Prof. Atakan Varol is the inaugural Dean of the School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence (SCAI) at Nazarbayev University and the Founding Director of the university’s Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI). He received his BS in mechatronics engineering from Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey, in 2005. He then earned his MS and PhD in electrical engineering from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA, in 2007 and 2009. From 2009 to 2011, he was a postdoctoral research associate and later a research assistant professor at Vanderbilt’s Center for Intelligent Mechatronics.
In 2011, he joined Nazarbayev University as a founding faculty member in robotics. He later chaired the Department of Robotics and Mechatronics and founded ISSAI, which grew into Kazakhstan’s leading AI research institute. Under his leadership, ISSAI has developed the country’s sovereign generative AI systems, including Kazakh-language large language models and the ISSAI Playground products Oylan, MangiSoz, Tilsync, and VoiceStudio.
His research spans generative AI, natural language and speech processing, machine learning, intelligent robotics, and biomechatronics. He has published 200 papers in international journals and conferences, holds multiple international patents, and has several industrial licenses. He has secured major competitive research funding from national and international sources.
Prof. Varol was a finalist for the KUKA Innovation Award in 2014. He also received the IEEE International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics Best Paper Award (2009) and the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Outstanding Paper Award (2013). His profound impact in Kazakhstan has been recognized with the State Medal “Astana 20 Years” and the “Contribution to the Development of Science” award from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. He is a Senior Member of IEEE and serves as a reviewer for leading journals, conferences, and funding agencies.
Contacts:
Office phone: 8(7172)70-6561
Email: ahvarol@nu.edu.kz
Office number: Nazarbayev University, Block 1, Floor 2, Office 1245
