Oral History Interview with David Hung-Chang Du

Abstract

This interview was conducted by CBI for CS&E in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary of the University of Minnesota Computer Science Department (now Computer Science and Engineering, CS&E). Professor David Hung-Chang Du begins by discussing his education at National Tsing-Hua University in Taiwan and then his doctoral work and Computer Center work at the University of Washington in Computer Science. The bulk of the interview is his professional career at the University of Minnesota. He discusses his wide-ranging computer science research in integrated circuits (VLSI), disk drives/storage, artificial intelligence, computer networking, security and privacy, and other areas. This includes his work with IBM Rochester, Seagate, Unisys and other companies, and he emphasizes the importance of working with more senior managers at companies so university and company interests can be aligned and can have local buy-in at the company, that resources will come if that there. He relates his leadership with the UMN-led Center for Research and Intelligent Storage: a multi-university partnership with industry supported by National Science Foundation.