Dr. Alexander G. Dean, Assistant Professor, is the recipient of a Faculty Early Career Development (Career) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF), effective February 1, 2002. The award is one of the highest honors given by NSF to young university faculty in science and engineering. As part of the award, NSF will provide $300,000 in funding over the next five years. Dean will use the award to support his research project entitled “Software Thread Integration for Low-End through High-End Embedded Processors.” The project will develop methods to use inexpensive processors more efficiently through advanced compiler and architectural techniques. As part of the project, Dean will create a new embedded systems track within the computer engineering curriculum in the department and will be involved in an outreach program at the NC School of Science and Mathematics to promote interest in embedded systems design and programming. Dr. Dean’s research interests include computer architecture and microarchitecture, optimizing compilers, real-time systems and software engineering, all with a focus on embedded systems. Dr. Dean’s Homepage