Scott Rixner

Scott Rixner is a Professor of Computer Science at Rice University, leading the MCS@Rice and MDS@Rice online degree programs as Director of Professional Studies. He holds a PhD from MIT and specializes in computer architecture, operating systems, and virtualization. His research focuses on memory systems, networking, and Python runtime systems for embedded devices. He has 11 patents and contributed to open-source projects like Skulpt and Owl. Rixner has received the 2019 School of Engineering Curriculum Innovation Award and 2014 Outstanding Mentor Award. His teaching spans courses in computational thinking, computer systems, and virtualization, with a strong emphasis on curriculum development.

Education: PhD in Electrical Engineering (MIT, 2001), MEng and BS in Computer Science (MIT, 1995). Research highlights include memory scheduling, FPGA accelerators for genomics, and transparent superpage management. He co-developed Hyper-Switch, a scalable software virtual switch, and Virtflex for NUMA topology adaptation. His work integrates hardware and software to enhance system performance and simplify software design.

Recent projects include embedded Python interpreters (Owl) and collaborative online education tools. He advises on open-source contributions and leads initiatives to modernize computer science curricula. His awards reflect his impact on both technical innovation and student mentorship.