Tanik named chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UAB

Tanik brings vast experience in multidisciplinary studies and rapid-development prototype research to the department as it continues to expand.

Murat Tanik, Ph.D., has been named chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Engineering.

Murat_Tanik_sPrior to joining UAB in 1998, Tanik had been an associate professor and the director of electronic enterprise engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, as well as the director of the Software Systems Engineering Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.

Tanik brings vast experience in multidisciplinary studies and rapid-development prototype research to the department as it continues to expand and address current demands and needs.

“Murat’s experience, knowledge and expertise make him an outstanding choice to lead the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,” said Iwan Alexander, dean of the School of Engineering. “His leadership will enable the department to build strong collaborations within the university and with external partners.”

Tanik, a native of Izmir, Turkey, is co-founder of the Society for Design and Process Science, the interdisciplinary and international society that promotes innovation and change to civilization’s problems. He wants to use his international affiliations and connections to leverage exposure and new endeavors for the department.

Tanik’s past work includes projects for NASA and Arthur A. Collins, who developed the Apollo moon missions’ tracking and communications systems. He has co-written six books and published more than 100 papers. His research interests include mathematical foundations of quantum electronics and applications of those fundamentals to engineering, medical and biological issues.

“The chairman cannot do anything by himself,” Tanik said. “In addition to high administrative support, we have wonderful teaching faculty, researchers and support people in place; I have an open-door policy because I appreciate the collective expertise of this team, the collaborative history of UAB and the magic of community involvement, which together produce novel ideas and suggestions. Great things can happen because we have all the pieces here at UAB and in the surrounding community.”

Tanik plans to use those pieces in- and outside of his department while leaning on his experience in industrial research and commercial software development to achieve objectives.

“I will build on the existing strength of the department’s excellent undergraduate record in power systems engineering and extraordinary new medical-oriented research faculty,” he said. “I also plan to advance a collaborative atmosphere with other departments and centers across UAB and enterprises in the community.”