Computer science and engineering faculty member named distinguished professor

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Mahmut Taylan Kandemir, professor of computer science and engineering at Penn State, has been named a distinguished professor, one of the highest professorial distinctions at the University. 

Distinguished professors “demonstrate significant leadership by raising University standards with respect to teaching, research or creative activity and service; cultivating excellent teaching skills; and contributing significantly to the education of students who later are recognized for excellence in their fields,” according to the Penn State Faculty Affairs website. Kandemir was selected following a recommendation from Justin Schwartz, the Harold and Inge Marcus Dean in the College of Engineering. 

“This honor recognizes Dr. Kandemir’s hard work and excellence as a researcher and professor,” said Chita Das, distinguished professor and computer science and engineering department head. “The Department of Computer Science and Engineering is proud to have faculty members like Dr. Kandemir, and we are looking forward to his continued successes.”

Kandemir has been a Penn State faculty member in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering since 1999. His research interests include compilers, computer architecture, high-performance storage and drug discovery. 

Kandemir was named an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers fellow in 2016, and he was a recipient of the National Science Foundation CAREER award in 2000. He received the Penn State Engineering Society’s Outstanding Research Award in 2018. 

Kandemir received his doctoral degree in computer science from Syracuse University and his bachelor and master’s degrees in computer and control engineering from Istanbul Technical University in Turkey.