UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Mahmut Kandemir, distinguished professor of computer science and engineering, has been named interim head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) in the Penn State College of Engineering. Kandemir brings decades of academic leadership, research achievements and a deep commitment to mentorship to his new role.
A member of the Penn State faculty for over 20 years, Kandemir has led foundational research in parallel computing, memory and storage systems and machine learning systems. His work spans domains such as energy-efficient architectures, non-volatile memory systems and embedded software, for which he holds multiple patents.
Since 2022, Kandemir has served as associate director of the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences (ICDS) at Penn State, where he helps lead initiatives around high-performance computing, artificial intelligence and quantum technologies. His leadership in ICDS has contributed to major research expansions, including efforts to integrate AI with quantum computing and develop new infrastructure for data-intensive science.
“Penn State’s computer science department has long been a leader in computing research and education, and I’m deeply honored to step into this role at such a critical time,” Kandemir said. “I’m looking forward to collaborating with our exceptional faculty, students and staff as we work toward our common goals of enhancing our research impact, elevating the student experience and cultivating a dynamic academic environment.”
Kandemir has earned several awards during his time at Penn State, including the Outstanding Advising Award from the Penn State Engineering Alumni Society in 2020 and the Penn State Engineering Alumni Society’s Premier Research Award in 2018. Kandemir is in the Hall of Fame of three major computer architecture conferences: International Symposium on Computer Architecture (ISCA), High Performance Computer Architecture (HPCA) and MICRO. He was named a distinguished professor at Penn State in 2021.
“Dr. Kandemir has been a driving force in computer science and engineering, advancing research and mentoring students with remarkable dedication,” said Tonya L. Peeples, the Harold and Inge Marcus Dean of Engineering. “Through his groundbreaking work in compilers, embedded systems and next-generation memory and storage technologies, he has helped position Penn State at the forefront of computing innovation. His continued leadership will inspire the next generation of engineers and strengthen our commitment to cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research.”
The Department of Computer Science and Engineering is recognized for its strengths in systems, artificial intelligence and machine learning, networking and theoretical foundations. With deep ties to research institutes across the university, including ICDS, the department fosters hands-on, student-focused learning in both undergraduate and graduate education.
“As interim department head, I’m eager to work with our faculty and students to amplify these strengths — whether it is through new collaborations, cutting-edge research in emerging areas such as trustworthy or explainable AI, quantum computing and carbon-aware computing, or reimagining how we teach computing,” Kandemir said. “I hope to champion a culture of excellence, transparency and bold vision as we embark on this next phase of our department’s journey.”