Episode 3: Jelena Mirkovic

Interview with: Jelena Mirkovic. 
Research Associate Professor of Computer Science at USC
Immigrant from Yugoslavia

Episode Guide

In this Episode with Jelena Mirkovic: How Yugoslav society encouraged everyone of all genders to aim for the best schools and professions; How one mentor (Math teacher) can make a difference in a girl’s career choices; Programming in Yugoslav schools in the early 1990s; Going to school/university during the Yugoslav War of 1990s; Feelings of being torn between lands; And a lot more!

• h.mm.ss: Segment Info (Index)
• 1.43: Biography.
• Chapter 1: 2.47-9.28: Yugoslavia and Early Schooling, in the 1970s/1980s.
  • 2.47: Childhood and Yugoslavia memories.
  • 4.34: Did Yugoslavia to Serbia transition affect school education?
  • 5.57: Was Yugoslav school syllabus similar to USSR’s?
  • 6.49: What got her interested in science and math as a child?
• Chapter 2: 9.29-18.21: Early support for her interest in Science, Math, and Education, in the 1980s/1990s.
  • 9.29: Her key mentor – her Math teacher; The Two types of High school in Yugoslavia: Trade School vs. Gymnasium; School Math Competitions.
  • 13.58: Early computer programming experience in Yugoslav school.
  • 15.16: Did parents and society encourage girls and children interested in math/science?
• Chapter 3: 18.21-33.30: High School in 1990s, and BS In University of Belgrade 1993-1998.
  • 18.21: First programming language, and first computer.
  • 19.16: How did she decide to get into Computer Science/Electrical Engineering? The important Entrance Exam to University of Belgrade.
  • 24.34: Starting “fun” work without knowing that it’s called research.
  • 27.47: US System vs. “Flipped” CS education in U. Belgrade
  • 29.50: Representation of Women in CS in U. Belgrade; Effect of prestige of schools on any biases.
  • 31.15: Did the Yugoslav/Balkan wars of the 1990s and affect her life? 
• Chapter 4: 33.30-41.35: Immigration to USA to start PhD, in 1998.
  • 33.30: Why immigrate to the US? 
  • 35.45: After migrating, what was the hardest thing to adapt to? “You don’t have Plan B”; inability to pay rent deposit for apartment in the US. 
  • 38.30: Something most immigrant students will identify with; Yugoslavia vs. US: Her experience of the comparison of expectations, attendance, exams, in courses. 
• Chapter 5: 41.35-48.53: PhD Research at UCLA (1998-2003) and Her Mentors.
  • 41.35: How did she plan for a career in research?
  • 42.49: Other mentors and role models: academic advisor, and PhD advisor at UCLA. Choosing her initial research topic. 
  • 45.38: Why are her favorite research topics her favorites?
• Chapter 6: 48.53-59.45: Perspectives, Retrospectives, Advice.
  • 48.53: Has the education system changed from erstwhile Yugoslavia to now Serbia?
  • 50.43: Dealing with Self-doubt, Impostor Syndrome. 
  • 55.18: Choice of research – choose an area that one likes or a hot area? 
  • 57.24: Choice of career – industry or academia?
• Chapter 7: 59.45-1.07.14: Closing Thoughts.
  • 59.45: Immigrants and the feeling of “being torn” between worlds; Immigrants dealing with family still back in home country.
  • 1.02.47: Did she consider going back to Serbia?

About the Narrator in this Episode

• Jelena Mirkovic, Research Associate Professor of Computer Science at USC. One of the leaders in DeterLab testbed for cybersecurity research.
• Research Areas: Networking, Cybersecurity.
• Jelena Mirkovic’s Immigration Journey
  • 1980s and 1990s: Middle/High schooling in Yugoslavia
  • 1993-1998: BS in Electrical Engineering from University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia
  • 1998-2003: PhD in Computer Science from University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), USA
  • 2003-2007: Faculty of Computer Science at University of Delaware, USA
  • 2007-Present: Research Faculty of Computer Science at University of Southern California (USC), USA.

Links

• US Department of State page on Yugoslavia
• US Department of State page on Serbia
• Wikipedia page on Yugoslavia
• Wikipedia page on Yugoslav Wars

Upcoming Episodes

This was the third episode in a four-episode segment featuring prominent and distinguished Computer Scientists all of whom immigrated from a country that no longer exists, Yugoslavia.

Look for our next episode, featuring the full oral history interview with this narrator: Dejan Milojicic (Episode 4).

We also recommend you listen to the Lead Episode for Yugoslavia (Episode 1). And you can listen to the interview with Nenad Medvidovic (Episode 2).

• Credits
  • Music Credits for Podcast
  • The caption picture at top of page is a view of Belgrade city from across Branko’s Bridge on the Sava River. Pic taken by Indy Gupta.

The Immigrant Computer Scientists Podcast is available for free on your favorite devices & apps: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and many more!