Zvi Galil

Zvi Galil is the Julian Clarence Levi Professor of Mathematical Methods and Computer Science and the Morris A. and Alma Schapiro Professor of Engineering at Columbia University. He currently serves as Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science. His research focuses on algorithms, computational complexity, cryptography, dynamic graph algorithms, and string processing with applications to molecular biology.

• Education:
• B.Sc. (summa cum laude) in Applied Mathematics, Tel-Aviv University (1967–1970)
• M.Sc. (summa cum laude) in Applied Mathematics, Tel-Aviv University (1970–1971)
• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Cornell University (1972–1975)

Research Interests: Design and analysis of sequential and parallel algorithms, dynamic graph algorithms (e.g., maintaining solutions during graph changes), string processing for molecular biology, and improving dynamic programming techniques.

Awards & Honors:

• ACM Fellow (1995)
• National Academy of Engineering membership (2004)
• American Academy of Arts & Sciences Fellow (2005)
• Festschrift in the Journal of Complexity (1999)
• American Mathematical Society recognition (1983)

Professional Activities:

• Founder and organizer of Columbia University Theory Days (1982–1997)
• Former Chairman of ACM SIGACT (1983–1987)
• Editorial roles in journals like Journal of the ACM, SIAM Journal on Computing, and Journal of Algorithms
• Program Chair for 30th FOCS (1989)
• Director of the Guglielmo Marconi International Fellowship Foundation (1997–present)

Additional Notes: Authored over 200 papers, edited multiple books on combinatorial algorithms, and served as a consultant for IBM, DEC, and others. Marathon runner, former President of Tel-Aviv University (2007–present).