Curiosity about how computers think has earned Dr. Adnan Maruf, a computer science professor at Missouri State University, national recognition for research that could make technology faster and more energy-efficient.
Maruf recently received a $149,832 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Computer and Information Science and Engineering Research Initiation Initiative. The program provides early-career faculty with seed funding to launch independent research and build long-term collaborations.
Maruf’s project focuses on data placement, specifically how servers decide where to store data the moment it is created. By improving that process, his team aims to cut energy use and keep systems running smoothly as the amount of information continues to grow.
“If the system can put the right information in the right place, it avoids unnecessary slowdown,” Maruf said. “That means programs respond faster and the machines use less energy to do the same work.”
For Maruf, the award is both a milestone and a responsibility, marking the first major external grant of his career.
“It was exciting and humbling,” Maruf said. “Exciting because it felt like meaningful validation of the idea. Humbling because I felt immediate gratitude to my mentors, colleagues, and family, and a strong sense of responsibility to deliver the project on time and to a high standard.”
The NSF grant also creates new research opportunities for MSU students. It will fund graduate research, new testbed equipment, and travel for conferences and open-source collaborations.
“(This grant) lets students present their work, get feedback from the community, and build professional networks,” Maruf said.
Maruf earned his doctorate in computer science from Florida International University, where his interest in system design grew into a passion for building secure and reliable computing systems. His current research focuses on the Internet of Things, the growing network of connected devices in homes, cities, and industries.
Looking ahead, Maruf hopes to build on this foundation with open-source tools, reproducible benchmarks, and new proposals to expand the work.
“Near term, I want to finish the project successfully, design and release open-source tools, build reproducible benchmarks, and publish clear findings,” said Maruf.
As cybersecurity and data efficiency become increasingly vital across industries, Maruf’s research reflects a broader movement toward technology that values not only speed but also sustainability.
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