Theory Research

A black computer screen with vertical lines of green code.

Cracking Computational Challenges

Theory Research at Rochester

At the University of Rochester, theoretical computer science research combines rigorous mathematical foundations with interdisciplinary applications. The theory group explores a broad range of topics—from complexity of elections and database query models to graph algorithms and cryptography—within a small, close-knit faculty–student environment.

THEORY ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY

Computation, Combinatorics & Choice

Rochester’s broader theory community reaches across disciplines. The CCC group connects researchers working on algorithms and complexity, discrete mathematics, optimization, game theory, social choice, and collective decision-making.

Explore the CCC group    Upcoming talks & events

Theoretical Computer Science Researchers

Meet the faculty at the forefront of theoretical computer science research.

Lane A. Hemaspaandra

Hemaspaandra, Lane A.

Professor of Computer Science

Office Location
2317 Wegmans Hall
Web Address
Website

Interests: Computational social choice (elections, preference aggregation, power indices, etc.); Computational complexity theory (counting-based computation, probabilistic computation, unambiguous computation, the importance of query order when accessing databases, the study of efficient algorithms for complex sets, complexity-theoretic aspects of security, fault-tolerance, and data compression, etc.)

Kaave Hosseini

Hosseini, Kaave

Assistant Professor of Computer Science

Office Location
2507 Wegmans Hall
Web Address
Website

Interests: Theoretical computer science; Additive combinatorics; Pseudorandomness; Discrete Fourier analysis

Anson Kahng

Kahng, Anson

Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Data Science

Office Location
2401 Wegmans Hall
Web Address
Website

Interests: Human-Computer Interaction; Augmented Reality; Tangible User Interfaces; Embodied Conversational Agent; Technology-Enhanced Learning; Computer-Supported Collaborative Work; Assistive Technology

Interests: Computational social choice; Democracy and computer science; Economics and computation; Artificial intelligence; Theoretical computer science; Algorithmic game theory

Jiaming Liang smiling.

Liang, Jiaming

Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Data Science

Office Location
2403 Wegmans Hall
Web Address
Website

Interests: Mathematical and numerical optimization; Sampling algorithms; Stochastic programming; Algorithmic game theory

Monika Polak

Polak, Monika

Associate Professor of Computer Science (Instruction)

Office Location
2201 Wegmans Hall
Web Address
Website

Interests: Cryptography; Quantum-Resistant Cryptography; Algebraic Graph Theory; Extremal Graph Theory; Pseudorandomness; Coding Theory

Daniel Stefankovic

Stefankovic, Daniel

Professor of Computer Science

Office Location
2315 Wegmans Hall
Web Address
Website

Interests: Theoretical computer science: graph theory, combinatorics, Fourier transform, Markov chains/counting, learning theory, phylogeny, game theory, graph equations, routing