# Alec Jacobson > computer scientist at the University of Toronto **Wikidata**: [Q102567230](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102567230) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/alec-jacobson ## Summary Alec Jacobson is a Canadian‑based computer scientist and university teacher who works as a faculty member in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto. He is also a senior researcher at Adobe and an affiliate of the Vector Institute, known for his research in computer graphics and geometry processing. ## Biography - **Born:** *not publicly documented* - **Nationality:** *not publicly documented* - **Education:** - Ph.D. in Computer Science, ETH Zurich (2011 – 2013) – doctoral advisor : Olga Sorkine‑Hornung - M.A. in Computer Science, New York University (2009 – 2011) – Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences - B.A. in Computer Science & Mathematics, New York University (2005 – 2009) – Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences - **Known for:** Research on computational geometry, mesh processing, and computer graphics. - **Employer(s):** - University of Toronto (faculty, Department of Computer Science & Department of Mathematics, 2016 – present) - Adobe (Senior Researcher, 2021 – present) - Columbia University (Postdoctoral Researcher, Computer Science, 2014 – 2016) - ETH Zurich (Postdoctoral Researcher, 2013 – 2014) - Vector Institute (Affiliate, 2020 – present) - **Field(s):** Computer science, computer graphics, geometry processing, computational geometry ## Contributions Alec Jacobson’s contributions span both academia and industry. After completing his Ph.D. under Olga Sorkine‑Hornung at ETH Zurich, he pursued post‑doctoral research at Columbia University (2014‑2016) and ETH Zurich (2013‑2014), focusing on mesh processing algorithms and geometric modeling. In 2016 he joined the University of Toronto as a faculty member, where he teaches and supervises graduate students in computer graphics and computational geometry. His research has produced a series of peer‑reviewed papers that advance the state of the art in mesh simplification, deformation, and simulation, many of which are publicly available on his university website and CV. In 2021 Jacobson expanded his impact to industry by becoming a senior researcher at Adobe, where he applies his expertise to develop next‑generation graphics and imaging tools. Since 2020 he has also been affiliated with the Vector Institute, contributing to Canada’s AI research ecosystem. His open‑source implementations and tutorials are widely used by students and practitioners worldwide, reinforcing the practical relevance of his work. ## FAQs ### Q: What does Alec Jacobson research? A: He researches computer graphics, geometry processing, and computational geometry, developing algorithms for mesh manipulation and simulation. ### Q: Where does Alec Jacobson work? A: He is a faculty member in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto and a senior researcher at Adobe; he is also affiliated with the Vector Institute. ### Q: What is Alec Jacobson’s educational background? A: He earned a Ph.D. in computer science from ETH Zurich (2013), an M.A. in computer science from New York University (2011), and a B.A. in computer science and mathematics from the same university (2009). ### Q: Who supervised Alec Jacobson’s doctoral research? A: His doctoral advisor was computer scientist Olga Sorkine‑Hornung. ### Q: Does Alec Jacobson maintain a professional website? A: Yes, his academic page is https://www.cs.toronto.edu/~jacobson/ and his CV is available at https://www.cs.toronto.edu/~jacobson/cv.html. ## Why They Matter Jacobson’s work bridges theoretical computer science and practical graphics applications. By advancing mesh processing techniques, he has enabled more efficient and realistic 3D modeling, which is essential for animation, virtual reality, and scientific visualization. His transition to Adobe brings academic rigor to commercial product development, influencing tools used by millions of designers and engineers. Through teaching and mentorship at the University of Toronto, he cultivates the next generation of researchers, while his affiliation with the Vector Institute integrates his expertise into Canada’s broader AI strategy. Without his contributions, many modern geometry‑processing pipelines would lack the robustness and performance that his algorithms provide. ## Notable For - Senior Researcher at Adobe (2021‑present), applying academic graphics research to industry products. - Faculty appointment at the University of Toronto (2016‑present) in both Computer Science and Mathematics departments. - Affiliate of the Vector Institute since 2020, contributing to Canada’s AI research community. - Ph.D. under renowned computer scientist Olga Sorkine‑Hornung at ETH Zurich. - Author of widely cited papers and open‑source tools in mesh processing and geometry computation. ## Body ### Early Life and Education - **Undergraduate:** B.A. in Computer Science & Mathematics, New York University (2005‑2009), Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. - **Graduate:** M.A. in Computer Science, New York University (2009‑2011), Courant Institute. - **Doctorate:** Ph.D. in Computer Science, ETH Zurich (2011‑2013). - Doctoral advisor: **Olga Sorkine‑Hornung**. ### Academic Career - **Postdoctoral Researcher, ETH Zurich** (2013‑2014) – focused on geometric algorithms. - **Postdoctoral Researcher, Columbia University** (2014‑2016) – continued work on mesh processing within the Computer Science department. - **Faculty, University of Toronto** (2016‑present) – holds joint appointments in the Departments of Computer Science and Mathematics. - Teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in graphics and computational geometry. - Supervises Ph.D. students and leads research projects funded by national agencies. ### Industry Role - **Senior Researcher, Adobe** (2021‑present) – collaborates on advanced graphics and imaging technologies, translating research prototypes into production‑ready features. ### Research Interests & Outputs - **Geometry Processing:** Development of algorithms for mesh simplification, deformation, and simulation. - **Computer Graphics:** Contributions to realistic rendering pipelines and interactive modeling tools. - **Open‑Source Software:** Releases of code libraries and tutorials that are referenced in academic curricula and industry prototypes. - **Publications:** Author of multiple peer‑reviewed articles; full list available on his university website and CV. ### Professional Affiliations - **Vector Institute** – Affiliate since 2020, participating in AI‑focused research initiatives. ### Online Presence - **Website:** https://www.cs.toronto.edu/~jacobson/ (English) - **Curriculum Vitae:** https://www.cs.toronto.edu/~jacob3/cv.html (English) - **LinkedIn:** Profile ID *alec-jacobson-80b561176* - **Mathematics Genealogy Project:** ID 211165 --- *All information presented is drawn exclusively from the supplied source material.* ## References 1. Mathematics Genealogy Project