Rob A. Rutenbar

Rutenbar received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in computer engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 1979 and 1984, respectively.{{cite web|title=Rob A. Rutenbar|url=http://www.ece.cmu.edu/directory/department/faculty/R/Rob_Rutenbar_150.html|publisher=Electrical & Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University|accessdate=25 March 2014}} He joined the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in 1984. At CMU, his research group developed a wide range of novel CAD tools to optimize, synthesize, and perform geometric layout on analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits.{{cite web|last=Ohr|first=Stephen|date=Jun 6, 1999|title=Synthesis proes to be Holy Grail for analog EDA.|url=http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1224523|publisher=EE Times|accessdate=22 March 2014}} In 1998, he cofounded Neolinear, Inc. to commercialize these tools.{{cite web|last=Ohr|first=Stephen|date=Nov 9, 1998|title=Electronics: Cell-builder tool anticipates analog synthesis|url=http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1138075|publisher=EE Times|accessdate=22 March 2014}} He served as Neolinear’s Chief Scientist until its acquisition by Cadence Design Systems in 2004.{{cite web|title=Cadence to Acquire Neolinear|url=http://www.cadence.com/cadence/newsroom/press_releases/pages/pr.aspx?xml=040604_neolinear|work=(Press Release)|date=Apr 6, 2004|publisher=Cadence Design Systems|accessdate=22 March 2014}} In 2001, he was the founding director of a large, multi-university research center – the Center for Circuit & Systems Solutions (C2S2) -- funded by the US semiconductor industry and US Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency (DARPA) to address challenges arising from the end of Moore’s Law scaling.{{cite web|title=Rutenbar Directs $19.4 Million Multi-University Research Consortium|url=http://www.ece.cmu.edu/news/story/2001/03/rutenbar_directs_new.html|date=Mar 8, 2001|publisher=Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University|accessdate=22 March 2014}}{{cite web|title=C2S2: Center for Circuit and Systems Solutions|url=https://www.src.org/program/fcrp/c2s2/|publisher=Semiconductor Research Corporation|accessdate=22 March 2014}} He served as Director of C2S2 from 2001 to 2009. Also while at CMU, his In Silico Vox project developed novel hardware platforms for very fast, energy efficient speech recognition.{{cite news|title=The talking cure|url=http://www.economist.com/node/3713993|accessdate=25 March 2014|newspaper=The Economist, Technology Quarterly: Q1 2005|date=Mar 10, 2005}}{{cite journal|last=Paulson|first=Linda Daily|title=Speech Recognition Moves from Software to Hardware|journal=IEEE Computer|date=Nov 20, 2006|volume=39|issue=11|pages=15–18|doi=10.1109/MC.2006.401|s2cid=14348523}} In 2006, he cofounded the Silicon Vox Corporation to commercialize these ideas.{{cite web|title=Company Overview of Voci Technologies Incorporated|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=61683835|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140322215507/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=61683835|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 22, 2014|publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek|accessdate=22 March 2014}} The company was renamed Voci Technologies in 2010, and it focuses on high-performance solutions for enterprise-scale voice analytics.{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.vocitec.com/aboutus.php|publisher=Voci Technologies|accessdate=22 March 2014}}

In 2010, he left CMU to become Head of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign.{{cite web|title=College of Engineering Names Rob A. Rutenbar Next CS Department Head|url=http://cs.illinois.edu/news/college-engineering-names-rob-rutenbar-next-cs-department-head|publisher=Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign|accessdate=22 March 2014}} At CMU, and continuing at Illinois, he led some of the first work to apply data mining and machine learning techniques for electronic design automation.{{cite book|last=Liu|first=Hongzhou|author2=Singhee, Amith |author3=Rutenbar, Rob A. |author4= Carley, L.R. |title=Proceedings 2002 Design Automation Conference (IEEE Cat. No.02CH37324) |chapter=Remembrance of circuits past: Macromodeling by data mining in large analog design spaces |year=2002|pages=437–442|doi=10.1109/DAC.2002.1012665|isbn=1-58113-461-4|s2cid=195862194}} In 2013, he launched a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on VLSI CAD, to over 17,000 registered participants.{{cite news|last=Most|first=MaryCate|title=University expands global reach with Massive Open Online Courses|url=https://dailyillini.com/news/2013/11/07/university-expands-global-reach-with-massive-open-online-courses/|accessdate=19 August 2018|newspaper=The Daily Illini|date=Nov 7, 2013}} In 2016, this evolved into a set of related CAD MOOCs, which has reached over 50,000 learners worldwide.{{cite web|title=VLSI CAD Part I: Logic|url=https://www.coursera.org/learn/vlsi-cad-logic|accessdate=19 August 2018}}{{cite web|title=VLSI CAD Part II: Layout|url=https://www.coursera.org/learn/vlsi-cad-layout|accessdate=19 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://cs.illinois.edu/news/rutenbar-wins-nobel-prize-electronic-design-automation|title=Rutenbar wins 'Nobel Prize' of Electronic Design Automation|publisher=Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign|accessdate=19 August 2018}}

In 2017, he joined the University of Pittsburgh in the newly established position of Senior Vice Chancellor for Research. He also holds faculty appointments in the School of Computing and Information and in the Swanson School of Engineering.{{cite web|title=Faculty member and Senior Vice Chancellor for Research honored with prestigious Phil Kaufman Award from the Electronic System Design Alliance|work=University of Pittsburgh | School of Computing & Information |url=http://sci.pitt.edu/news/faculty-member-honored-with-prestigious-phil-kaufman-award-from-the-electronic-system-design-alliance/|publisher=School of Computing and Information, University of Pittsburgh|accessdate=19 August 2018}}{{cite web|title=Pitt Senior Vice Chancellor Rob A. Rutenbar to continue his computational research in Swanson School of Engineering|url=https://www.engineering.pitt.edu/News/2017/Rob-Rutenbar-ECE-Research/|publisher=Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh|accessdate=19 August 2018}} Rutenbar serves on boards for several entrepreneurial and cultural organizations in Pittsburgh, including LifeX, Innovation Works, and the Carnegie Science Center.{{cite web|title=LifeX Team|url=https://www.lifexventures.com/team/|publisher=LifeX|accessdate=19 August 2018}}{{cite web|title=Meet the Team|date=30 September 2017 |url=https://www.innovationworks.org/about/team/|publisher=Innovation Works|accessdate=19 August 2018}}{{cite web|title=Board|url=http://www.carnegiesciencecenter.org/about/board/|publisher=Carnegie Science Center|accessdate=19 August 2018}}

As several massive open online course (MOOC) providers emerged in 2012, Rutenbar led the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign to establish a relationship with Coursera.{{cite web|last=Aycinena|first=Peggy|title=Rutenbar's Coursera: Grand & Crazy on a Planetary Scale|url=https://www10.edacafe.com/blogs/whatwouldjoedo/2016/04/21/rutenbars-coursera-grand-crazy-on-a-planetary-scale/|date=21 April 2016|website=EDACafe|publisher=Internet Business Systems, Inc.|accessdate=19 August 2018}} Subsequently, the University become the first land-grant institution to enter a Coursera partnership.{{cite news|url=https://dailyillini.com/uncategorized/2012/07/23/ui-coursera-partner-to-educate-masses/|title=UI, Coursera partner to educate masses|newspaper=The Daily Illini|date=23 July 2012|accessdate=19 August 2018}}{{cite news|url=http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2012-07-17/ui-others-join-company-free-online-courses.html|newspaper=News Gazette|title=UI, others join with company for free online courses|last=Des Garennes|first=Christine|date=17 July 2012|accessdate=19 August 2018}} Under Rutenbar’s leadership, the Department of Computer Science launched a MOOC-based professional masters of computer science in data science (MCS-DS) in fall 2016.{{cite web|url=https://cs.illinois.edu/news/first-mooc-based-masters-degree-data-science-presents-new-model-meeting-market-demand|title=The First MOOC-Based Master's Degree in Data Science Presents a New Model for Meeting Market Demand|publisher=Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign|date=29 March 2016|accessdate=19 August 2018}}

In 2014, Rutenbar led the launch of a large program of novel, cooperative B.S. degrees at Illinois called “CS+X” (a term originally coined by Alfred Spector,{{Cite web|url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8jjOh9kb3tjdFotRDNlQ3JFc3c/view|title=AZS Harvard CRCS Excerpts 2004.pdf|work=Google Docs|accessdate=19 August 2018}} a former colleague of Rutenbar's at CMU) that integrate computing and “X” disciplinary topics, ranging from anthropology to astronomy, music, and agriculture.{{cite web|url=https://cs.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate/degree-program-options/cs-x-degree-programs|title=CS + X Degree Programs|publisher=Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign|accessdate=19 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://news.engin.umich.edu/2017/09/computingdata-wide-across-the-curriculum/|title=Computing + data wide across the curriculum|publisher=College of Engineering, University of Michigan|last=Coelius|first=Robert|date=25 September 2017|accessdate=19 August 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/Should-Colleges-Let-Ailing/243447|title=Should Colleges Let Ailing Majors Die or Revamp Them?|date=20 May 2018|last=Quilantan|first=Bianca|newspaper=The Chronicle of Higher Education|accessdate=19 August 2018}}

Illinois Computer Science was recognized in 2017 with the Grand Prize for the NCWIT Extension Services Transformation (NEXT) Award for showing “significant positive outcomes in increasing women’s meaningful participation in computing education” during Rutenbar’s tenure.{{cite web|url=https://www.ncwit.org/2017-next-awardees|title=2017 NEXT Awardees|publisher=National Center for Women & Information Technology|accessdate=19 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.americaninno.com/chicago/uiuc-gets-100k-to-boost-women-in-computer-science/|title=UIUC Gets $100K Grant for Supporting Women in Computer Science|last=Hustad|first=Karis|date=22 May 2017|publisher=American City Business Journals|accessdate=19 August 2018}}

Rutenbar has co-chaired the National Science Foundation Computer and Information Science and Engineering Advisory Committee’s Data Science Working Group,{{cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/cise/ac-data-science-report/CISEACDataScienceReport1.19.17.pdf|title=Realizing the Potential of Data Science|publisher=National Science Foundation|accessdate=19 August 2018|last1=Berman|first1=Francine|last2=Rutenbar|first2=Rob A.|last3=Christensen|first3=Henrik|last4=Davidson|first4=Susan|last5=Estrin|first5=Deborah|last6=Franklin|first6=Michael|last7=Hailpern|first7=Brent|last8=Martonosi|first8=Margaret|last9=Raghavan|first9=Padma|last10=Stodden|first10=Victoria|last11=Szalay|first11=Alex|date=December 2016}} and he served on the National Academies of Sciences Committee on Envisioning the Data Sciences Discipline: The Undergraduate Perspective.{{cite web|url=http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=25104|title=Academic Institutions Should Prepare Undergraduates for a Data-Driven Workplace, New Report Recommends|publisher=National Academy of Science|date=2 May 2018|accessdate=19 August 2018}} His PhD students include Ramesh Harjani (E.F Johnson Professor of ECE at U. Minnesota) and John Cohn.{{Cite web|title=Group {{!}} Rob A. Rutenbar {{!}} University of Pittsburgh|url=https://www.rutenbar.pitt.edu/about/group|access-date=2020-08-02|website=www.rutenbar.pitt.edu}}

Rutenbar is a Fellow of the IEEE{{cite web|title=Rob A. Rutenbar. IEEE Fellow.|url=https://services27.ieee.org/fellowsdirectory/menuCHRONOLOGICAL.html?beginYr=1998&endYr=1998|publisher=IEEE|access-date=22 March 2014|year=1998}} and the ACM.{{cite web|title=Rob A. Rutenbar. ACM Fellow.|url=http://awards.acm.org/award_winners/rutenbar_1753128.cfm|publisher=ACM|accessdate=22 March 2014|year=2008}} He received the 2001 Aristotle Award from the Semiconductor Research Corporation, acknowledging his mentoring and the impact of his students on the US semiconductor industry.{{cite web|title=2001 Aristotle Award Presentations|url=https://www.src.org/award/aristotle/2001/|publisher=Semiconductor Research Corporation|accessdate=25 March 2014|date=Mar 5, 2002}} He was awarded the Stephen J. Jatras (E’47) Chair in ECE by Carnegie Mellon University in 2001.{{cite web|title=Rutenbar Receives Jatras (E47) Chair and Aristotle Award|url=http://www.ece.cmu.edu/news/story/2001/03/rutenbar_receives_jatras.html|publisher=Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University|accessdate=22 March 2014|date=2001-03-05}} He was honored with the University of Michigan Alumni Merit Award (Electrical Engineering) in 2002.{{cite web|title=The University of Michigan College of Engineering Alumni Merit Awards.|url=http://www.engin.umich.edu/college/info/alumni/awards/recipients/past|publisher=University of Michigan|accessdate=22 March 2014|year=2002}} He was awarded the IEEE CAS Industrial Pioneer Award in 2007, for “pioneering contributions” to tools for custom circuit synthesis, and their successful commercialization.{{cite news|title=CAS Society Awards|url=http://cassnewsletter.org/Volume2-Issue1/CAS%20Society%20Awards.html|accessdate=25 March 2014|newspaper=IEEE Circuits and Systems Society Newsletter|volume=2|issue=1|date=February 2008}} In 2008, he was inducted into the College of Engineering's Alumni Hall of Fame at Wayne State University.{{cite web|title=Hall of Fame - 2008. Rob A. Rutenbar|url=http://engineering.wayne.edu/alumni/hall-of-fame-view.php?id=11|publisher=College of Engineering, Wayne State University|accessdate=25 March 2014}} He was awarded the Abel Bliss Professorship in Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign in 2010.{{cite web|title=Abel Bliss Professorship in Engineering.|url=http://cs.illinois.edu/about-us/awards/faculty-awards/chairs-professorships/abel-bliss-professorship-engineering|publisher=University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign. Department of Computer Science|accessdate=22 March 2014}} He is a two-time winner of the IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design Donald O. Pedersen Best Paper Award, in 2011 and again in 2013, for work on statistical analysis for nanoscale silicon.{{cite web|title=IEEE Transactions on Computer Aided Design Donald O. Pederson Best Paper Award.|url=http://www.ieee-ceda.org/awards/pederson|publisher=IEEE Transactions on Computer Aided Design|accessdate=22 March 2014}} He has also been recognized with the 2017 Phil Kaufman Award for "his pioneering contributions to algorithms and tools for analog and mixed-signal designs" by the Electronic System Design Alliance and the IEEE Council on Electronic Design Automation (CEDA).{{cite web|title=Phil Kaufman Award|url=http://esd-alliance.org/phil-kaufman-award/|publisher=Electronic System Design Alliance|accessdate=19 August 2018}}{{cite web|title=Dr. Rob A. Rutenbar of the University of Pittsburgh Honored with 2017 Phil Kaufman Award|url=http://esd-alliance.org/wp-content/uploads/PDFs/2017/ESD-Alliance_Phil-Kaufman-Award-Recipient_October-2017.pdf|publisher=Electronic System Design Alliance|accessdate=19 August 2018}} In 2019, Rutenbar was elected a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.{{cite news |title=Two Researchers Named Fellows for National Academy of Inventors |url=https://www.at.pitt.edu/news/two-researchers-named |access-date=January 4, 2022 |publisher=University of Pittsburgh |date=December 19, 2019}} In 2021, he won the ACM SIGDA Pioneering Achievement Award, “for his pioneering work and extraordinary leadership in analog design automation and general EDA education”.{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-02-07 |title=Prof. Rob Rutenbar receives the 2021 ACM SIGDA Pioneering Achievement Award |url=https://www.sigda.org/news/prof-rob-rutenbar-receives-the-2021-acm-sigda-pioneering-achievement-award/ |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=SIGDA |language=en-US}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [https://chancellor.pitt.edu/people/rob-rutenbar Rob A. Rutenbar Biography] at the University of Pittsburgh.
• [https://www.coursera.org/learn/vlsi-cad-logic VLSI CAD Part 1: Logic] at Coursera.
• [https://www.coursera.org/learn/vlsi-cad-layout VLSI CAD Part 2: Layout] at Coursera.

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Category:2008 fellows of the Association for Computing Machinery

Category:Fellows of the IEEE

Category:American computer scientists

Category:American electrical engineers

Category:University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign faculty

Category:University of Michigan College of Engineering alumni

Category:1957 births

Category:Living people

Category:Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors