Tamer Özsu

Dr. M. Tamer Özsu is a University Professor in David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science at the University of Waterloo where he holds a Cheriton Faculty Fellowship. He also holds a Distinguished Visiting Professor position at Tsinghua University (China). He was the Director of the Cheriton School of Computer Science from January 2007 to June 2010, and the Associate Dean of Research of the Faculty of Mathematics from January 2014 to June 2016. He holds a Ph.D. (1983) and an MS (1981) in Computer and Information Science from

The Ohio State University (1983) and a B.S. (1974) and M.S. (1978) in Industrial Engineering from the Middle East Technical University (1974). Prior to joining University of Waterloo in 2000, he was with the University of Alberta, Department of Computing Science (1984-2000) where he served as the Acting Chair of the Department of Computing Science during 1994-1995. He has held visiting positions at GTE Laboratories (USA), INRIA Rocquencourt (France), GMD-IPSI, (Germany), University of Jyväskylä (Finland), Technical University of Darmstadt (Germany), University of Udine (Italy), University of Milano (Italy), ETH Zürich (Switzerland), and National University of Singapore.

Dr. Özsu's research is broadly in data science focusing on data engineering. His research follows two threads: large-scale data distribution, and management of non-traditional data (i.e., non-relational data). Currently, his research focus is on graph data and RDF data. Previously his research focus was on object systems, image, video, XML data, and their management in a distributed environment.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He is an elected member of the Science Academy of Turkey, and a member of Sigma Xi. He is the recipient of the IEEE Innovation in Societal Infrastructure Award (2022), CS-Can/Info-Can Lifetime Achievement Award (2018), ACM SIGMOD Test-of-Time Award (2015), the ACM SIGMOD Contributions Award (2006), and The Ohio State University College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award (2008). He is the four-time recipient of the University of Waterloo Outstanding Performance Award (2004, 2009, 2014, 2019). He has held Cheriton Faculty Fellowships (2013--2016, 2018--2024), a University Research Chair position (2004-2011), and a Faculty Research Fellowship (2000--2003) at the University of Waterloo, and a McCalla Research Professorship (1993--1994) at the University of Alberta.