James Weichert

Headshot of James, a 25-year old white man with short brown hair, wearing a collared shirt and blue sweater smiling in front of a blurred outside background.

About Me

Hi, I'm James. 👋

I'm an assistant teaching professor at the University of Washington Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. I teach courses on programming, artificial intelligence, and social impacts of computing. As an educator, my goals are to help students discover and sustain a love for computing, and to promote a vision for computer science as a human-focused, empathetic, and self-critical discipline. My scholarship focuses on the intersections of computing education, AI, ethics, and public policy.

This autumn, I'm teaching CSE 160 and CSE 480.

Office Hours: Wednesdays 11am - 12pm, Thursdays 11:30am - 12:30pm in CSE 456

Coffee Chats: Mondays 1:30 - 3pm in CSE 456 ☕

My 'coffee chats' are open to any UW student and are an opportunity to talk and ask questions about anything ! This includes courses, research, navigating and getting involved on campus, traveling, cooking, Seattle restaurant recommendations, my teaching journey, existential questions, and more!

This is a great opportunity to say hi, for me to get to know you, or to just chill. (bring your own beverage!)

I received an M.S. in Computer Science from Virginia Tech in 2025 and graduated from UC Berkeley in 2023 with majors in computer science and data science and a minor in public policy. In my spare time, I like to travel 🚆, read 📚, and cook 🍳.

What I'm Currently Enjoying...

Teaching

At the University of Washington, I teach courses on introductory programming, AI/ML, and social impacts of computing. I'm especially interested in how to teach with and about artificial intelligence in both introductory and upper-level courses.

University of Washington

Research

My research explores the dual role of CS students as consumers of and learners about AI technologies. I am interested both in what policies might shape the development and use of AI in the public and private sectors, and in how we teach students about AI and its impacts on society.

Publications

2026

2025

2024

Thesis

Connect

Email: jamespw [at] washington [dot] edu
Office: CSE 456

🌮 James' Food Corner 🍜 (more →)

A plate of homemade chicken katsu served with katsu sauce, white rice, and sauteed vegetables.
RecipeKatsu

It's always a good week when Japanese-style katsu is on the menu. I prefer to use chicken thighs over pork cutlets (tonkatsu) to achieve a good balance between crispy exterior and perfectly-cooked meat. Dredge the thinned-out chicken thighs with flour, egg, and panko breading before shallow frying. But the crispy katsu isn't complete without white rice and a heavy drizzle of specialty katsu sauce (e.g. Bulldog brand).