Jayadev Misra, Schlumberger Centennial Chair Emeritus in Computer Science and University Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus, has been elected to join the National Academy of Engineering for his research in software verification of concurrent systems.

Misra researches the structuring of concurrent and distributed computer systems. Distributed systems involve networked computers that communicate and coordinate towards a common goal, while concurrent systems allow computations to proceed simultaneously. His research specifically focuses on programming languages, and his most recent work is designing Orc, a new concurrent programming language that can be used to work with concurrent and distributed applications.

Founded in 1964, the National Academy of Engineering is a nonprofit organization that gathers over 2,000 experts in order to provide independent advice to the federal government about engineering and technology. Membership includes accomplished engineers from business, engineering and academia. The National Academy of Engineering is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which also includes the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine.

This year, the National Academy of Engineering elected a class of 83 members and 16 foreign members, including Jeff Bezos, Amazon CEO and founder of spaceflight company Blue Origin. Misra is one of four UT faculty members elected to the NAE this year, along with petroleum and geosystems researcher Chun Huh, chemical engineering professor Brian Korgel and petroleum engineering professor Mukul Sharma. These new members will join 21 other active and emeritus UT members in the National Academy of Engineering.

Members of the newly-elected class, including Misra, will be formally inducted into the organization during a ceremony at the National Academy of Engineering's annual meeting in Washington, D.C. on September 30.