Mark Giesbrecht

Researcher

My research is in the area of Symbolic Mathematical Computation (more commonly known as Symbolic Computation or Computer Algebra). For me this is the study of computational methods applied to problems in algebra and number theory, and the use of algebraic techniques in algorithms and complexity. It also involves building computer algebra software, such as Maple and LinBox. For this work I was named an ACM Distinguished Scientist in 2013 and received an NSERC Synergy Award in 2003 for work with Maplesoft.

Teacher

I've taught more than twenty different courses, from first year through graduate-level. Though being Dean and Director doesn't leave a lot of time for teaching, I did have an opportunity to teach CS135 - Designing Functional Programs in Fall 2019 with an amazing team of co-instructors. I taught two sections of Numerical Computation (CS370) in Fall 2013. In Winter 2011 I taught computer algebra (CS 487) and taught CS 136 in Winter 2012. Please see my Teaching page for more information on my teaching. I have also been Director of the Undergraduate Studies (2002–2005), which includes curriculum design and implementation.

Administrator

Since July 1, 2020 I have been the Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Waterloo.

From July 1, 2014 -- June 30, 2020 I was the Director of the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science.

Graduate Supervisor

I've been lucky enough to supervise some exceptional graduate students. All have gone on to careers in academia and industry. See my Grad Students page for more details, and even better, follow through to their pages!

If you are interested in pursuing graduate studies in symbolic mathematical computation, please send me an email.

Organizer and Contributor

I am also involved in the computer algebra research community as an organizer, editor and referee. I was Program Chair of the largest conference in computer algebra, the International Symposium on Symbolic and Algebraic Computation (ISSAC) in 2013, after serving on its PC many times. I'm also very pleased to be an organizer of a series of workshops on the emerging field of symbolic-numeric computing (at MSRI in 2010, Waterloo in 2011 and Beijing in 2015). I was an editor of the Journal of Symbolic Computation from 2003-2020. Please see my Professional page for information on these activities.