Vivek Sarkar named dean of Georgia Tech's college of computing

Sarkar's work has advanced academic understanding of high-performance computing systems and influenced the development of technologies that shape modern society

His research has led to breakthroughs in parallel computing, making complex computations more efficient and easier to program / Linkedin- Vivek Sarkar

Vivek Sarkar has been named as dean and John P. Imlay Jr. chair of the college of computing by Georgia Institute of Technology.

“Sarkar brings experience and expertise to the role, having made significant contributions to computing in academia and industry throughout his distinguished career”, the institute in its release expressed.

Sarkar who will take up his new role from June 1 has also served as chair of the school of computer science and held the Stephen Fleming chair for telecommunications at the university.

"We are thrilled to announce Vivek Sarkar as the new dean of the College of Computing," commented Steven W. McLaughlin, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.

Praising him as an outstanding leader he added, “ Sarkar will bring that leadership to the entire College. He provides the strongest support for our faculty, staff, and students. I am confident he will bring the college to even greater heights and usher in the next era of computing at Tech.”

Sarkar's work has advanced academic understanding of high-performance computing systems and influenced the development of technologies that shape modern society. His research has led to breakthroughs in parallel computing, making complex computations more efficient and easier to program.

In addition to his academic achievements, Sarkar has a passion for mentoring the next generation of computer scientists and engineers. He is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion within the field of computing, ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to succeed, the release informed.

“It will be an honor and a privilege to serve as the next dean of the College of Computing," Sarkar expressed.

“We have a great community of faculty, staff, students, and alumni, and I look forward to all of us pulling together with the rest of the campus and our external partners to further advance our mission of addressing critical challenges related to computing and its impact on society,” he stated.

Before joining Georgia Tech, Sarkar served as the E.D. Butcher Chair in Engineering at Rice University, where he was also chair of the department of computer science. Prior to that, he was at IBM Research as a senior manager and a member of the IBM Academy of Technology.

Sarkar earned his Ph.D. in computer science from Stanford University and has been recognised with numerous awards and honors for his groundbreaking research. He is a fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

Sarkar has served as a member of the US department of energy’s advanced scientific computing advisory committee since 2009, on the computing research association’s board of directors from 2015 to 2022, and as a member of the ACM Council since 2022.

As dean, he will oversee the college of computing’s extensive portfolio of schools, degree programs, research initiatives, and strategic partnerships, further solidifying Georgia Tech as a global leader in computing education and research, the release highlighted.