Sean Ovens

Sean Ovens

Postdoctoral Fellow

University of Waterloo

About me

I am a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Waterloo. My research focus is the theory of distributed computing. I am particularly interested in proving lower bounds on the time and space complexities of distributed algorithms. I also enjoy studying concurrent data structures, randomized algorithms, and performance profilers and visualizations for multithreaded applications.

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Interests
  • Theory of distributed computing
  • Pottery
  • Badminton
Education

  • PhD in Computer Science, 2023

    University of Toronto

  • MSc in Computer Science, 2019

    University of Calgary

  • BSc in Computer Science, 2017

    University of Calgary

Journal Publications

Sean Ovens (2023). The Space Complexity of Consensus from Swap. J. ACM.

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Conference Publications

Sean Ovens (2024). Determining Recoverable Consensus Numbers. Proceedings of the 2024 ACM Symposium on Principles of Distributed Computing (PODC 2024). Received the Best Paper Award.

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Sean Ovens (2023). Brief Announcement: The Space Complexity of Set Agreement Using Swap. 37th International Symposium on Distributed Computing (DISC 2023).

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Sean Ovens (2022). The Space Complexity of Scannable Objects with Bounded Components. 36th International Symposium on Distributed Computing (DISC 2022).

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Sean Ovens (2022). The Space Complexity of Consensus from Swap. Proceedings of the 2022 ACM Symposium on Principles of Distributed Computing (PODC 2022). Received the Best Paper Award.

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Sean Ovens (2021). The Space Complexity of Scannable Binary Objects. Proceedings of the 2021 ACM Symposium on Principles of Distributed Computing (PODC 2021).

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Sean Ovens, Philipp Woelfel (2019). Strongly Linearizable Implementations of Snapshots and Other Types. Proceedings of the 2019 ACM Symposium on Principles of Distributed Computing (PODC 2019).

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Theses

Sean Ovens (2023). The Space Complexity of Asynchronous Algorithms from Bounded Size Base Objects.

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Sean Ovens (2019). Strongly Linearizable Implementations of Fundamental Primitives.

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Experience

 
 
 
 
 
Teaching Assistant
University of Toronto
Sep 2019 – Apr 2023 Toronto

Responsibilities included marking assessments, preparing and delivering tutorials, and holding office hours.

As a Head TA, I managed other TAs, prepared marking guidelines, ensured assessments were graded in a timely manner, and communicated directly with the course instructor.

So far, I have been a TA for the following courses:

  • CSC2415: Impossibility Results for Distributed Computing (Winter 2023)
  • CSC265: Enriched Data Structures and Analysis (Fall 2022)
  • CSC263: Data Structures and Analysis, Head TA (Winter 2021, Winter 2022)
  • CSC2221: Introduction to the Theory of Distributed Computing (Fall 2020, Fall 2021)
  • CSC236: Introduction to the Theory of Computing (Fall 2019, Winter 2020, Summer 2020)
 
 
 
 
 
Instructor
University of Toronto
May 2022 – Sep 2022 Toronto
CSC263: Data Structures and Analysis. Responsibilities included designing assessments, preparing and delivering lectures, holding office hours, and communicating with students.
 
 
 
 
 
Teaching Assistant
University of Calgary
Sep 2017 – Jun 2019 Calgary

Responsibilities included marking assessments, preparing and delivering tutorials, holding office hours, and occasionally conducting lectures.

I was a TA for the following courses:

  • CPSC319: Data Structures, Algorithms, and their Applications (Winter 2019)
  • CPSC413: Design and Analysis of Algorithms I (Winter 2018, Summer 2018)
  • CPSC313: Introduction to Computability (Fall 2017)

Activities & Service

Workshop Instructor - AI Research School
University of Calgary Jan 2024
Lead an object-oriented programming workshop as part of a program that provided an opportunity for underrepresented groups to participate in AI research.
Mentor - Graduate Application Assistance Program
University of Toronto Oct 2022
Assisted several prospective graduate students through the graduate school application process. This included reviewing and editing cover letters and academic CVs.
Interviewer - Summer Program for Students from Ukraine
University of Toronto Apr 2022
Interviewed undergraduate students whose studies were interrupted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Teaching Fundamentals Certificate
University of Toronto Jan 2022 – Jan 2023
Identified and practiced several fundamental skills in teaching, including course and assessment design, learning analytics, hybrid teaching strategies, and cultural humility.
Participant - UIST 2018 Student Innovation Contest
University of Calgary Oct 2018
Worked with a team to design a prototype of a shoulder-mounted robotic assistant.
Member - Competitive Programming Club
University of Calgary Sep 2015 – Jun 2019
Attended weekly meetings in which members discussed competitive programming topics, held mock competitions, and prepared various workshops for students in computer science and engineering. I had the opportunity to attend programming competitions at several levels, including the Calgary Microsoft College Code Competition (earned 2nd place in 2016), the Calgary Collegiate Programming Contest (earned 5th place in 2018), the Alberta Collegiate Programming Contest (earned 12th place in 2016), and the Rocky Mountain Regional Programming Contest (earned 6th place in 2016).

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