Godmar Back

Godmar Back is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Virginia Tech's College of Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Utah (2002) and specializes in systems research, programming languages, and performance analysis. His work focuses on foundational aspects of operating systems, distributed systems, and cloud computing, with notable contributions to memory management, concurrency, and cybersecurity education.

His research explores how hardware and software interact to optimize system performance, including studies on SPEC benchmarking, garbage collection, and undefined behavior in programming languages. He has developed frameworks like CloudBrowser 2.0 for cloud-based applications and the VT-ASOS system for many-core platforms. Back is also active in pedagogy, integrating DevOps practices into undergraduate research and incorporating cybersecurity modules into core curricula through spiral theory-based methods.

Key projects include the Pintos instructional operating system kernel, the VirtuOS virtualized OS, and ReplayCache for predictive computations. His work frequently bridges theoretical systems research with practical applications, emphasizing reproducibility and real-world impact. His educational initiatives aim to broaden participation in systems research through high-impact practices and collaborative development environments.