Biography:
Cecilia Rodriguez Aragon is an American computer scientist, professor, author, and champion aerobatic pilot who has made significant contributions in multiple fields throughout her career. She is best known as the co-inventor of the treap data structure, a type of binary search tree that orders nodes by adding a priority as well as a key to each node. Her work in this area has had a lasting impact on computer science and data structure design.
Aragon’s passion for mathematics led her to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from the prestigious California Institute of Technology in 1982. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Science from the University of California, Berkeley in 1987. Finally, in 2004, she earned her Ph.D. in computer science from the same institution, where she worked under the direction of Marti Hearst. This strong educational foundation provided her with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in her future endeavors.
Throughout her career, Aragon has held various positions that have allowed her to make valuable contributions in the field of computer science. She has worked as a computer scientist and data scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for six years and the NASA Ames Research Center for nine years. Her work in these organizations focused on data-intensive science and visual analytics of very large data sets.
Currently, Aragon serves as a professor in the Department of Human Centered Design and Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle. Her research interests in the field of human-centered data science include eScience, scientific and information visualization, visual analytics, image processing, collaborative creativity, analysis of spontaneous text communication, dynamic affect detection, and games for good. Her expertise in these areas has contributed to advancements in data analysis and visualization techniques.
One of Aragon’s notable achievements is receiving the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) on July 9, 2009. This prestigious award is the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on outstanding scientists and engineers in the early stages of their independent research careers. Aragon was recognized for her seminal research in workflow management and visual analytics for data-intensive scientific research, including the development of the Fourier contour analysis algorithm and Sunfall.
In addition to her contributions to computer science, Aragon has also made a significant impact in the field of aerobatic aviation. She is an accomplished aerobatic pilot and holds the record for the shortest time from first solo in an airplane to membership on the United States Aerobatic Team, achieving this feat in less than six years. Aragon was the first Latina to win a slot on the team, and she represented the United States from 1991 to 1994. She achieved a bronze medal at the 1993 U.S. National Aerobatic Championships and the 1994 World Aerobatic Championships. Throughout her career, she has won over 70 trophies in regional aerobatic competitions and was the California State Unlimited Aerobatic Champion in 1990. Aragon’s expertise in aerobatics has also led her to work as a flight instructor and to establish one of the first aerobatic and tailwheel flight schools in Northern California in 1989.
Cecilia Rodriguez Aragon’s diverse range of accomplishments in computer science, aviation, and academia have solidified her status as a trailblazer and role model for women in these fields. Her groundbreaking work in data-intensive science, visual analytics, and the treap data structure has had a profound impact on the advancement of technology. At the same time, her achievements in aerobatic aviation serve as an inspiration to young women interested in pursuing careers in traditionally male-dominated fields. Aragon’s dedication to excellence and her commitment to pushing the boundaries of knowledge make her an outstanding figure in women’s history.
Awards:
– Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) (2009)