Over the next two weeks, as we approach the commencement ceremonies for the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences Class of 2025, we will be sharing some senior spotlights of outstanding students from each CEMS department.
Graduating senior Jordan Bourdeau is a double major in Computer Science and Data Science from St Albans, VT. He is the recipient of the 2025 Computer Science Senior Award and the 2025 Outstanding Data Science Senior Award.
How did you choose your major?
Computer Science: I was split between two majors coming into UVM:
- Exercise Science - My family owned a gym, and I really enjoyed my exposure to the fitness world.
- Computer Science - I spent a lot of time on the computer and really enjoyed messing around with it.
I ended up choosing computer science since I thought I would enjoy the coursework more, and because I was worried about choosing a major that overlapped with my hobbies too much, in case I got burned out from it. This second reason didn't quite work out, since I read CS books and program in my free time now.
Data Science: I originally came in as just a computer science major. After hearing Professor Cheney talk about his research area in a first-semester CS 1500, I thought data science sounded so interesting, I added the major that night!
Jordan has been a pleasure to have in class, as part of my research lab, and as part of the UVM community. He excels at every aspect of his work, earning top marks in my graduate-level course despite taking a full courseload, churning out PhD-student-level research despite simultaneously working as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in two labs at once, and a standout at UVM events – building winning projects at the UVM Hackathon and CS Fair – despite intense personal hobbies like powerlifting. Best of all, he has an infectious personality and deep curiosity that bring energy and fun to every encounter. My congratulations to Jordan, we’re glad to have him at UVM for one more year through his AMP, and I can’t wait to see the heights that he reaches after that!”
- Dr. Nick Cheney
Associate Professor
Department of Computer Science
Do you have a memorable research experience from your time in CEMS?
There are too many to pick just one! The most impactful have been:
1. A two-semester independent study on operating system design and implementation with Senior Lecturer Jason Hibbeler: "HibbelerOS" — It was incredibly fun to delve deeper into a topic taught in class, which I found interesting. I highly recommend pursuing an independent study in topics you find interesting with faculty members who teach classes related to it. They are a fantastic way to learn more about what interests you, and get credit for it!
2. Honors College thesis research under Professor Nick Cheney: "Structural Analysis of Sparse Lottery Ticket Neural Networks" — I learned so much about doing open-ended research (and neural networks) during this research. It can be frustratingly slow-going at times, but is immensely rewarding!
3. CIROH (Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology) Research project with Professor Chris Skalka: "Low-Cost Precipitation Phase Partitioning Using Acoustic Data and Machine Learning in the Edge" — This project is so much fun to work on because of how low-level and grounded in the real world it is. There's a practical problem it's trying to solve, and getting there feels like a series of small puzzles. I've learned a lot about doing embedded development through this project.
Is there a class or professor who had a significant impact on your academic journey at UVM?
I can share many! All the faculty members I worked with on the projects I mentioned earlier have had massive impacts on my direction and growth as a student. They've helped me navigate various CS topics, which has led me to the areas of CS that interest me today.
Have any internships or work experience helped to guide you on your career path?
I completed an IT internship at Superior Technical Ceramics in the Summer of 2022 and two internships as a software and design verification intern (Summer 2023, Summer 2024) at Northern Digital Inc.
These opportunities affirmed my desire to work as a software engineer, and my time at NDI made me develop a substantial interest in working with low-level systems.
Jordan has formidable mastery of coding, and I often lean on his vast and arcane knowledge of systems programming in our research together. I’ve worried about the number of projects he’s engaged with, but I’ve learned to step back and simply trust his enthusiasm, work ethic, and talent—he achieves results regardless of how daunting the challenges he accepts.
- Dr. Chris Skalka
Professor and Chair
Department of Computer Science
What are your plans after graduation?
My immediate plans after graduation are to come back for another year! I'm enrolled in the CEMS Accelerated Master's Program (AMP) and will be continuing my work on the CIROH research project as a graduate research assistant, as well as for my master's thesis. After that, I intend to work as a software engineer for at least a few years before either continuing in industry or pursuing a PhD in computer science.
Is there any advice you would share with incoming first-year students?
- Really apply yourself.
- Go deep and explore what interests you.
- Make genuine connections.
Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?
I am particularly proud of my team placing first in the 2025 Hackathon, winning a division in the CS Fair three years in a row, and being awarded the CS Junior award with my good friend Kyrill Serdyuk.
How do you envision your future in the next five years?
I see myself completing my fifth-year accelerated master's program, and going out into industry to work as a software engineer within New England (likely Vermont or Massachusetts). I'm particularly interested in working on embedded, back-end, or data engineering projects.
What extracurricular organizations and activities did you enjoy at UVM?
During my time at UVM, I served as treasurer for the UVM Lifting Club and was a member of UVM Badminton Club.
Parting thoughts?
I have fond memories of playing intramural and club sports at UVM, and wish I'd discovered these opportunities earlier in my degree! I highly encourage everyone to check them out.
