Nikil D. Dutt

2017 Distinguished Academic Achievement Alumni Award

A Chancellor's Professor of CS, Cognitive Sciences, and EECS at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), Nikil Dutt is well known for his work in embedded systems, electronic design automation, and computer architecture. 

His research projects have addressed topics in high-level synthesis of hardware from abstract behaviors, exploration of novel processor and memory architectures, cross-layer design of embedded systems, and neuromorphic computing.  His research has been recognized by multiple best paper awards at embedded systems and EDA conferences.

Dutt has taught a variety of courses in digital design and embedded systems. His informal teaching style, combined with the ability to explain difficult concepts using real-life examples, has students consistently ranking Dutt among the best teachers in his department. In fact, Dutt has received four UCI campus teaching and mentoring awards. Six of his doctoral students have received academic dissertation-related awards. 

Dutt is a Fellow of the ACM  and the IEEE , and currently serves on the ACM Publications Board, as well as on the advisory boards of several ACM and IEEE groups. He also serves as Associate Director for UCI’s Center for Cognitive Neuroscience & Engineering (CENCE).