Purdue computer scientist wins George Pólya Prize in Applied Combinatorics
Note to journalists: A high-resolution photo of Alex Pothen is available via Google Drive. Journalists visiting campus should follow visitor health guidelines.
Alex Pothen
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. The field of applied mathematics enables the ability to solve real-world problems through mathematical models and computational methods. The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) promotes research that will lead to new mathematical and computational techniques for solving challenging problems in science, engineering, industry and society.
SIAM has elected Purdue University computer scientist and applied mathematician Alex Pothen to receive its prestigious 2021 George Pólya Prize in Applied Combinatorics.
February 23, 2021
Assefaw Gebremedhin
Assefaw Gebremedhin, associate professor in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, is recipient of the 2021 George Pólya Prize in Applied Combinatorics.
Administered by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), the international prize is awarded every four years for a notable application in an area of mathematics called combinatorial theory. The field of research is primarily concerned with counting and has a broad range of applications in computer science and a wide variety of problems that it can address.
Gebremedhin and his colleagues, Fredrik Manne from the University of Bergen, Norway, and Alex Pothen from Purdue University, were chosen for their work to develop “efficient graph coloring algorithms and codes with applications to Jacobian and Hessian matrix computations,” according to the selection committee. Computation of Jacobian and Hessian matrices is central to many science and engineerin