Algorithm design and the intricacies of combinatorial optimization form the primary focus of Éva Tardos, a researcher whose career spans the intersection of mathematics and computer science. Currently serving as a professor at Cornell University, she investigates network flow problems and auctions, influencing how computational systems process complex data structures across modern global networks.
Academic Foundation
Born in Budapest in 1957, Tardos completed her initial higher education at Eötvös Loránd University. She earned a Diploma in Mathematics in 1981 followed by a Doctor of Philosophy in 1984, working under the guidance of advisor András Frank. This period established her technical expertise in graph theory and the formal analysis of algorithms.
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Tardos holds the title of Jacob Gould Schurman Professor of Computer Science at Cornell University. Her administrative roles have included serving as Department Chair from 2006 to 2010 and as Associate Dean of the College of Computing and Information Science. Beyond her internal university duties, she served as editor-in-chief for the SIAM Journal on Computing and the Journal of the ACM.
Research and Publications
The design of efficient methods for combinatorial optimization remains central to her work. She has applied these theories to network flows, cut, and clustering problems. Alongside Jon Kleinberg, she authored the 2005 textbook Algorithm Design. She also contributed as a co-editor to the 2007 publication Algorithmic Game Theory, collaborating with Noam Nisan, Tim Roughgarden, and Vijay V. Vazirani.
Professional Recognition
Her contributions to theoretical computer science have earned numerous honors. Early career recognition included the Fulkerson Prize in 1988 and a Packard Fellowship in 1990. More recent accolades include the IEEE John von Neumann Medal in 2019 and the Van Wijngaarden Award in 2011. She maintains memberships in several prestigious organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Fast facts
- Born: 1957, Budapest
- Citizenship: Hungary, United States
- Current Position: Professor, Cornell University
- Doctoral Advisor: András Frank
- IEEE John von Neumann Medal: 2019
- Fulkerson Prize: 1988
- ACM Fellow: 1998
- Languages: English, Hungarian
Questions readers ask
What is the primary focus of her research?
Her work concentrates on algorithms, algorithmic game theory, and combinatorial optimization, specifically addressing network flow and auction mechanisms.
Where did she earn her doctorate?
She received her Ph.D. from the Faculty of Sciences of the Eötvös Loránd University in 1984.
Achievements
- Gödel Prize — 2012
- Fulkerson Prize — 1988
- The George B. Dantzig Prize — 2006
- Held posts at Cornell University
- Fields: mathematics and algorithm
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