Professor Gurindar (Guri) Sohi—Vilas Research Professor, John P. Morgridge Professor and E. David Cronon Professor of Computer Sciences at UW–Madison—has been honored with the 2025 Computer Pioneer Award in Honor of the Women of ENIAC from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Computer Society. This esteemed award celebrates individuals whose enduring contributions have propelled the growth and sustained impact of the computer industry. Sohi is the first person from UW–Madison to receive this prestigious honor.
The award is presented “in Honor of the Women of ENIAC,” recognizing the pioneering women who programmed the first general-purpose electronic computer and whose contributions laid the foundation for modern computing. The IEEE Computer Society established the Computer Pioneer Award in 1981 to honor individuals whose visionary efforts have led to the creation and sustained vitality of the computer industry. The award acknowledges significant contributions that have, over 15 years or more, clearly advanced the state of the art in computing.
“It is one of the great honors of my career to be recognized with this distinguished award,” Sohi said. “I am humbled to be included among the innovators who have shaped the field of computing, and it is truly gratifying to represent UW–Madison’s vibrant computing community in this way.”
In particular, IEEE noted that Sohi’s contributions to enhancing the efficiency of microprocessors, and his influence on computer architecture more broadly, have been transformative. Earlier in his research career, Sohi’s ideas were considered unconventional, challenging the dominant approach to processor design. However, his innovations have since become standard, and their impact can be seen in nearly every high-performance microprocessor available today.
“Guri Sohi has made an immeasurable impact on computing research and architecture,” said Professor Stephen Wright, chair of the Department of Computer Sciences. “Over four decades at UW–Madison, he has worked alongside students and colleagues on breakthrough innovations that have changed the status quo in the field of computing.”
Sohi has been on the faculty at UW–Madison since 1985 and has interacted heavily with industry throughout his career.
“Guri’s engagement with both academia and industry make him an invaluable leader, not just at UW–Madison but across the world of computing,” said Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau, director of the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences. “I can’t think of anyone more deserving of the title, ‘Computer Pioneer.’”
Sohi has accrued several other significant honors during his career. For example, in 2009, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, and in 2018 was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is also a fellow of the IEEE as well as the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).
Sohi was one of two Computer Pioneer Award honorees this year, along with Professor Moshe Y. Vardi, the Karen Ostrum George Distinguished Service Professor in Computational Engineering at Rice University.
“The diversity of the work in computing helps advance all areas of the field,” said Hironori Washizaki, IEEE Computer Society president. “Drs. Sohi and Vardi and their respective efforts demonstrate that, and each has uniquely provided a lasting impact that both pushes advancements in computing and benefits society at large.”
Professor Sohi’s recognition with this prestigious award underscores the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s long-term and ongoing impact on computer science and innovation. To explore the legacy of the IEEE Computer Pioneer Award in Honor of the Women of ENIAC, and view a list of past recipients, on the IEEE website.