John Hopcroft
Encyclopedia
John Edward Hopcroft is an American theoretical computer scientist
. His textbooks on theory of computation
(also known as the Cinderella book) and data structures are regarded as standards in their fields. He is the IBM Professor of Engineering and Applied Mathematics in Computer Science at Cornell University.http://www.cs.cornell.edu/jeh/
He received his master's degree
and Ph.D.
from Stanford University
in 1962 and 1964, respectively. He worked for three years at Princeton University
and since then has been based at Cornell University
. John Hopcroft is the grandson of Jacob Nist, founder of the Seattle Box Company.
In addition to his research work, he is well known for his books on algorithms and formal languages coauthored with Jeffrey Ullman
and Alfred Aho
, regarded as classic texts in the field.
He received the Turing Award
– the most prestigious award in the field and often recognized as the "Nobel Prize
of computing", – jointly with Robert Tarjan
in 1986. The citation states that he received the award "for fundamental achievements in the design and analysis of algorithms and data structures." Along with his work with Tarjan on planar graph
s he is also known for the Hopcroft–Karp algorithm for finding matchings in bipartite graph
s. In 1994 he was inducted as a Fellow
of the Association for Computing Machinery
. In 2005 he received the Harry H. Goode Memorial Award "for fundamental contributions to the study of algorithms and their applications in information processing."
In 2008 he received the Karl V. Karlstrom Outstanding Educator Award "for his vision of and impact on computer science, including co-authoring field-defining texts on theory and algorithms, which continue to influence students 40 years later, advising PhD students who themselves are now contributing greatly to computer science, and providing influential leadership in computer science research and education at the national and international level."
In 1992 John Hopcroft was nominated to the National Science Board
by George H.W. Bush.
In 2009, he received an honorary doctorate from Saint Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics
.
Hopcroft is also the co-recipient (with Jeffrey Ullman
) of the 2010 IEEE John von Neumann Medal
,
“For laying the foundations for the fields of automata and language theory and many seminal contributions to theoretical computer science.”
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....
. His textbooks on theory of computation
Theory of computation
In theoretical computer science, the theory of computation is the branch that deals with whether and how efficiently problems can be solved on a model of computation, using an algorithm...
(also known as the Cinderella book) and data structures are regarded as standards in their fields. He is the IBM Professor of Engineering and Applied Mathematics in Computer Science at Cornell University.http://www.cs.cornell.edu/jeh/
He received his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
and Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1962 and 1964, respectively. He worked for three years at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and since then has been based at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. John Hopcroft is the grandson of Jacob Nist, founder of the Seattle Box Company.
In addition to his research work, he is well known for his books on algorithms and formal languages coauthored with Jeffrey Ullman
Jeffrey Ullman
Jeffrey David Ullman is a renowned computer scientist. His textbooks on compilers , theory of computation , data structures, and databases are regarded as standards in their fields.-Early life & Career:Ullman received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering...
and Alfred Aho
Alfred Aho
Alfred Vaino Aho is a Canadian computer scientist.-Career:Aho received a B.A.Sc. in Engineering Physics from the University of Toronto and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering/Computer Science from Princeton University...
, regarded as classic texts in the field.
He received the Turing Award
Turing Award
The Turing Award, in full The ACM A.M. Turing Award, is an annual award given by the Association for Computing Machinery to "an individual selected for contributions of a technical nature made to the computing community. The contributions should be of lasting and major technical importance to the...
– the most prestigious award in the field and often recognized as the "Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
of computing", – jointly with Robert Tarjan
Robert Tarjan
Robert Endre Tarjan is a renowned American computer scientist. He is the discoverer of several important graph algorithms, including Tarjan's off-line least common ancestors algorithm, and co-inventor of both splay trees and Fibonacci heaps. Tarjan is currently the James S...
in 1986. The citation states that he received the award "for fundamental achievements in the design and analysis of algorithms and data structures." Along with his work with Tarjan on planar graph
Planar graph
In graph theory, a planar graph is a graph that can be embedded in the plane, i.e., it can be drawn on the plane in such a way that its edges intersect only at their endpoints...
s he is also known for the Hopcroft–Karp algorithm for finding matchings in bipartite graph
Bipartite graph
In the mathematical field of graph theory, a bipartite graph is a graph whose vertices can be divided into two disjoint sets U and V such that every edge connects a vertex in U to one in V; that is, U and V are independent sets...
s. In 1994 he was inducted as a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the Association for Computing Machinery
Association for Computing Machinery
The Association for Computing Machinery is a learned society for computing. It was founded in 1947 as the world's first scientific and educational computing society. Its membership is more than 92,000 as of 2009...
. In 2005 he received the Harry H. Goode Memorial Award "for fundamental contributions to the study of algorithms and their applications in information processing."
In 2008 he received the Karl V. Karlstrom Outstanding Educator Award "for his vision of and impact on computer science, including co-authoring field-defining texts on theory and algorithms, which continue to influence students 40 years later, advising PhD students who themselves are now contributing greatly to computer science, and providing influential leadership in computer science research and education at the national and international level."
In 1992 John Hopcroft was nominated to the National Science Board
National Science Board
The National Science Board of the United States is composed of 25 members appointed by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate, representing the broad U.S. science and engineering community. The Board establishes the policies of the National Science Foundation within the framework...
by George H.W. Bush.
In 2009, he received an honorary doctorate from Saint Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics
Saint Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics
Saint Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics, abbreviated as SPbSU ITMO is a leading Russian technical university located in St. Petersburg, Russia. It trains specialists in cutting-edge technologies directed to science and technical...
.
Hopcroft is also the co-recipient (with Jeffrey Ullman
Jeffrey Ullman
Jeffrey David Ullman is a renowned computer scientist. His textbooks on compilers , theory of computation , data structures, and databases are regarded as standards in their fields.-Early life & Career:Ullman received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering...
) of the 2010 IEEE John von Neumann Medal
IEEE John von Neumann Medal
The IEEE John von Neumann Medal was established by the IEEE Board of Directors in 1990 and may be presented annually "for outstanding achievements in computer-related science and technology." The achievements may be theoretical, technological, or entrepreneurial, and need not have been made...
,
“For laying the foundations for the fields of automata and language theory and many seminal contributions to theoretical computer science.”