Dr. Nagi Mekhiel

Nagi Mekhiel pushes the boundaries on what is, today, considered possible. While his research focuses on three frontiers – computer architecture, parallel processing and advanced memory systems – the sky is the limit when it comes to innovation and implementation. Take, for example, his work in virtual time computing, which, to many, might sound like science fiction. While most applications utilize multiple locations in conventional memory to perform tasks simultaneously, Mekhiel takes processing one step further, using orbital data to overcome the limitations of access latency and bandwidth. “Parallel time means things happen at the same time in parallel,” says Mekhiel. “I am exploring what is beyond the current technology.”

And yet, Mekhiel’s work is grounded in practicality. His many patents are a testament to the applicability of his innovations, whether it’s through image matching for the diagnosis of disease or forecasting weather and stock market patterns. And while blue sky research may be what drives him, Mekhiel credits much of his forward-thinking to years spent in industry. “That gave me the background of how to solve real-world problems, to understand what works and what doesn’t work,” he says. “So, if I have a problem, I can think of different ways to deal with it."