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=Jayanth R. Banavar= Jayanth R. Banavar is Dean of the University of Maryland's College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (CMNS). Banavar previously served as a department head for Pennsylvania State University's physics department. His research focuses on applying techniques of statistical physics to solve interdisciplinary problems.

Education
Banavar received his bachelor of science degree with honors in physics from Bangalore University in India in 1972. He returned to Bangalore University and completed his master's degree in physics in 1974. Banavar completed his Ph.D. in physics at University of Pittsburgh in 1978.

Career
Banavar began his professional career as a research associate at the University of Chicago from 1978-1981. Next, he became a postdoctoral member of the technical staff at Bell Laboratories. For the next five years, Banavar worked for Schlumberger-Doll Research Center as a member of its professional staff. In 1988, Banavar began working for Pennsylvania State University. He worked for three years as an associate professor of physics before becoming a professor of physics. In 1998, he became the head of the Department of Physics. He earned the title Distinguished Professor of Physics in 2003 and became the Downsbrough Department Head of Physics in 2006. The George A. and Margaret M. Downsbrough endowment, a $3 million gift from the estate of George Downsbrough to endow the department head's chair, was the third named department head chair to be endowed at Penn State and the first in the Eberly College of Science. After 23 years at Pennsylvania State University, Banavar moved to University of Maryland, College Park, as a professor in the Department of Physics and Dean of the College of Computer Mathematical, and Natural Sciences.