The algorithm published by Gene H. Golub and William Kahan in 1970 rendered the computation of singular value decomposition practical for modern digital systems. This achievement sits at the center of his career in numerical linear algebra, a discipline he advanced while holding academic appointments across the United States, including a long tenure at Stanford University.
Academic Formation
Born in Chicago in 1932, Golub attended Theodore Roosevelt High School before transitioning to Wilbur Wright College. He completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign between 1953 and 1959. His doctoral research investigated the use of Chebyshev matrix polynomials in iterative solutions for linear equations under the supervision of Abraham Taub.
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Golub joined the faculty at Stanford University in 1962, remaining there until his death in 2007. His career included periods at the University of Cambridge, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the Courant Institute. Throughout his tenure, he served as a visiting professor at institutions including MIT, Princeton, and ETH Zürich. He also held the position of chairperson at Stanford from 1985 to 1986.
Contributions to Numerical Analysis
As an authority on matrix computations, Golub influenced the structure of modern scientific computing. He co-authored the book Matrix Computations, a primary text in the field. His research extended to the development of the NA-Net and NA-Digest, and he was instrumental in establishing the International Congress on Industrial and Applied Mathematics. He also served as the president of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics from 1985 to 1987.
Recognition and Legacy
Golub received eleven honorary doctorates and earned election to the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 1987, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. He died at Stanford Hospital on November 16, 2007, from acute myeloid leukemia and was interred at Shalom Memorial Park.
Fast facts
- Born: 1932, Chicago
- Died: 2007, Stanford
- Education: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Primary Field: Numerical linear algebra
- Notable Book: Matrix Computations
- SIAM President: 1985-1987
- Burial: Shalom Memorial Park
Questions readers ask
What was Gene H. Golub's primary research focus?
He specialized in numerical linear algebra, specifically developing algorithms for matrix decompositions.
Where did Gene H. Golub teach?
He was a long-term professor at Stanford University, with visiting roles at Princeton, MIT, Oxford, and ETH Zürich.
Achievements
- Notable work: Matrix Computations
- Held posts at Stanford University, University of Cambridge and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Fields: computer science and numerical linear algebra
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