The flow of computer science students between Harvard and MIT has occurred as Harvard’s program has grown stronger in recent years, according to Harvard and MIT professors.

“I think the Harvard computer science faculty has become very strong over the last few years and are now offering many interesting classes,” wrote Srinivas Devadas, chair of graduate study in computer science and professor of electrical engineering and computer science at MIT, in an e-mail.

According to Margo I. Seltzer, associate dean for computer science and engineering at Harvard, the number of computer science faculty has doubled to 19 in the past six years.

John G. Morrisett, a prominent professor in programming languages, is the most recent newcomer.

“There has always been a trickle [of MIT students]. As we get bigger, there’s more chance of that happening,” says Steven J. Gortler, director of undergraduate studies in computer science.

But Harvard professors say despite their growth, the department remains small—and that this size helps keeps them competitive.

“We’ll never be a big as MIT, and thus we make every hiring decision carefully,” wrote Michael D. Smith, McKay professor of computer science and electrical engineering, in an e-mail.

“We have quite a few very well-known senior faculty and some young faculty that are viewed as rising stars.”

The Harvard computer science faculty, though much smaller than that of MIT, is strong in computer systems and theory, according to Devadas.

Associate Professor of Computer Science Michael D. Mitzenmacher ’91 says that there may be other differences as well, although some of these impressions may be “out of date.”

“I think the long-standing impression has been that Harvard’s courses are more theoretical than MIT’s, which has more of a hacking culture,” he said.

COMMUNITY

Another factor facilitating student exchange is collaboration between Harvard and MIT, according to professors.

MIT professors will often recommend the courses of Harvard professors whose research they have heard of or taken part in.

“Salil Vadhan is well-known by the math and computer science department at MIT,” says Kevin M. Matulef, an MIT graduate student taking CS 225. “He was a graduate student at MIT, and the people at MIT have encouraged collaboration.”