Latest news with #STOC
Mint
9 hours ago
- Science
- Mint
Who is Eshan Chattopadhyay? All about Indian-origin professor awarded prestigious Godel Prize
Eshan Chattopadhyay, an Indian-origin computer scientist and associate professor at Cornell University, has received the 2025 Gödel Prize—one of the highest recognitions in the field of theoretical computer science. He shares the award with David Zuckerman of the University of Texas at Austin for their influential research on randomness extraction—an area crucial to encryption, cybersecurity, and algorithm design. The award was given for his breakthrough research paper titled 'Explicit Two-Source Extractors and Resilient Functions', which addresses a key challenge in computer science: how to generate high-quality randomness from unreliable sources, critical for secure computing and cryptographic systems. Published initially at the ACM Symposium on Theory of Computing (STOC) in 2016, where it also won the Best Paper award, and later in the Annals of Mathematics in 2019, the paper introduced new techniques that have since shaped major advances in pseudo-randomness and complexity theory. Chattopadhyay completed his BTech in computer science from IIT Kanpur in 2011, followed by a PhD at the University of Texas in 2016. He later held postdoctoral positions at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing at UC Berkeley, two of the most prominent institutions in the field. Named after legendary logician Kurt Gödel, the Gödel Prize is jointly awarded by the ACM SIGACT and the European Association for Theoretical Computer Science. It honours papers that have made lasting contributions to the field of theoretical computer science. The research deals with randomness extraction- a fundamental concept in computer science and cryptography. It focuses on creating reliable randomness from two flawed or weak random sources, a challenge that has implications for everything from encryption systems to algorithm design. In simple terms, imagine flipping two unfair coins and still being able to extract fair, unpredictable results. That's the essence of what Chattopadhyay and Zuckerman achieved, turning weak inputs into strong, usable randomness. He told Cornell University that the recognition is an incredible honour. He shared that it feels 'surreal and gratifying' that the paper was placed in that category.
India Today
a day ago
- Science
- India Today
Indian‑origin professor wins Godel Prize for groundbreaking computer science work
A researcher of Indian origin, Eshan Chattopadhyay, who is an associate professor at Cornell University, has been awarded the 2025 Godel Prize, one of the most prestigious prizes in theoretical computer science. He is jointly honoured with David Zuckerman, a professor at the University of Texas at prize-winning paper, titled 'Explicit TwoSource Extractors and Resilient Functions', was first presented in 2016 and later published in the Annals of Mathematics in 2019. The work created a method—a twosource randomness extractor—that can convert two imperfect sources of random data into a strong random output, even if both sources are weak. This solved a key problem that had remained open for nearly 30 help generate reliable random data for computers, which is essential in fields like cryptography, secure communication, algorithms, and complex systems. Their contribution paves the way for better-designed systems and stronger cyber safety DETAILS AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND The Gdel Prize is awarded annually by ACM SIGACT and EATCS, alternating between ICALP and STOC conferences. Chattopadhyay and Zuckerman will receive the award in Prague at STOC2025, held from June 23 to Chattopadhyay earned his PhD from the University of Texas at Austin under David Zuckerman in 2016. He later joined Cornell in 2018 after postdoctoral work at IAS Princeton and Simons Institute, Berkeley. Zuckerman has been a leader in pseudorandomness research since the FOR INNOVATION IN THEORYTheir 2016 STOC paper was already honoured with a Best Paper Award at the conference . Apart from the Gdel Prize, Chattopadhyay has received other awards, including the 2024 NAS Held Prize, the 2023 Sloan Fellowship, and funding from NSF including a CAREER recognition highlights how deep, abstract research can yield practical tools—impacting algorithms, secure systems, and even the future of Watch
