Benjamin Cassell

Ph.D. in Computer Science
Systems and Networking Group
Supervisor: Tim Brecht

David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
N2L 3G1

Email: becassel AT uwaterloo DOT ca

I am a Ph.D. graduate from the University of Waterloo whose research interests include novel applications of networking technology, user-controlled privacy and utility management, distributed systems and storage, emerging technologies, improving disk throughput and other areas of systems performance, HTTP streaming video servers, real-time and embedded systems, and more. My Erdos number is 3 (Tim Brecht → Charlie Colbourn → Paul Erdos).

Education

Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of Waterloo (May 2012 - August 2019).

B.CS., with distinction - Dean's honours list, University of Waterloo (September 2007 - April 2012).

Teaching

Instructional Apprentice (IA).
CS 136: Elementary Algorithm Design and Data Abstraction (Winter 2018, Spring 2018).
CS 350: Operating Systems (Winter 2014, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Winter 2015, Fall 2015, Fall 2017).
Teaching Assistant (TA).
CS 350: Operating Systems (Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Fall 2013, Winter 2015).
CS 452/652: Real-Time Programming (Winter 2013, Spring 2013, Spring 2015, Winter 2016, Spring 2016, Winter 2017, Spring 2017).

Publications

Projects

Nessie.
The project page for the client-driven Nessie key-value store.
Web APIs, Like Caterpillars, Are Temporary.
A brief examination of the Twitter API and its evolution between versions.
Research project for CS 846: Topics in Software Evolution.
PDF
A Cross-Language Analysis of Parsing Using Automatic Memoization.
An exploration of which programming languages support true automatic memoization techniques.
Research project for CS 842: Functional Parsing.
PDF

Work

Programmer / Analyst, High Performance Computing Solutions.
Bank of Montreal Nesbitt Burns, Toronto, Ontario (January - April 2011, September - December 2011).
Developed and maintained programs and databases used on the trading floor.
Programmer / Systems Analyst, Information Management.
Public Safety Canada, Ottawa, Ontario (September - December 2009, May - August 2010).
Developed and maintained client and web software and databases.
Programmer, Fixed Income Quantitative Research.
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, Toronto, Ontario (January - April 2009).
Developed, upgraded and maintained software and databases on the trading floor.
Support Solution Representative.
Data Deposit Box, Toronto, Ontario (April - August 2008).
Helped administrate and advertise product, and performed technical support for clients.
Customer Service Representative.
Rogers Plus, Whitby, Ontario (July 2006 - September 2007).
Worked till, handled account payments and sales (internet, mobile, phone, tickets), and helped with store maintenance.
Host.
Tim Hortons, Whitby, Ontario (June - September 2005).
Worked till, kitchen, deli and drive-through. Everyone starts somewhere!