Luc Devroye
Encyclopedia
Luc Devroye is a Belgian computer scientist
and a James McGill
Professor
in the School of Computer Science
of McGill University
in Montreal
, Canada
. He studied at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
and subsequently at Osaka University
and in 1976 received his PhD
from University of Texas at Austin
under the supervision of Terry Wagner. Devroye specializes in the probabilistic analysis of algorithms
, random number generation
and enjoys typography
. Since joining the McGill faculty in 1977 he has won numerous awards, including an E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship
(1987), a Humboldt Research Award (2004), the Killam Prize
(2005) and the Statistical Society of Canada gold medal (2008).
Computer scientist
A computer scientist is a scientist who has acquired knowledge of computer science, the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and their application in computer systems....
and a James McGill
James McGill
James McGill was a Scottish-Canadian businessman, military commander and philanthropist known for being the founder of McGill University...
Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
in the School of Computer Science
McGill University School of Computer Science
The School of Computer Science is a School in the Faculty of Science at McGill University located in the McConnell Engineering Building at 3480 University, Montreal. The school is the second most funded computer science department in Canada. It currently has 34 faculty members, 60 Ph.D...
of McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He studied at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
and subsequently at Osaka University
Osaka University
, or , is a major national university located in Osaka, Japan. It is the sixth oldest university in Japan as the Osaka Prefectural Medical College, and formerly one of the Imperial Universities of Japan...
and in 1976 received his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
under the supervision of Terry Wagner. Devroye specializes in the probabilistic analysis of algorithms
Probabilistic analysis of algorithms
In analysis of algorithms, probabilistic analysis of algorithms is an approach to estimate the computational complexity of an algorithm or a computational problem. It starts from an assumption about a probabilistic distribution of the set of all possible inputs...
, random number generation
Random number generation
A random number generator ) is a computational or physical device designed to generate a sequence of numbers or symbols that lack any pattern, i.e. appear random....
and enjoys typography
Typography
Typography is the art and technique of arranging type in order to make language visible. The arrangement of type involves the selection of typefaces, point size, line length, leading , adjusting the spaces between groups of letters and adjusting the space between pairs of letters...
. Since joining the McGill faculty in 1977 he has won numerous awards, including an E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada is a Canadian government agency that provides grants for research in the natural sciences and in engineering. Its mandate is to promote and assist research....
(1987), a Humboldt Research Award (2004), the Killam Prize
Isaak-Walton-Killam Award
The Izaak-Walton-Killam Award was established according to the last wishes of Dorothy J. Killam to honour the memory of her husband Izaak Walton Killam....
(2005) and the Statistical Society of Canada gold medal (2008).