Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science
Name	Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science
Established	1997
Type	Public
Parent	University of Texas at Dallas
Dean	Stephanie G. Adams
City	Richardson, Texas
State	Texas
Country	United States

Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. It is the engineering school of the University of Texas at Dallas, located in Richardson, Texas. Established in the late 1990s, the school has grown into a major center for technological education and research within the University of Texas System. Its programs and research initiatives are closely tied to the high-tech industries of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.

History and establishment

The school was formally established in 1997, named in honor of Erik Jonsson, a co-founder of Texas Instruments and former mayor of Dallas. Its creation was part of a strategic expansion of the University of Texas at Dallas, which itself evolved from the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest founded by Cecil H. Green. Key early support came from the Erik Jonsson Foundation and other philanthropic leaders in the Dallas business community. The school's growth accelerated in the 2000s, aligning with the rise of the Telecom Corridor and the broader tech economy in North Texas.

Academic programs and departments

The school offers a comprehensive range of degrees through its eight academic departments. These include the Department of Computer Science, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and the Department of Mechanical Engineering. It grants bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in fields such as software engineering, bioengineering, and materials science and engineering. Interdisciplinary programs are offered in conjunction with the Naveen Jindal School of Management and the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning, with many students participating in cooperative education programs with major employers like Texas Instruments and Raytheon Technologies.

Research centers and initiatives

Research is organized through numerous centers, including the Texas Analog Center of Excellence, a Semiconductor Research Corporation program. The Center for Robust Speech Systems and the Embedded Security and Signals Processing Lab are also major hubs. The school is a lead partner in the University of Texas at Dallas Wind Energy Center and houses the Alan G. MacDiarmid NanoTech Institute, named for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate. Significant funded research comes from agencies like the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Defense. Key initiatives focus on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing.

Campus and facilities

The school's primary facilities are located on the main campus of the University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, Texas. Major buildings include the Engineering and Computer Science West building and the Natural Science and Engineering Research Laboratory. The Synergy Park North complex provides additional research and incubation space near campus. State-of-the-art labs include the Cleanroom Research Laboratory for nanotechnology and the Motion Capture Laboratory for robotics research. These facilities support collaborative work with entities like the UTDesign capstone program and the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Notable faculty and alumni

The faculty includes distinguished researchers such as Dinesh Bhatia, an expert in biomedical engineering, and Farokh B. Bastani, known for work in software reliability. Notable alumni have achieved prominence in industry and entrepreneurship, including Naveen Jain, founder of InfoSpace and Moon Express, and Linda P. B. Katehi, former chancellor of the University of California, Davis. Graduates hold leadership positions at major corporations like Intel, Qualcomm, and Lockheed Martin, contributing to the school's strong reputation within the global technology sector.

Rankings and recognition

The school is consistently ranked among the top public engineering schools by U.S. News & World Report. Its computer science and electrical engineering graduate programs are particularly highly regarded. The American Society for Engineering Education has recognized its rapid growth in doctoral degree production. Several of its research centers, including the Cyber Security Research and Education Institute, have been designated as centers of excellence by agencies like the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

Category:University of Texas at Dallas Category:Engineering universities and colleges in Texas Category:Computer science schools