Mark Abel

Biography

Mark Abel is the Executive Director Emeritus of the Institute for Energy Efficiency (IEE) at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB). Until his UCSB retirement in 2026, Mark worked with IEE's faculty, students, and partners to help guide IEE's research in Energy Efficient Computing and Communications, and in Energy Infrastructure. During his IEE tenure, Mark was instrumental in fostering new innovative research efforts across UCSB by founding and leading the donor-funded IEE Seed Grant Programs. In recognition of Mr. Abel’s leadership and lasting contributions to advancing energy efficiency and innovation at UCSB, he was awarded the IEE Distinguished Service Award in 2026.

Mr. Abel joined UCSB and IEE as he retired from Intel in 2018 where he was a longtime senior director of research. His last Intel role was leading Intel’s worldwide network of academic research centers. During his Intel career, his research labs and tech transfer teams won or shared Intel’s highest honor, the Intel Achievement Award, seven times for the creation of new technologies and new businesses for Intel, including the invention and delivery of technologies that shipped in over a billion Personal Computers. Prior to joining Intel, Mr. Abel held research and leadership positions with Bell Labs, Xerox PARC, U S WEST Advanced Technologies and Siemens.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Abel has served on numerous industry and academic boards. He is currently a member of the UCSB ECE Department Industry Advisory Board and the UCSB IEE Global Advisory Board. During his IEE tenure, he served as the UCSB and IEE representative to the University Energy Institute Leadership Collaborative. He has also served the University of Michigan in a variety of roles including as a member of the College of Engineering Advisory Board and the School of Information Advisory Board.

Honors

- Distinguished Alumni in Computer Science and Engineering, University of Michigan (2011)
- Led seven teams that won Intel's Highest Honor, the Intel Achievement Award
- Led two Intel teams that won Argentina's highest technical award, the Sadosky Award (2007 and 2008)
- Executive Director Emeritus, UCSB IEE (2026)
- Distinguished Service Award, UCSB IEE (2026)
- Affiliate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington (2012)
- Inaugural Distinguished Computer Science Affiliate, UCSB (2021)

Education

MS Electrical Engineering, Stanford University
BSE Electrical Engineering, University of Michigan