Leo Tenenbaum
Computer Science Specialist
Math Minor
University College
Already living in Toronto and curious about the deeper concepts behind programming, Leo Tenenbaum chose the University of Toronto (U of T) to explore the theoretical side of computer science. What began as a one-semester research course evolved into a year-long experience that led to a joint first-author publication at ASPLOS 2025. Through their research on microarchitectural side channels, they discovered the trial-and-error nature of academic work and gained valuable hands-on experience in real-world computer science research. As they graduate, they reflect on how that journey, though intense, offered insights that will stay with them long after they leave U of T.
This Q&A has been edited for clarity and length.
What inspired you to study computer science at U of T?
I'd been interested in computer programming for many years and really wanted to learn more, especially about the more theoretical aspects of computer science. I was already living in Toronto and had heard that U of T had a great computer science department, so it was only natural to apply.
How did you get involved in research, and what did you learn from those experiences?
I got involved in research through the CSC494 Computer Science Project course. What started as a one-semester research course evolved into a year-long journey, culminating in a publication. I learned a great deal about microarchitectural side channels, as well as more broadly about the process of conducting academic research in computer science, formatting an academic paper, and navigating the review process.
You published a paper as a joint first author at ASPLOS'25, a premier computer systems conference. Tell us more about that research experience.
It was definitely an enlightening experience. One thing that stuck out to me is the amount of time spent on things that turned out to be dead ends. Of all the work we did, only a small fraction ended up in the final paper. However, it's impossible to know ahead of time what will work and what won't, so you simply have to keep trying new things. Overall, I found the process to be pretty stressful at times, but I'm glad I got to learn a bit about what it's like to do research in CS, even if I don't continue down that path.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to incoming students?
Don't bite off more than you can chew. I know some people who had to miss lectures because they had so much going on, but that only made things worse as they fell behind in their courses. It's better to drop a course early on and take one in the summer than to end up drowning in work and stressed out about exams you aren't prepared for.