David W. Jacobs

David W. Jacobs is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Maryland, with a joint appointment at the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS). He also served as the interim Director of the University of Maryland Center for Machine Learning starting in 2018.

• University: University of Maryland
• School: College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences
• Department: Department of Computer Science
• Academic Rank: Professor

Education: He received his B.A. from Yale University, and M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from MIT.

Research Interests: His research primarily focuses on computer vision and machine learning, particularly visual object recognition, lighting variation modeling, 3D reconstruction, perceptual organization, motion understanding, and the integration of vision with graphics and human-computer interaction. A major applied contribution is the development of Leafsnap, an electronic field guide app for plant identification, which has been downloaded over 1.5 million times and used in biodiversity and educational contexts.

Publication Trends: His recent scholarly output centers on deep learning, convolutional networks, residual architectures, generative models (especially GANs), and interpretability. His work often bridges theoretical insights with practical applications in vision and AI.

Scientific Awards:

• Honorable Mention, Best Paper Award, CVPR 2000
• Best Student Paper Award, UIST 2003
• Best Paper Award, Eurographics 2016
• 2011 Edward O. Wilson Biodiversity Technology Pioneer Award for Leafsnap

Teaching and Advising: He has taught advanced courses such as CMSC 422 (Introduction to Machine Learning) and CMSC 828L (Deep Learning). He mentors students through course projects and research, though specific advisees are not listed. He has collaborated with institutions like Columbia University and the Smithsonian on impactful interdisciplinary projects.

Labs and Teams: He is affiliated with UMIACS and leads research efforts in vision and learning, contributing to the University of Maryland Center for Machine Learning. His team has developed several mobile applications including Leafsnap, Birdsnap, and Dogsnap, demonstrating a strong focus on real-world deployment of vision technology.