The Department of Computer Science
Founded in 1962, the Department of Computer Science was created to be an innovative base of knowledge in the emerging field of computing as the first degree-awarding program in the United States. The department continues to advance the computer science industry through research. Graduates of the program are able to solve complex and challenging problems in many fields. The increasing centrality of computer science in academic disciplines and society, and new research activities - centered around data science, artificial intelligence, programming languages, theoretical computer science, machine learning, and cybersecurity - are the future focus of the department.
Purdue Computes
As student interest in computing-related majors and the societal impact of artificial intelligence and chips continue to rise rapidly, Purdue has launched a new major initiative, Purdue Computes, consisting of four dimensions that will connect faculty and students from across the institution and enable the university to advance to the forefront with unparalleled excellence at scale.STORIES CELEBRATING 60PURDUE COMPUTESOUR HISTORYCELEBRATIONS OF THE 60TH
Take Your Next Giant Leap Department of Computer Science in Indianapolis
News
Tan selected as a Purdue University Faculty Scholar
Lin Tan, Mary J. Elmore New Frontiers Professor of Computer Science at Purdue University, has been selected as a University Faculty Scholar by the Office of the Provost. The University Faculty Scholars Program recognizes outstanding faculty members who are on an accelerated path for academic distinction. Recipients of this honor have the rank of tenured associate or full professor and have been in that rank for no more than five years. Faculty scholars are nominated by their academic areas, reviewed by a committee in the College of Science, and approved by the provost. Faculty Scholars are appointed for a five-year term and receive an annual $10,000 discretionary allocation to support their research. The program was created in 1998. Tan will begin her five-year term on July 1, 2025.
Purdue graduate programs again rank among the nation’s finest
In the 2025 U.S. News & World Report graduate rankings, Purdue’s Department of Computer Science was recognized in three specialty areas: programming languages and computer systems both ranked No. 13, and artificial intelligence ranked No. 23. These rankings reflect the department's role in advancing Purdue's broader computing and AI initiatives.
A more efficient way to notify the CPU
Purdue University researchers have developed a fast, flexible notification system for CPU cores that eliminates the need for polling, a method where a core constantly checks for new tasks. Polling is inefficient and wastes valuable computing resources, especially in datacenters. The new system, called extended interrupt (xUI), reduces overhead by enabling CPUs to stay focused on tasks until a quick, low-impact interrupt signals new work. Published in ASPLOS and awarded Best Paper, this research was led by PhD student Berk Aydogmus and Assistant Professor Kazem Taram, in collaboration with the University of California San Diego.
Purdue CS PhD Student earns Amazon Fellowship for research in AI security
Kaiyuan Zhang, a Ph.D. candidate in Purdue University’s Department of Computer Science, has been awarded the prestigious Amazon Fellowship for his research in AI security and privacy. His work focuses on making large language models (LLMs) safer and more responsible by mitigating security and privacy risks.