Assistant Professor Bryan S. Kim has been named the inaugural recipient of the Pramod and Anju Varshney Endowed Faculty Fellowship at Syracuse University. This fellowship, established by Distinguished Professor Pramod Varshney and his late wife, Anju Varshney, aims to support promising faculty members within the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) who demonstrate a commitment to research and mentorship.
Kim, who has been a part of the College of Engineering and Computer Science since 2019, teaches courses on operating systems, computer organization, and big data storage systems. His research focuses on enhancing the performance, reliability, and scalability of data storage systems, making significant contributions to the field.
Significance of the Fellowship
The establishment of the fellowship reflects the Varshneys’ dedication to fostering academic excellence and innovation. “The Varshney name carries a lot of weight, and I am grateful for the establishment of, and my selection for, the fellowship,” Kim remarked. “I have met many successful researchers and faculty who have been mentored by Professor Varshney. I strive to follow in his footsteps in collaborative research and doctoral student mentoring.”
Pramod Varshney expressed pride in supporting the next generation of faculty through this initiative. “It will enable younger faculty members to perform foundational research, which will not only enhance Syracuse University’s reputation but will also have societal impact,” he stated.
Jennifer Ross, interim dean of ECS, praised the fellowship as a testament to Varshney’s ongoing contributions to the university. “We thank him for this generous gift and are proud to recognize Dr. Kim as its first recipient,” she said.
Kim’s Research and Contributions
As the first Varshney Faculty Fellow, Kim exemplifies the commitment to mentorship and impactful research that the fellowship intends to promote. Alex K. Jones, Chair of the EECS Department, highlighted Kim’s work as having significant societal benefits. His research not only focuses on innovative storage systems but also involves technology transfer to international partners and leadership within the LEAP Alliance, which aims to improve the placement of underrepresented Ph.D. graduates in academia.
Kim’s academic journey includes a Ph.D. in computer science and engineering and an M.S. in electrical engineering and computer science from Seoul National University, alongside a B.S. from the University of California, Berkeley. His expertise is further recognized through his role as an associate editor of the ACM Transactions on Storage, a leading journal in data storage research, and he holds patents in both the United States and South Korea.
In addition to his fellowship, Kim was awarded the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER award in 2025, underscoring his dedication to advancing research and education in his field.
The establishment of the Varshney Faculty Fellowship marks a significant step in supporting academic innovation at Syracuse University and nurturing the next generation of leaders in engineering and computer science.
