Tobias E. Smith, Jr.

Graduate Student at the University of South Florida
major: Computer Science focusing on Database


About Me

Hi! My name is Tobias E. Smith, Jr. I am a 4th year Computer Science Ph.D. student
at the University of South Florida. My research is on Database Optimization.
The story about how I got started on the path towards Database research is
actually kind of funny. When I was a young kid, I was fully of energy and mischief.
I wasn't bad mind you. Just rambunctious. One year around the middle of October, I
saw an early advertisement for Christmas and it got me thinking about toys and Santa
and The List. I had been a bit more of a handful than usual that year
and I was little worried as a result that I might not end up on the Good list. So
being a rather enterprising young fellow, I grabbed the bull by the horns and contacted
the big man himself with a proposal to ensure that I wouldn't be crying on Christmas
morning. I told him that with a world wide toy distribution operation involving hundreds of
elves and reindeer and billions of toys, he desperately needed a database to keep it all
organized and running smoothly and I was just the boy to create it for him. He loved the
idea. So I started working for Santa that very day and thus my love affair with databases
began. In case you are wondering, Christmas that year was WONDERFUL! The picture above is
of me last summer visiting "Uncle" Santa at the North Pole. I'm kind of an honorary Elf.


Education

Ph.D., Computer Science, University of South Florida, Tampa Florida (2011 - present)
M.B.A., Marketing and Organizations/Markets, Goizueta Business School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA (2005-2007)
B.S., Computer Science and Math, Perdue University, West Lafayette, IN (2001-2005)

If you would like to learn more about me, my education and research, click here.