Uri M. Ascher

Uri M. Ascher is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Science. He has established himself as a leading researcher in numerical analysis, scientific computing, and computational methods for differential equations. His work bridges theoretical mathematics with practical applications in computer animation, computational finance, and inverse problems.

Ascher's research interests focus on numerical methods for evolutionary differential equations, boundary value problems, differential-algebraic equations, and their applications. His work spans both theoretical developments in numerical analysis and practical implementations in scientific computing. He has made significant contributions to the fields of computer animation through numerical methods for simulating deformable objects and physics-based animation.

His publication record shows a consistent trajectory of high-impact research spanning several decades, with recent work focusing on the intersection of numerical methods with machine learning, particularly neural differential equations and data-driven approaches to inverse problems. His research demonstrates a unique ability to connect classical numerical analysis with emerging computational challenges in visual computing and scientific simulation.

• Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (FRSC), 2018
• SIAM Fellow, 2010
• CAIMS Research Prize, 2010

Ascher has supervised numerous graduate students and collaborated extensively with researchers across disciplines. His work on numerical methods for computer animation has led to practical implementations used in graphics applications. He maintains active collaborations with researchers in scientific computing, applied mathematics, and computer graphics. Ascher is also affiliated with the Scientific Computing Laboratory and the Institute for Applied Mathematics at UBC, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of his work.