Prof. Susan B. Davidson

ACADEMIC HOST
Prof. Tova Milo
School of Computer Science and AI

Lowy Distinguished Guest Professor
Academic Year 2025/2026, Spring Semester

Education

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA (1982)
• M.A. in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA (1980)
• B.A. in Mathematics (cum laude), Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA (1978)

Professional Experience

• Co-founder and Director, Data Science Master’s Program, SEAS, University of Pennsylvania (2017–present)
• Founder and Chair, Advancing Women, SEAS, University of Pennsylvania (2007–2018)
• Chair, Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Pennsylvania (2008–2013)
• Professor, Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Pennsylvania (1998–present)
• Associate Professor, Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Pennsylvania (1989–1998)
• Assistant Professor, Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Pennsylvania (1983–1989)
• Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Pennsylvania (1982)
• Secondary Appointment, Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (2000–2003)
• Co-founder and Co-director, Center for Bioinformatics, University of Pennsylvania (1997–2003)

Fellowships and Awards

• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2022)
• Corresponding Fellow, Royal Society of Edinburgh (2015)
• Fellow, Association for Computing Machinery (2001)
• Chair, Board of Directors, Computing Research Association (2015–2019)
• Associate Editor, Journal of Computational Biology (1997–present)
• Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching (2023)
• Ruth and Joel Spira Award for Excellence in Teaching (2021)
• VLDB Women in Database Research Award (2021)
• IEEE Technical Committee on Data Engineering Impact Award (2017)
• Trustees’ Council of Penn Women/Provost Award (2015)
• Lenore Rowe Williams Award (2002)
• Fulbright Scholar and recipient of Hitachi Chair (2004)

Research Interests

• Information modeling and management
• Database systems
• Distributed systems
• Bioinformatics
• Data integration and exchange
• Representation and management of incomplete and semi-structured information
• Provenance tracking and management
• Scientific workflows
• Development of degree programs in bioinformatics and computational biology