In the ever-evolving world of computing, few names resonate with the depth of impact and innovation as Rajesh K Gupta. A brilliant computer scientist, seasoned educator, and thought leader, Gupta has continuously redefined the frontiers of cyber-physical systems (CPS), embedded microsystems, and data science. With an academic journey that began in India and culminated in shaping some of the most pioneering initiatives in the United States, Rajesh K Gupta’s story is one of vision, perseverance, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence.
Rajesh K Gupta: From IIT Kanpur to Silicon Valley – The Spark of Innovation
Born in 1961, Rajesh K Gupta laid the groundwork for his extraordinary career at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, graduating with a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering in 1984. Armed with curiosity and drive, he moved to the United States, earning his MS from UC Berkeley in 1986 and later his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 1994. These academic milestones marked the beginning of a transformative journey across academia, industry, and global innovation.
Before entering academia, Gupta was part of three successful processor design teams at Intel Corporation. His experience as a circuit designer grounded him in the practical challenges of computing, helping him blend theoretical research with real-world applicability. This ethos has guided his work ever since.
Engineering the Future of Cyber-Physical Systems
A defining focus keyword in Rajesh K Gupta’s life’s work is cyber-physical systems. Long before CPS became a mainstream academic field, Gupta was pioneering models, tools, and architectures that would revolutionise how systems interact with the physical world. His research brought to life the conceptual underpinnings of technologies that are now powering smart cities, autonomous systems, and intelligent healthcare solutions.
As the Qualcomm Professor in Embedded Microsystems at UC San Diego, Gupta has led groundbreaking efforts to optimise the design of embedded systems, with tangible contributions like SystemC and SPARK parallelising high-level synthesis—both now cornerstones in industrial design automation. These innovations empowered designers to create more efficient, reliable, and scalable systems-on-chip, fundamentally changing the game for embedded computing.
Rajesh K Gupta: Building Institutions for Impact
Innovation is not only about discovery—it’s about building ecosystems that sustain and amplify change. Rajesh K Gupta is a master of both.
He co-led the NSF MetroInsight Project, investigating the intersection of urban informatics, embedded systems, and energy efficiency. He served as the Associate Director of the Qualcomm Institute, nurturing cross-disciplinary collaborations to explore how technology can transform health, environment, and society.
But perhaps most impactful was his role as the founding co-director of the Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute (HDSI). Here, he helped create one of the first data science institutes of its kind—an interdisciplinary haven for scholars and innovators in AI, computing, statistics, and the social sciences. His leadership paved the way for a new era of research and education where data is not just analysed but humanised and operationalised for societal benefit.
Leading SCIDS into the Future
In 2025, Rajesh K Gupta took on a historic new role: founding dean of the School of Computing, Information, and Data Sciences (SCIDS) at UC San Diego. Built on the foundation of HDSI and the San Diego Supercomputer Centre, SCIDS represents a bold vision for the future, where computing meets cognition, and algorithms fuel actionable insights for the world.
“This is more than the launch of a new school,” Gupta shared. “It’s a moment to design a new kind of academic enterprise, one that places data science at the heart of interdisciplinary discovery.”
His mission is to turn SCIDS into a crucible of research, education, and real-world transformation. With AI, big data, and cyber-physical systems reshaping every industry, SCIDS under Gupta’s leadership is poised to become a global leader in academic innovation.
Recognition and Global Influence
Rajesh K Gupta’s work has not gone unnoticed. A Fellow of the IEEE, ACM, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he has received numerous honours, including the IEEE W. Wallace McDowell Award for seminal contributions to microelectronic systems and CPS.
He has held the INRIA International Chair in France and served on the Infosys Prize jury, recognising talent across engineering and computer science. His editorships at IEEE Embedded Systems Letters and IEEE Design & Test of Computers reflect his enduring influence on scholarly thought and publication.
Beyond awards, Gupta’s mentorship has shaped a generation of researchers, engineers, and educators, extending his legacy across labs and classrooms around the globe.
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