Demetri Terzopoulos

Demetri Terzopoulos serves as a Distinguished Professor and Chancellor's Professor of Computer Science at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he directs the Computer Graphics & Vision Group within the Samueli School of Engineering's Computer Science Department. His leadership in graphics and vision research has established UCLA as a global hub for computational imaging innovation.

He earned his PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1984, laying the foundation for his pioneering career in computational modeling.

Professor Terzopoulos revolutionized computer graphics through his invention of deformable models and physics-based animation techniques. His research spans computer vision, medical image analysis, computer-aided design, and artificial life, with transformative applications in healthcare diagnostics, visual effects, and biomechanical simulation. His work bridges theoretical computer science with real-world industrial and medical implementations.

His exceptional contributions have been honored with:

• Academy Award for Technical Achievement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
• IEEE Computer Pioneer Award
• Helmholtz Prize
• Inaugural Marr Prize
• Inaugural Computer Vision Distinguished Researcher Award
• Fellowships in ACM, IEEE (Life), Royal Society (London), Royal Society of Canada, and multiple engineering academies

He mentors numerous PhD candidates with extreme selectivity due to high demand, emphasizing academic excellence and research alignment. Funding follows a standard trajectory: initial research assistantships transition to teaching assistantships and industry internships, with limited discretionary funding for new students beyond top admissions fellowship recipients.

He founded and leads the UCLA GR A VI LAB, a multidisciplinary research collective advancing deformable modeling, medical image computing, and vision-based AI systems through collaborations with medical institutions and visual effects industry partners.