

Alexi Turcotte


Alexi Turcotte is a PhD student at Northeastern’s Khoury College of Computer Sciences focusing on programming languages, advised by Professor Jan Vitek. He comes from Sudbury, Ontario in Canada. He earned his BS in Mathematics and Computer Science from Laurentian University and his MMath in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo.
Turcotte’s research extensively covers programming languages, from low-level compiler hacking to broad-strokes language design and formalization. He seeks to bridge the gap between the abstract and practical components of programming languages. He was drawn to the field because of its connection to abstract algebra, an early interest of his.
I started my undergrad as a BA in Political Science, switched to BA Math, and settled on BS Math & Computer Science. I then found myself at the University of Waterloo, pursuing an MMath in Computer Science. The rest is, well, now.
I’m broadly interested in Programming Languages research, with no specific focus on any particular area therein. From low level compiler hacking to broad-strokes language design and formalization, I like to think that there’s always an interesting problem to be found. My original plan was to become a diplomat, so I can’t say that I ever imagined being where I am now. Life is full of surprises.
Any two pieces of programming languages research can be either incredibly practical or impractically abstract. If I could work towards bridging that gap, I’d be all smiles.
I was drawn to my field because of its connection to abstract algebra (I took a PL course and an algebra course at the same time, maybe I was double-dipping a bit), and I was certainly surprised that high-level abstract math had anything to do with programming.
So far, research is pretty chill. I’d like to stick with that.
I grew up in a crater. Whether or not that defines me, I’ll leave up to you.
Alexi Turcotte is a PhD student at Northeastern’s Khoury College of Computer Sciences focusing on programming languages, advised by Professor Jan Vitek. He comes from Sudbury, Ontario in Canada. He earned his BS in Mathematics and Computer Science from Laurentian University and his MMath in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo.
Turcotte’s research extensively covers programming languages, from low-level compiler hacking to broad-strokes language design and formalization. He seeks to bridge the gap between the abstract and practical components of programming languages. He was drawn to the field because of its connection to abstract algebra, an early interest of his.
I started my undergrad as a BA in Political Science, switched to BA Math, and settled on BS Math & Computer Science. I then found myself at the University of Waterloo, pursuing an MMath in Computer Science. The rest is, well, now.
I’m broadly interested in Programming Languages research, with no specific focus on any particular area therein. From low level compiler hacking to broad-strokes language design and formalization, I like to think that there’s always an interesting problem to be found. My original plan was to become a diplomat, so I can’t say that I ever imagined being where I am now. Life is full of surprises.
Any two pieces of programming languages research can be either incredibly practical or impractically abstract. If I could work towards bridging that gap, I’d be all smiles.
I was drawn to my field because of its connection to abstract algebra (I took a PL course and an algebra course at the same time, maybe I was double-dipping a bit), and I was certainly surprised that high-level abstract math had anything to do with programming.
So far, research is pretty chill. I’d like to stick with that.
I grew up in a crater. Whether or not that defines me, I’ll leave up to you.