Mary Wootters

Mary Wootters is an Associate Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at Stanford University. She holds joint appointments in both departments and is a member of the Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering (ICME). Her research focuses on theoretical computer science, information theory, and applied mathematics, with an emphasis on error-correcting codes, randomized algorithms, and data processing techniques. She earned her Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Michigan (2014) and a B.A. in Math and Computer Science from Swarthmore College (2008), followed by an NSF postdoctoral fellowship at Carnegie Mellon University (2014–2016).

Her research interests include error-correcting codes, randomized algorithms, and dimension reduction, with applications to data storage, nano-engineering, and high-dimensional signal processing. Notable contributions include advancements in LDPC codes, Reed-Solomon codes, and robust gray codes. She also explores quantum LDPC codes and nanopore-based DNA storage systems.

Dr. Wootters has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the NSF CAREER Award, PECASE Award, Sloan Research Fellowship (2019), and the IEEE Information Theory Society Goldsmith Lecturer (2024). Her work bridges theoretical foundations and practical applications, addressing challenges in coding theory and data reliability.

Her advising spans multiple PhD students and postdoctoral scholars, including notable alumni like Reyna Hulett and Shashwat Silas. She teaches advanced courses such as Algebraic Error Correcting Codes and Randomized Algorithms, and actively contributes to interdisciplinary research through grants like the NSF-BSF on coding theory and pseudorandomness.