About
Affiliations & Roles
Alva Couch holds multiple academic roles at Tufts University as an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and serves as a Professor in the University College Administration. He is affiliated with the School of Engineering and has been a faculty member since 1988.
Education & Career
Ph.D. in Mathematics from Tufts University (1988), B.S. in Architecture from MIT (1978), and B.A. in Bassoon Performance from North Carolina School of the Arts (1978). Joined Tufts in 1982 as a graduate student, becoming an Assistant Professor in 1988 and promoted to Associate Professor in 1994.
Research & Interests
Focuses on configuration management, system administration, autonomic computing, and hydrologic data systems (e.g., HydroShare). Research spans metadata standards (MEDFORD), distributed systems, and interdisciplinary collaboration in hydrology. Known for contributions to system rollback methodologies, closure operators, and troubleshooting frameworks.
Awards & Recognition
- Liebner Award (1996)
- Seymour Simches Award (2017)
- Best Paper Awards at LISA 2005 and AIMS 2008
Teaching
Teaches graduate courses on Operating Systems, Networks, Databases, and Software Engineering. Known for rigorous courses like Comp111 (Operating Systems) and Comp112 (Networks & Protocols).
Personal & Hobbies
Pursues diverse hobbies including photography, kayaking, cycling, and Old-Time Banjo. Active in local Democratic politics and science education advocacy.
