Purdue CS Ph.D. Candidates Receive National Academic Excellence Award
02-04-2025
Purdue CS Ph.D. Candidates, Charis Katsis and George Androutsopoulos
This prestigious recognition is awarded to the top three graduates from each engineering school in Greece. Katsis and Androutsopoulos earned this recognition for their excellent performance in their undergraduate studies. The award ceremony took place on December 19, 2024, in Athens.
“This award serves as a testament to the dedication and hard work I put into my studies as an undergraduate student,” said Androutsopoulos, reflecting on this experience. “This recognition also reinforces my passion for computer science and motivates me to continue pushing boundaries in my field.”
Katsis credits his undergraduate studies in computer science and engineering for sparking his passion for technological innovation. “My studies ignited a deep curiosity about the technologies shaping modern life,” he shared. “I wanted to contribute not only to scientific advancements but also to real-world solutions that address societal challenges.”
This drive led Katsis and Androutsopoulos to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science at Purdue University, where they are now engaged in cutting-edge research across many fields of computer science.
“Purdue CS is one of the top-tier institutions conducting cutting-edge research in computer security, so when I was accepted, the decision to continue my Ph.D. studies here was an easy one,” said Androutsopolous. “Now, I get to do what I love—deepening my understanding of computer security and contributing to advancements in the field.”
Beyond personal accomplishment, Katsis hopes this recognition serves as an inspiration to others. “I hope this achievement encourages individuals to follow their passions and surround themselves with mentors who can guide them toward transformative experiences,” he said.
The Technical Chamber of Greece hosted this award to honor outstanding academic achievements among engineering graduates from 2017 to 2022, underscoring the country’s commitment to fostering excellence in engineering education.
About the Department of Computer Science at Purdue University
Founded in 1962, the Department of Computer Science was created to be an innovative base of knowledge in the emerging field of computing as the first degree-awarding program in the United States. The department continues to advance the computer science industry through research. US News & Reports ranks Purdue CS #8 in computer engineering and #19 and #16 and #18 overall in undergraduate and graduate computer science, respectively. Additionally the program is ranked 6th in cybersecurity, 8th in software engineering, 13th in systems, 15th in programming languages and data analytics, and 18th in theory. Graduates of the program are able to solve complex and challenging problems in many fields. Our consistent success in an ever-changing landscape is reflected in the record undergraduate enrollment, increased faculty hiring, innovative research projects, and the creation of new academic programs. The increasing centrality of computer science in academic disciplines and society, and new research activities—centered around foundations and applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning, such as natural language processing, human computer interaction, vision, and robotics, as well as systems and security—are the future focus of the department. cs.purdue.edu