A 1990 doctoral thesis from the University of Konstanz marked the academic entry of Peter Bürgisser into the fields of algorithmic algebra and algebraic complexity. His subsequent career has focused on bridging theoretical mathematics and computer science through the development of symbolic and numerical algorithms, reflecting the growing reliance on computational power to resolve long-standing mathematical problems.
Academic Foundation and Research
Bürgisser completed his doctoral studies under the supervision of Volker Strassen, producing a thesis titled Degenerationsordnung und Trägerfunktional bilinearer Abbildungen. His early postdoctoral training included positions at the University of Bonn and the University of Zürich. His research output covers the probabilistic analysis of numerical algorithms, lower bounds in the complexity of algebraic problems, and the creation of efficient algorithmic solutions. A significant milestone in his research collaboration occurred in 2011 with Felipe Cucker, when the pair contributed to solving Smale's Problem No. 17.
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After holding a professorship at the University of Paderborn, Bürgisser joined the faculty at Technische Universität Berlin in 2013. He has engaged with the international research community as a visiting scholar at the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing in Berkeley and at ETH Zurich. In 2010, he presented a talk on the smoothed analysis of condition numbers at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Hyderabad. He also served as a plenary speaker at the 2008 Foundations of Computational Mathematics conference in Hong Kong and has contributed to the organization of multiple workshops at the Oberwolfach research center.
Recognition and Publications
The American Mathematical Society elected Bürgisser as a fellow in 2013. His scholarly work includes several volumes published by Springer, such as Algebraic Complexity Theory, co-authored with Michael Clausen and Amin Shokrollahi, and the 2000 text Completeness and Reduction in Algebraic Complexity Theory. In 2013, he published Condition – The Geometry of Numerical Algorithms with Felipe Cucker. He received an ERC Advanced Grant in 2018 and currently serves on the editorial board of the journal Foundations of Computational Mathematics.
Early Interest in Media
Before focusing exclusively on mathematics and computer science, Bürgisser participated in the arts as an adolescent. He served as the lead actor in four short films directed by his school peer Roger Steinmann. Two of these productions, Die Flutkatastrophe and Die Türe, were broadcast on Swiss national television, with the latter project including a televised interview with the young actor.
Fast facts
- Born: 1962, Zurich
- Citizenship: Switzerland, Germany
- Education: University of Konstanz
- Primary Fields: Mathematics, Computer science
- Key Award: ERC Advanced Grant (2018)
- Professional Membership: American Mathematical Society
- Current Position: Technische Universität Berlin
- Languages: German, English
Questions readers ask
What is the primary focus of Peter Bürgisser's research?
He specializes in algorithmic algebra, algebraic complexity theory, and the probabilistic analysis of numerical algorithms.
Where did Bürgisser hold professorships?
He served as a professor at the University of Paderborn before moving to Technische Universität Berlin in 2013.
Achievements
- Held posts at Technische Universität Berlin and University of Paderborn
- Fields: computational complexity theory, mathematics and informatics
