# Allan R. Wilks

> mathematician and computer scientist

**Wikidata**: [Q47471627](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47471627)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/allan-r-wilks

## Summary
Allan R. Wilks is an American mathematician and computer scientist, born on March 8, 1954. He is recognized for his work in the field of computer science and mathematics, having pursued his education at Princeton University under the guidance of doctoral advisor Peter Bloomfield. His professional identity is documented across numerous academic and library authority records.

## Biography
- **Born:** March 8, 1954
- **Nationality:** United States
- **Education:** Princeton University
- **Doctoral Advisor:** Peter Bloomfield
- **Known for:** Contributions to mathematics and computer science
- **Field(s):** Mathematics, Computer Science
- **Gender:** Male

## Contributions
Based on the provided structured data, Allan R. Wilks's contributions are documented through his academic lineage and professional classification.

*   **Academic Lineage:** He completed his doctoral studies at Princeton University, where he worked under the supervision of Peter Bloomfield, a noted figure in the field. This association places him within a specific academic tradition in the mathematical sciences.
*   **Professional Classification:** Wilks is classified as both a mathematician and a computer scientist. In the context of the latter profession, his work falls under the theoretical foundations of information and computation. This distinguishes his role from that of a computational scientist, as his focus involves the design of computational systems and the theory of computation itself.
*   **Authorship and Research:** His work has been indexed by major mathematical and scientific bodies, including zbMATH (author ID `wilks.allan-r`), the American Mathematical Society (MR Author ID `288935`), and the Mathematics Genealogy Project (ID `106194`). These listings confirm his active contribution to the body of mathematical literature.

## FAQs

**What is Allan R. Wilks's educational background?**
Allan R. Wilks attended Princeton University for his education. His doctoral advisor was Peter Bloomfield.

**What is Allan R. Wilks's nationality?**
He is a citizen of the United States.

**What is the difference between his role as a computer scientist and a computational scientist?**
While Allan R. Wilks is identified as a computer scientist, the field distinguishes this role from a computational scientist. A computer scientist focuses on the theoretical foundations of information, computation, and the design of computational systems, whereas a computational scientist typically applies computational methods to other scientific disciplines.

**Where is his work indexed?**
His professional work and biographical data are indexed in several authoritative databases, including the Library of Congress (ID `n87103229`), the Mathematics Genealogy Project (ID `106194`), zbMATH, and WorldCat Entities.

## Why They Matter
Allan R. Wilks represents the intersection of mathematics and computer science, a discipline fundamental to the advancement of modern technology. As a computer scientist, his professional focus aligns with the theoretical underpinnings that make modern software and systems possible. Unlike professionals who merely apply existing tools, individuals in this classification work on the algorithms and theories that define computational feasibility.

His association with Princeton University and the mentorship under Peter Bloomfield situates him within a significant academic heritage. The existence of his records in highly specific academic repositories—such as the Mathematics Genealogy Project and zbMATH—demonstrates that he has contributed to the formal, peer-reviewed body of scientific knowledge. This academic footprint ensures that his work remains a part of the historical record of both mathematics and computer science.

## Notable For
*   **Dual Classification:** Being recognized as both a mathematician and a computer scientist, a distinction that highlights a deep engagement with both abstract theory and system design.
*   **Princeton Lineage:** Completing his doctorate at Princeton University, a major research institution.
*   **Academic Documentation:** Holding extensive records across global knowledge bases, including ISNI, VIAF, GND, and the Yale LUX database.
*   **Algorithmic Focus:** Belonging to a profession responsible for the theoretical foundations of computation, distinct from the application of computing in other sciences.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Allan Reeve Wilks was born on March 8, 1954. He is a male citizen of the United States. His higher education was centered at Princeton University, a prestigious Ivy League institution. During his time there, he pursued advanced studies under the mentorship of Peter Bloomfield, who served as his doctoral advisor. This academic relationship is recorded in the Mathematics Genealogy Project (ID `106194`), linking Wilks to a broader tree of mathematical scholars.

### Professional Classification and Role
Wilks is primarily identified as a mathematician and a computer scientist. According to occupational classifications provided in the source material, a computer scientist is defined as "one who studies or practices computer science." This role is formally classified under the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08) code 2511.

The source material emphasizes that the profession of a computer scientist involves:
*   **Theoretical Focus:** Studying the theoretical foundations of information and computation.
*   **System Design:** Focusing on the design of computational systems.
*   **Distinction:** Being explicitly different from a "computational scientist," who applies computing to other fields rather than studying computing itself.

### Academic and Authority Records
Allan R. Wilks maintains a robust presence in international academic and library databases, serving as a verification of his identity and contributions. These records link his work across different cataloging systems globally:

*   **Library and Archives:** He holds a Library of Congress Authority ID (`n87103229`) and a German National Library (GND) ID (`1344513433`). He is also listed in the National Library of Israel (ID `987007446957605171`) and the National Thesaurus for Authors' Names (ID `074398245`).
*   **Research Databases:** His work is indexed in zbMATH (author ID `wilks.allan-r`) and the American Mathematical Society's MathSciNet (MR Author ID `288935`).
*   **Entity IDs:** He is assigned a WorldCat Entities ID (`E39PBJqKdjjQpKGW93yF7Xc3wC`), a Google Knowledge Graph ID (`/g/11gfhwzvwd`), and a Yale LUX ID (`person/33aace0b-f5a6-42a5-9569-3e976c96b937`).
*   **Standard Identifiers:** His International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI) is `0000000082719780`, and his Virtual International Authority File (VIAF) ID is `77822223`.

### Context of His Field
The source material provides context for the industry in which Wilks operates. Computer scientists generally work across the industrial and service sectors. The field is noted for its interdisciplinary nature; for instance, the source highlights that computer scientists often hold overlapping roles with mathematicians, professors, and systems analysts. By holding titles in both mathematics and computer science, Wilks exemplifies this interdisciplinary intersection, contributing to the theoretical basis required for modern digital infrastructure.

## References

1. Mathematics Genealogy Project
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File