Guang Gao

Guang R. Gao (1945 – 12 September 2021) was a computer scientist and a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Delaware. Gao was a founder and Chief Scientist of ETI (ET International Inc., Newark, Delaware).

Gao has devoted a majority of his research and academic careers in carrying on the legacy of the MIT dataflow model research that he has participated in, and contributed to, during his Ph.D. project under Prof. Jack. B. Dennis and Arvind. The legacy of Gao's own research is to show that the fundamental value of the dataflow model of computation can be effectively explored and efficiently realized – and the superiority dataflow can be demonstrated even in parallel computer systems that are made of classical microprocessors with von-Neumann architectures and other components. To this end, Gao has led a series of parallel architecture and system projects where various aspects of dataflow models are improved and integrated in the design and implementation – ranging from innovations in programming paradigms, architecture features, system software technology, including novel program optimization and runtime system techniques. Gao's contribution was recognized by receiving the ACM Fellow and IEEE Fellow in 2007.

The legacy of Gao's work has also been associated with his entrepreneurial effort to initiate the technology transfer and commercialization of the dataflow R&D results for real world applications through ETI (ET International Inc.). ETI is a company started in 2000 as a University of Delaware spinoff with Gao as its co-founder. A unique achievement of Gao's team at ETI is its critical role in the now legendary supercomputing system project known as IBM Cyclops-64 Supercomputer. The success of the TNT on Cyclops64 supercomputer is recognized by the selection of ETI as winner of a Supercomputing disruptive technology award in 2007. ET International, Inc was highlighted for "Sparking Economic Growth" by The Science Coalition in 2013.

Gao has begun his research career in the west as a junior faculty member at McGill University in 1987—at a time that the computer science community has a widespread doubt on the future of parallel computing in general and dataflow model of parallel computation in particular.

Born in Tianjin in 1945 and brought up in a prominent physician family in China, Gao has received a strict education from early childhood both in traditional knowledge of Chinese history and culture, as well as in western science and English. Gao has shown his strong interests and curiosity in science subjects, and received his education in the elite Tsinghua University in Beijing. In January 1980, Gao has left China and pursued his graduate education in the United States. He received his master's degree and PhD degree in 1982 and 1986 respectively both in Computer Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Gao is the first person from mainland China who received a Computer Science Ph.D. degree from MIT.