Leonidas Fegaras

Leonidas Fegaras is an Associate Professor in the Computer Science and Engineering Department at the University of Texas at Arlington's College of Engineering, where he has been employed since 1996, initially as Assistant Professor until 2002 when he was promoted to Associate Professor. His academic journey began with a BEE in Engineering from the National Technical University (1902), followed by an MS in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (1903), and culminated with a PhD in Computer Science from the same institution in 1992.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Computer Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 1992
• MS in Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 1903
• BEE in Engineering, National Technical University, 1902

Fegaras's research spans multiple domains within computer science, with a strong emphasis on database systems and big data analytics. His work focuses on developing innovative frameworks for processing large-scale data, particularly in XML, array-based computations, and graph analytics. He has pioneered approaches for query optimization in distributed environments, stream processing, and translation of high-level programming constructs to efficient distributed execution. More recently, his research has expanded into healthcare applications, applying data analytics techniques to clinical data for improved patient outcomes and healthcare decision-making. His interdisciplinary work bridges computer science with healthcare, criminal justice, and environmental science domains.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a clear evolution in his research focus from traditional database systems and XML processing toward modern big data analytics frameworks. His work now heavily emphasizes distributed computing models, particularly leveraging Spark and SQL-based distributed processing. A significant portion of his recent work applies these techniques to healthcare analytics, demonstrating his ability to translate theoretical database concepts into practical applications that address real-world problems in medicine and social sciences. His research shows consistent innovation in query processing techniques across evolving data paradigms.

Fegaras has been actively involved in mentoring the next generation of computer scientists, serving as dissertation committee chair for numerous PhD students and supervising many master's theses. His research has been supported by substantial funding from federal agencies including the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education, with projects totaling over $2 million. Notable grants include the GAANN Doctoral Fellowships in Computer Science and Engineering and several NSF-funded projects focused on big data analytics and database systems.

As an educator, Fegaras teaches advanced courses in compilers, web data management, and cloud computing & big data. He has held significant administrative roles including Chairperson of the CSE Graduate Studies Committee since 2009 and membership on the University Graduate Curriculum Committee. His service extends to professional program committees and conference organization, demonstrating his active engagement with the broader computer science research community.