Alistair Sinclair

Alistair Sinclair is the Kikuo Ogawa and Kaoru Ogawa Professor of Computer Science in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at UC Berkeley. He received his BA in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge (1982) and PhD in Computer Science from the University of Edinburgh (1988). After briefly serving on faculty at Edinburgh, he joined UC Berkeley in 1994. Sinclair has held visiting positions at DIMACS, Princeton University, Rutgers University, Microsoft Research, École Polytechnique, University of Paris-Orsay, and University of Rome III.

His research explores:

• Randomized algorithms and Markov chain Monte Carlo methods
• Phase transitions in statistical physics
• Algorithmic applications of stochastic processes
• Nonlinear dynamical systems
• Combinatorial optimization

Analysis of Sinclair's recent publications (2017-2025) reveals strong emphasis on statistical physics models (especially Ising and random-cluster systems), Markov chain dynamics, phase transitions, and algorithmic solutions for combinatorial problems. Key methodologies include spatial mixing analysis, entropy decay measurements, and deterministic approximation techniques.

Scientific Awards:

• 1996 ACM-EATCS Gödel Prize
• 2006 Fulkerson Prize
• 2017 SIGACT Distinguished Service Prize

Sinclair has advised 17+ PhD students including notable researchers in theoretical computer science and mathematics. He served as Founding Associate Director (2012-2017) of the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing, receiving recognition for developing its research programs on probability, geometry, and computational complexity.