Richard R. Weber
Encyclopedia
Richard Robert Weber is a mathematician
working in operational research. He is Churchill Professor of Mathematics for Operational Research
in the Statistical Laboratory, University of Cambridge.
Weber was educated at Walnut Hills High School, Solihull School
and Downing College, Cambridge
. He graduated in 1974,
and completed his PhD
in 1980 under the supervision of Peter Nash. He has been on the faculty of the University of Cambridge
since 1978, and a fellow of Queens' College
since 1977. He was appointed Churchill Professor
in 1994. He was Director of the Statistical Laboratory
from 1999-2009, and is a trustee of the Rollo Davidson Trust.
He works on the mathematics of large complex systems
subject to uncertainty
. He has made contributions to stochastic scheduling, Markov decision processes, queueing theory
, the probabilistic analysis of algorithms
, and the theory of communications pricing and control.
Weber and his co-authors were awarded the 2007 INFORMS prize for their paper on the online bin packing algorithm.
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
working in operational research. He is Churchill Professor of Mathematics for Operational Research
Churchill Professorship of Mathematics for Operational Research
The Churchill Professorship of Mathematics for Operational Research is a professorship in operational research at the University of Cambridge. It was established in 1966 by a benefaction from Esso in memory of Sir Winston Churchill, who died the previous year...
in the Statistical Laboratory, University of Cambridge.
Weber was educated at Walnut Hills High School, Solihull School
Solihull School
Solihull School is a British Independent school situated near the centre of Solihull, West Midlands, England.2010 saw Solihull School celebrate its 450th anniversary since its foundation in 1560....
and Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1800 and currently has around 650 students.- History :...
. He graduated in 1974,
and completed 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...
in 1980 under the supervision of Peter Nash. He has been on the faculty of the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
since 1978, and a fellow of Queens' College
Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
since 1977. He was appointed Churchill Professor
Churchill Professorship of Mathematics for Operational Research
The Churchill Professorship of Mathematics for Operational Research is a professorship in operational research at the University of Cambridge. It was established in 1966 by a benefaction from Esso in memory of Sir Winston Churchill, who died the previous year...
in 1994. He was Director of the Statistical Laboratory
Faculty of Mathematics, University of Cambridge
The Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge comprises the Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics and the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics . It is housed in the Centre for Mathematical Sciences site in West Cambridge, alongside the Isaac...
from 1999-2009, and is a trustee of the Rollo Davidson Trust.
He works on the mathematics of large complex systems
Complex systems
Complex systems present problems in mathematical modelling.The equations from which complex system models are developed generally derive from statistical physics, information theory and non-linear dynamics, and represent organized but unpredictable behaviors of systems of nature that are considered...
subject to uncertainty
Uncertainty
Uncertainty is a term used in subtly different ways in a number of fields, including physics, philosophy, statistics, economics, finance, insurance, psychology, sociology, engineering, and information science...
. He has made contributions to stochastic scheduling, Markov decision processes, queueing theory
Queueing theory
Queueing theory is the mathematical study of waiting lines, or queues. The theory enables mathematical analysis of several related processes, including arriving at the queue, waiting in the queue , and being served at the front of the queue...
, 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...
, and the theory of communications pricing and control.
Weber and his co-authors were awarded the 2007 INFORMS prize for their paper on the online bin packing algorithm.