Thomas D Howell

Thomas D. Howell is a Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at San José State University, where he has taught since 2002. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Cornell University (1976) and a BS in Mathematics from the California Institute of Technology (1973). His career spans over 30 years in academia and industry, including roles as a Research Staff Member at IBM Research (1977–1990) and Vice President of Research at Quantum Corporation (1990–2000). He specializes in magnetic recording systems, signal processing for storage media, and data detection algorithms.

• Educations:
  • Ph.D. in Computer Science, Cornell University, 1976
  • M.Sc. in Computer Science, Cornell University, 1975
  • B.Sc. in Mathematics, California Institute of Technology, 1973

His research interests focus on advancing magnetic recording technologies, including error correction, channel design, and high-density storage systems. He has contributed to the development of MR and GMR heads and digital channel technologies. His work often intersects electrical engineering and applied mathematics, addressing challenges in signal integrity and data reliability.

Publications span foundational topics like tensor rank analysis, sparse matrix computations, and modern storage system optimization. Recent work emphasizes statistical modeling of recording codes and error rate performance in gigabit-scale systems.

• Awards:
  • IEEE Fellow (2008)
  • Editor of IEEE Transactions on Magnetics (1997–2000)
  • Chair of Magnetic Recording Conference (2000)

He has advised no listed students but has mentored teams in industrial R&D environments. His professional service includes roles on the board of the National Storage Industry Consortium and multiple university advisory councils. Active in industry collaborations, he holds patents on coding techniques and error correction methods critical to modern storage systems.

His research is conducted through affiliations with IBM Research, Quantum Corporation, and San José State’s College of Engineering laboratories.