Paul and Cynthia Saylor Professorship in Computer Science

The Paul and Cindy Saylor Professorship in Computer Science was established in 2005 through the generosity of the late Gene H. Golub (B.S. Mathematics, 1953, M.A. Mathematical Statistics, 1954, Ph.D. Mathematics, 1959) in honor of his longstanding friendship with the Saylors.

Professor Golub's influence on the theory and practice of scientific computing was profound, both through his vast range of technical research contributions and his professional leadership of the entire scientific computing community nationally and internationally.

Professor Golub was a cofounder of the Stanford computer science department, and served on the Stanford faculty beginning in 1962 through the time of his death in November of 2007. He was a member of both the National Academy of Science and the National Academy of Engineering. He served as president of SIAM from 1985 to 1987 and was founding editor of both SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing and SIAM Journal on Matrix Analysis and Applications. His founding of NA-Net and NA-Digest helped unify the worldwide numerical analysis community.

The late Professor Emeritus Paul Saylor served on the computer science faculty at the University of Illinois since 1967. He received his Ph.D. in mathematics from Rice University in 1968. His research interests included high performance computing and the solution of large linear and nonlinear systems, with applications in astrophysics, electromagnetics and groundwater flow. His research focused on constraint problems, specifically in relativity equations.

Paul and his wife Cindy became acquainted with Gene Golub during Gene's many visits to Illinois, and they remained his lifelong friends. Gene wished to honor their kindness, support, and generosity, as well as Paul's dedication to his students and the academic life through the naming of this endowed professorship.

 

Recipients

• Chandra Chekuri (2020-present)
• Laxmikant "Sanjay" Kalé (2016-2019)
• William D. Gropp (2007-2013)