10/18/2024 Lilli Bresnahan
Written by Lilli Bresnahan
Grainger Engineer Deming Chen has been named the new co-director of the IBM-Illinois Discovery Accelerator Institute. He will succeed Materials Science & Engineering Professor David Cahill, who has co-led the institute since its founding in 2021.
“What excites me most about taking on this role is the chance to help lead an institute that’s right at the cutting edge of research and discovery,” said Chen, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and faculty member in the Coordinated Science Laboratory.
Deming Chen joined the ECE department in 2005 and has been a full professor since 2015. Chen is the director of AMD-Xilinx Center of Excellence at UIUC, an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Fellow, a seconded faculty member for the Illinois ARCS in Singapore since March 2010, and the Editor-in-Chief of ACM Transactions on Reconfigurable Technology and Systems (TRETS). He has also engaged in numerous start-up companies, received multiple awards, and has published more than 280 journals and papers.
Chen has co-led the hybrid cloud thrust at the institute, working to expand the potential edge of computing and cloud security across private and public clouds. The Abel Bliss Professor of Engineering’s research focused on confidential computing with heterogeneous accelerators in hybrid clouds.
As co-director, alongside IBM co-director Fabio Oliveira, Chen’s priorities are to position the institute as a global leader in confronting challenges through research in hybrid cloud and AI, quantum computing, materials discovery, and sustainability.
“These are key areas where technological innovation can have a profound and lasting impact on society,” Chen said. “This will involve defining new research and educational goals, building partnerships, and ensuring that our work aligns with broader societal and industry needs.”
Through progressing key technologies in hybrid cloud and AI, quantum computing, materials discovery, and sustainability, Chen envisions advancements in research for the future that focuses on the challenges faced globally.
“By leveraging the combined expertise of IBM and Illinois researchers, we aim to push the boundaries of hybrid cloud capabilities to not only serve AI workloads but also facilitate scientific advancements,” Chen said.
According to Chen, it is important that IIDAI fosters breakthroughs that can be translated into real-world applications.
After the leadership changeover, Cahill will no longer be affiliated with IIDAI. The Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering co-led the institute with hybrid cloud services research director of IBM, Daby Sow. Cahill has been with the University since 1991, and was head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering from 2010-2018. Globally, he has been recognized for his work on thermal transport at the nanoscale, discovering materials with augmented thermal function, evaluating the interactions between phonons, electrons, photons and spin, and progressing fundamental knowledge of interfaces between materials and water.
Additionally, Lav Varshney will assume Chen’s previous role as co-lead of the Hybrid Cloud & AI thrust. A professor of electrical and computer engineering, Varshney served as a principal research scientist at Salesforce Research from 2019 to 2020, focusing on AI ethics and AI for Good. From 2010 to 2013, he led the development of the globally recognized Chef Watson computational creativity system at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center. He also held research positions at MIT, internships in industry, and various visiting scientist roles. His research spans AI, information theory, data science, and creativity.
“The institute’s research focuses on some of the most transformative areas, each with the potential to drive huge changes in both industry and academia,” Chen said. “It's a unique moment to guide and grow something that's positioned to make a real impact.”
Grainger Engineering Affiliations
Deming Chen joined the Illinois Grainger Electrical and Computer Engineering department in 2005 and has been a full professor since 2015. Additionally, he is a research professor in the Coordinated Science Laboratory, an affiliate professor in the Computer Science department, and the director of AMD-Xilinx Center of Excellence. In addition, he has been a seconded faculty member for the Illinois ARCS center in Singapore since March 2010. He is an IEEE Fellow, an ACM Distinguished Speaker, and the Editor-in-Chief of ACM Transactions on Reconfigurable Technology and Systems (TRETS).
David Cahill is the Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering, professor of Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE), and was co-Director of the IBM Illinois Discovery Accelerator Institute from 2021-2024. He is a professor in the department of MatSe and was the department head of MatSE from 2010 to 2018. He is a fellow of the Materials Research Society, the American Physical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2023.
Lav Varshney is an associate professor in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Coordinated Science Laboratory, with further affiliations in Computer Science, Neuroscience, Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering, Digital Agriculture, and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. Additionally, he is a Center for Advanced Study Fellow at the University.
The Grainger College of Engineering IBM- Illinois Discovery Accelerator Institute is a 10-year collaboration between IBM, the state of Illinois and the University funded by a $200 million investment. The institute works to increase access to technology education and improve skill development to enable advancements in areas of technology like hybrid cloud and AI, quantum computing, accelerated materials discovery, and sustainability. The goal of these breakthroughs is discovering solutions to global challenges.