Merrick Furst

Merrick Furst is a Distinguished Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology's College of Computing, focusing on commercialization, new venture creation, and undergraduate program development. He founded the anti-botnet startup Damballa, Inc., and has held prominent academic and executive roles, including professorships at UC Berkeley and Carnegie Mellon University, and CEO of Essential Surfing Gear, Inc.

• Affiliations: School of Computer Science, School of Cybersecurity and Privacy, Algorithms and Randomness Center (ARC), Center for 21st Century Universities (C21U)

His research interests span Artificial Intelligence, Algorithms, and Complexity Theory, with seminal contributions such as probabilistic circuit analysis and planning graphs in AI planning. His work bridges theoretical computer science with practical applications in cybersecurity, commercialization, and education innovation.

Merrick Furst has been instrumental in translating academic research into real-world solutions, exemplified by his startup ventures and leadership in faculty development. He also contributed to educational initiatives, including establishing a new high school in San Francisco, and remains active in advancing institutional strategies through affiliations like C21U.