The Georgia Tech Class of 2026 will celebrate one of its most significant accomplishments this week. Among those crossing the stage for the 2026 Spring Commencement is Marina Vemmou, who will be receiving her Ph.D. in computer science.   

During her time at Georgia Tech, Vemmou was heavily involved with the School of Computer Science Graduate Student Association, where she served as the student and faculty affairs chair for a term. In 2023, Vemmou received the College of Computing Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award, an honor she is especially proud of. 

Before finishing this chapter of her academic journey, Vemmou shared about her Ph.D. journey and what she’s taken from the experience.   

What did your research focus on?   

My general area is computer architecture. I work a lot at the intersection of different components and how we can, instead of trying to optimize each component on its own, coordinate among components so that we get the best performance out of a system without completely changing everything.  

What made you interested in studying that topic?   

In my mind, it’s kind of like Legos because you have a bunch of building blocks and you’re trying to make something new with them. I find that fascinating. I also like that in computer architecture, there’s never a singlecorrect answer, and everything is a trade-off. I like that extra difficulty.   

Why did you choose to study at Georgia Tech?   

I think it was a combination of my advisor and the location. I had met with my advisor, Alex Daglis, before and knew I wanted to work with him. I also preferred the urban environment of Georgia Tech. 

Are there any specific people who helped you during your Ph.D. journey?   

Alex Daglis is the ideal advisor. He’s smart, a good researcher, and an excellent advisor. He truly cares about students, and he’s been involved in everything and has helped so many people, including me.   

I also want to shout out the School of Computer Science staff, specifically Tiffany Ntuli. We appreciate the admins and all the work that you do.   

What advice would you give someone interested in pursuing a Ph.D.?   

Don’t forget that there’s a life outside of your research. The research is great, but it’s not the most important thing. You can take the time to go on a walk, call your family , or see friends.   

What’s the most important lesson you learned during your time at Georgia Tech?   

Perfection is futile. A lot of students come in expecting that we have to be perfect immediately, that they already know how to write the perfect paper or do research on their own. But the point of a Ph.D. is to learn how to do those things. That was important for me to work through.   

What are your plans after graduation?   

I want to stay in academia and am considering postdoc positions.