Math drives this Rutgers professor

ENDRE SZEMEREDI

67, Highland Park

Accomplishment

Szemeredi, a professor at Rutgers University, received the American Mathematical Society's Leroy P. Steele Prize for 2008, a prestigious award in mathematical research circles. He is honored for his proof of the Erdos-Turan conjecture, known as the Szemeredi theorem, which became a landmark paper used in combinatorics, number theory and in computer science.

A native of Hungary, Szemeredi came to the United States to work at Rutgers University, where he has taught and researched for more than 20 years. He is a member of the Hungarian Academy of Science and previously worked at the Renyi Institute in Hungary.

Excellent with numbers, not with computers

Although Szemeredi technically works for the Rutgers computer science department, he barely touches the flat-screen monitor on his desk. Szemeredi said he relies on secretaries to help him out with the most basic of computer functions.

"I never use computers," said Szemeredi. "That is a little bit contradictory, but that is the truth."

Szemeredi said he feels privileged to work at Rutgers, and he sits in classes his colleagues teach to absorb their techniques.

"I think that the math department is one of the strongest in the country," said Szemeredi. "I'm sure any of them would have deserved the prize as much as I."

CONTINUED   1 | 2  Next