# Amit Sahai

> American cryptographer and computer scientist

**Wikidata**: [Q18631258](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18631258)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amit_Sahai)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/amit-sahai

## Summary
Amit Sahai is an American cryptographer and computer scientist known for his pioneering work in software obfuscation and cryptographic protocols. He is a professor at UCLA and has made foundational contributions to the theory and practice of secure computation.

## Biography
- Born: 1974 in Thousand Oaks, California
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science from MIT (2000); B.A. in Mathematics from UC Berkeley (1996)
- Known for: Development of indistinguishability obfuscation and software obfuscation
- Employer(s): UCLA (2004-present), Princeton University (2000-2004)
- Field(s): Cryptography, computer science, computer security

## Contributions
Amit Sahai is best known for his groundbreaking work on indistinguishability obfuscation (iO), a cryptographic technique that allows software to be obfuscated while preserving its functionality. His research, often in collaboration with colleagues like Brent Waters and Sanjam Garg, has established iO as a powerful tool for protecting software intellectual property and enabling secure computation. Sahai's work has led to new constructions of iO based on well-founded cryptographic assumptions, moving the field from theoretical possibility to practical feasibility. His contributions have influenced both theoretical cryptography and practical applications in secure software distribution and privacy-preserving technologies.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Amit Sahai famous for?
A: Amit Sahai is famous for his pioneering work on indistinguishability obfuscation and software obfuscation in cryptography.

### Q: Where does Amit Sahai work?
A: Amit Sahai is a professor at UCLA, holding the Symantec Chair in Computer Science, and previously worked at Princeton University.

### Q: Who was Amit Sahai's doctoral advisor?
A: Amit Sahai's doctoral advisor was Shafrira Goldwasser at MIT.

## Why They Matter
Amit Sahai's work on indistinguishability obfuscation represents a fundamental breakthrough in cryptography, solving a problem that had been open for decades. His research has transformed the theoretical landscape of cryptography and opened new possibilities for secure software distribution and privacy-preserving computation. The techniques he developed have influenced both academic research and potential commercial applications, establishing new foundations for protecting software intellectual property and enabling secure multi-party computation.

## Notable For
- Developed indistinguishability obfuscation, a breakthrough in software protection
- Awarded the 2022 Michael and Sheila Held Prize for cryptographic software obfuscation
- ACM Fellow (2018) for contributions to cryptography and indistinguishability obfuscation
- Symantec Chair in Computer Science at UCLA
- Supervised numerous Ph.D. students who have become prominent researchers in cryptography

## Body
### Early Career and Education
Amit Sahai earned his B.A. in Mathematics from UC Berkeley in 1996 before completing his Ph.D. in Computer Science at MIT in 2000 under the supervision of Shafrira Goldwasser. His doctoral work laid the foundation for his future research in cryptography.

### Academic Career
After his Ph.D., Sahai joined Princeton University as an assistant professor (2000-2004), then moved to UCLA where he has been a professor since 2004. At UCLA, he holds the Symantec Chair in Computer Science and has appointments in both the Computer Science and Mathematics departments.

### Research Contributions
Sahai's most significant contribution is the development of indistinguishability obfuscation, which he began working on in the early 2000s. His work with colleagues has established iO as a cryptographic primitive that can protect software while preserving functionality. This work has been recognized with numerous awards and has influenced both theoretical cryptography and practical applications.

### Awards and Recognition
Sahai has received multiple prestigious awards including the ACM Fellow award (2018), the Michael and Sheila Held Prize (2022), and IACR Fellow status (2019). He was also elected as a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society in 2024.

### Mentorship
As a doctoral advisor, Sahai has supervised numerous successful Ph.D. students including Brent Waters, Edith Elkind, Nishanth Chandran, and Abhishek Jain, many of whom have become prominent researchers in cryptography and computer science.

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## References

1. [Source](https://samueli.ucla.edu/people/amit-sahai/)
2. [Source](https://web.cs.ucla.edu/~sahai/)
3. [Source](https://simons.berkeley.edu/people/amit-sahai)
4. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/award-recipients/sahai_4570016)
5. [Source](https://www.acm.org/media-center/2018/december/fellows-2018)
6. [Source](https://www.nasonline.org/programs/awards/michael-and-sheila-held-prize.html)
7. [Source](https://www.ams.org/fellows_by_year.cgi?year=2024)
8. [Mathematics Genealogy Project](https://www.genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=14148)
9. Mathematics Genealogy Project
10. [Source](https://web.cs.ucla.edu/~sahai/honors.html)
11. [Amit Sahai | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahai/)
12. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File