Srinivasan Named ACM Fellow

Thu Jan 08, 2015

A noted researcher in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS) is being recognized for his contributions to computing that are driving innovations across multiple domains and disciplines.

Aravind Srinivasan, a professor in the Department of Computer Science, has been named to the 2014 class of Fellows of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). He is one of 47 ACM members being honored this year.

In acknowledging the advances made by this year’s cohort, ACM President Alexander L. Wolf said: “Our world has been immeasurably improved by the impact of their innovations. We recognize their contributions to the dynamic computing technologies that are making a difference to the study of computer science, the community of computing professionals and the countless consumers and citizens who are benefiting from their creativity and commitment.”

ACM specifically recognized Srinivasan for his “contributions to algorithms, probabilistic methods, and networks.”

He is an expert in randomized algorithms, social networks and combinatorial optimization. Much of this work involves the confluence of algorithms, networks and randomness in society as they relate to the Web and to public health.

“Aravind is a stellar researcher, a dedicated educator, and displays a strong commitment to service both on and off campus. He is a valued colleague,” says Amitabh Varshney, director of UMIACS.

Last fall, Srinivasan was named editor-in-chief of the ACM Transactions on Algorithms, a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal that publishes original research of the highest quality dealing with algorithms.

Srinivasan received his undergraduate degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, and his doctorate from Cornell University, both in computer science. He was a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and at DIMACS. Additionally, Srinivasan has worked in industrial research at Bell Labs.

The ACM Fellows Program, initiated in 1993, recognizes the top 1 percent of ACM members and celebrates their exceptional accomplishments in computing and information technology and/or outstanding service to ACM and the larger community.

Srinivasan will be honored in June at ACM’s annual awards banquet in San Francisco, Calif.

He is the 11th member of UMIACS to be named an ACM Fellow. Victor Basili, Rama Chellappa, Larry Davis, Joseph JaJa, Jack Minker, Dana Nau, Dianne O’Leary, Hanan Samet, Ben Shneiderman and Uzi Vishkin have previously received this distinction.