KENNESAW, Ga. | Sep 29, 2022

Kennesaw State University faculty member Kun Suo has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to develop and improve the performance of modern computing systems.

The three-year, $325,050 grant will allow Suo, an assistant professor of computer science in Kennesaw State’s College of Computing and Software Engineering (CCSE), to continue his research investigating reasons for the inefficiency of edge computing, in order to boost performance going forward. Suo, who also leads Kennesaw State’s Cloud, Data and Edge Systems Lab, received an NSF grant in 2021 for research involving Internet of Things (IoT).

“Dr. Suo is a very talented researcher and continues to perform high-impact research, which is essential to the mission of our College,” said Paola Spoletini, interim associate dean and software engineering professor in CCSE. “Receiving another NSF grant is a great accomplishment, and I look forward to seeing how his research transforms academic and industry spaces.”

Unlike computing that stores data on remote servers, often referred to as the cloud, edge computing analyzes information close to the source where it’s generated, such as computing systems used in drones. The highly competitive NSF Computing and Communication Foundations Software and Hardware Foundations program supports research in design, operation and evaluation of computer software and hardware. 

“The success of this project will significantly improve quality of service and energy efficiency, while increasing consistency of performance in edge and IoT systems,” Suo said. “We are paving the road to building tomorrow’s high-performance and low-energy computer infrastructures.”

Suo said he also hopes to use this funding to collaborate with industry partners, recruit and mentor minority students and get local K-12 schools involved in his activities.

“This research and grant award will open up opportunities for our students to get involved in building modern computer systems through hardware and software collaboration design,” Suo said. 

– Abbey O’Brien Barrows
Photos by Judy Pishnery

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.