Alexis Gauba ’17, now attending the University of California, Berkeley, is part of a team awarded $10,250 for in-depth research on blockchain protocols specifically focusing on alternative consensus. Blockchain is a method of secure storage originally developed for cryptocurrency and now under development for a variety of uses.
The Blockchain Lab at the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (SCET) at Berkeley posted the news yesterday. Gauba is one of seven members of the team that will investigate blockchain use and development. The team’s grant application was titled “Framework for Cryptoeconomic Incentives in Proof of Stake (PoS) Systems.” Three other teams also received awards, for a total of $50,000.
In its announcement the Blockchain Lab noted, “We are awarding each of these teams to help to support applied and fundamental research that will reduce barriers in the adoption of blockchain and its inclusion in an increasingly digital world with new possibilities for fairness, transparency and efficiency in both financial transactions and information sharing.”
Gauba, who is working on a combined degree in electrical engineering and computer science, is taking the initiative to organize what is expected to be the largest conference to date for women in blockchain. Blockchain at Berkeley is hosting She256: Women in Blockchain Conference on April 23.
Gauba noted, “We want to highlight and connect communities within the blockchain industry that strive for inclusion, equality and professionalism, and are partnering with all similarly committed individuals and organizations in this objective.
“We have designed a program that will explore the groundbreaking research, protocols and specific applications of blockchain, especially in projects led by women in the space. We want to foster collaborations between researchers, professionals and students to help women get access to the right resources and enter the industry with confidence, while also highlighting the achievements of prominent strong women already established in the space. No prior experience in technology, blockchain or computer science is required. We encourage everyone to come, regardless of major or experience level. Celebrate and learn with us!” she added.