Dr. Panagiotis Markopoulos

Margie and Bill Klesse Endowed Associate Professor of electrical & computer engineering and computer science, Panagiotis (Panos) Markopoulos, Ph.D. began his academic journey in his home of Greece at the Technical University of Crete. With a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo, he conducted research and taught at Rochester Institute of Technology for eight years.

Following that tenure, he was drawn to UTSA’s Be Bold Campaign and advancements in AI. He has been a core faculty member of the university’s School of Data Science and MATRIX: The UTSA AI Consortium for Human Well-Being since August 2022.

“UTSA has been making great strides in my research domain of machine learning and has gained remarkable momentum in recent years, positioning itself as a leading academic institution,” said Markopoulos. “The university’s ‘Be Bold’ mission, commitment to inclusive excellence, and dedication to supporting its students also resonated strongly with me. This alignment of values and opportunities made UTSA an ideal platform for me to make a positive impact on our society.”

The support the Klesses have given to UTSA’s engineering programs not only immediately impacts our students, professors, and our society, but also sets a powerful example of philanthropy and generosity for others to follow

Markopoulos is an expert in machine learning, data analysis, and signal processing, aiming to develop efficient and trustworthy AI. His research includes continual machine learning, which allows intelligent systems, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, to adjust to environmental changes and learn new tasks without forgetting previous ones. He also works on robust machine learning, ensuring algorithms work reliably even with challenges like noisy data, evident in wireless communications and computer vision technology.

Beyond his technical pursuits, Markopoulos has utilized his endowment to create the Klesse Scholarship for Undergraduate Research in Machine Learning, enabling students to delve into research in his lab.

“It is very important for us as educators to know that we can make a difference and inspire students to boldly chase their aspirations. That is what truly makes this job fulfilling,” he explained. “The support the Klesses have given to UTSA’s engineering programs not only immediately impacts our students, professors, and our society, but also sets a powerful example of philanthropy and generosity for others to follow.”

-Jordan Allen, Development Writer