David Karger

David Karger is a Professor of Computer Science at MIT, affiliated with the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). He holds a B.A. from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from Stanford University. His research spans algorithms, information retrieval, human-computer interaction, and theory of computation. He leads the Haystack group, focusing on information management systems and collaborative tools. Notable contributions include the Scatter/Gather browsing system, the Mavo web application framework, and projects like Wikum and Squadbox for online collaboration and harassment prevention.

Education:

• A.B. Summa cum Laude in Computer Science, Harvard University (1989)
• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Stanford University (1994)

Research Interests: Karger’s work integrates algorithmic theory with practical systems, emphasizing human-centered design. Current projects address misinformation detection, social interaction systems, and educational tools. His research bridges theoretical computer science and applied domains such as web technologies and healthcare informatics.

Awards:

• ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award (1994)
• Mathematical Programming Society Tucker Prize (1997)
• National Academy of Sciences Award for Initiative in Research (2004)

Advising & Grants: Karger has advised over 30 students, many of whom have gone on to leadership roles in academia and industry. His work has been supported by grants from the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing and collaborations with companies like Akamai and Google.

Labs & Teams: He leads the Haystack Group within CSAIL, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams on projects such as Mavo, Wikum, and Eyebrowse. His research also intersects with the Theory of Computation and Algorithms groups at MIT.