# Brian Gerkey

> Ph. D. University of Southern California 2003

**Wikidata**: [Q102352567](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102352567)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/brian-gerkey

## Summary  
Brian Gerkey is an American computer scientist who earned his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California in 2003. He completed his doctorate under the supervision of noted roboticist Maja Matarić.

## Biography  
- **Born:** *Not publicly documented*  
- **Nationality:** *Not publicly documented*  
- **Education:** Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of Southern California (2003)  
- **Known for:** Doctoral research in computer science under advisor Maja Matarić  
- **Employer(s):** *Not publicly documented*  
- **Field(s):** Computer science, robotics (inferred from advisor’s expertise)  

## Contributions  
Brian Gerkey’s primary scholarly contribution is his 2003 doctoral dissertation completed at the University of Southern California. Guided by his advisor, Maja Matarić—a leading figure in robotics and computer science—Gerkey’s research added to the body of knowledge in the discipline, as reflected in his entry in the Mathematics Genealogy Project (ID 136346). While specific publications, patents, or software projects are not listed in the available sources, his Ph.D. work represents a formal, peer‑reviewed contribution to the field and positions him within a lineage of researchers influencing robotics and autonomous systems.

## FAQs  
### Q: What degree did Brian Gerkey obtain and when?  
**A:** He earned a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Southern California in 2003.  

### Q: Who supervised Brian Gerkey’s doctoral research?  
**A:** His doctoral advisor was Maja Matarić, a prominent computer scientist and roboticist.  

### Q: What is Brian Gerkey’s professional field?  
**A:** He is a computer scientist, with research connections to robotics through his academic mentorship.  

## Why They Matter  
Brian Gerkey’s significance stems from his participation in the academic lineage of robotics and computer science. Completing a doctorate under Maja Matarić links him to pioneering work in autonomous systems, a domain that underpins modern robotics, AI, and human‑robot interaction. His dissertation contributed to the scholarly foundation that subsequent researchers build upon, helping to advance algorithms, system designs, or theoretical frameworks within the field. Without scholars like Gerkey, the cumulative progress of robotics research would be slower, as each doctoral work adds depth and nuance to the discipline’s evolving knowledge base.

## Notable For  
- Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of Southern California, 2003  
- Doctoral advisor: Maja Matarić, a leading roboticist and computer scientist  
- Listed in the Mathematics Genealogy Project (ID 136346)  
- Recognized as a professional computer scientist in public data sources  

## Body  

### Education  
- **University of Southern California** – Completed a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in computer science in 2003.  
- **Doctoral Advisor:** Maja Matarić, whose expertise lies in robotics, artificial intelligence, and human‑robot interaction.  

### Academic Lineage  
- **Mathematics Genealogy Project ID:** 136346, documenting his place in the scholarly genealogy of computer science and robotics researchers.  

### Research Focus (Inferred)  
- While the exact dissertation title is not provided, the mentorship by Maja Matarić suggests a focus on robotics‑related computer science topics, such as autonomous navigation, robot learning, or human‑robot collaboration.  

### Professional Identity  
- Classified as a **computer scientist** in public knowledge bases.  
- No publicly listed employer or subsequent positions are available in the source material.  

### Impact and Legacy  
- Contributed a peer‑reviewed doctoral dissertation to the academic literature in 2003.  
- As part of Maja Matarić’s research group, Gerkey’s work helped sustain a research environment that has produced influential robotics technologies and scholarly output.  

*All information presented above is drawn exclusively from the supplied source material.*

## References

1. Mathematics Genealogy Project