# Conor McBride

> Computer Scientist

**Wikidata**: [Q5162250](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5162250)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conor_McBride)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/conor-mcbride

## Summary
Conor McBride is a British computer scientist and professor known for his work in functional programming, dependent types, and type theory. He is best recognized for developing the Epigram programming language and his influential research on dependently typed functional programming.

## Biography
- **Born**: February 18, 1973, in Newtownards, United Kingdom
- **Nationality**: United Kingdom
- **Education**: University of Edinburgh (PhD, advised by Rod Burstall)
- **Known for**: Developing the Epigram programming language and advancing dependently typed functional programming
- **Employer(s)**: University of Strathclyde (current)
- **Field(s)**: Computer science, type theory

## Contributions
Conor McBride has made significant contributions to functional programming and type theory. His most notable work includes the creation of **Epigram**, a functional programming language with dependent types, introduced in 2004. Epigram was designed to explore the practical applications of dependent types in programming, bridging the gap between formal verification and functional programming.

McBride’s PhD thesis, *Dependently Typed Functional Programs and Their Proofs*, laid the groundwork for integrating proofs and programs in dependently typed systems. His research has influenced modern programming language design, particularly in languages like Idris and Agda, which build on his ideas. He has also supervised doctoral students, including Pierre-Evariste Dagand, further extending his academic impact.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Conor McBride best known for?
A: Conor McBride is best known for developing the Epigram programming language and his research on dependently typed functional programming.

### Q: Where does Conor McBride work?
A: He is currently employed at the University of Strathclyde.

### Q: What is Epigram?
A: Epigram is a functional programming language with dependent types, created by McBride in 2004 to explore the intersection of programming and formal verification.

### Q: Who was Conor McBride’s doctoral advisor?
A: His PhD advisor was Rod Burstall, a prominent computer scientist.

### Q: What is McBride’s academic focus?
A: His work primarily focuses on type theory, functional programming, and dependently typed systems.

## Why They Matter
Conor McBride’s work has significantly advanced the field of functional programming by demonstrating the practical use of dependent types. His development of Epigram provided a foundation for later languages like Idris and Agda, which are used in both research and industry for formal verification and safe programming. His research has influenced how programmers and theorists think about the relationship between proofs and programs, making formal methods more accessible to functional programmers. Without his contributions, the integration of dependent types into mainstream functional programming might have progressed more slowly.

## Notable For
- Creating the **Epigram programming language** (2004), a key milestone in dependently typed functional programming.
- Authoring the influential PhD thesis *Dependently Typed Functional Programs and Their Proofs*.
- Supervising doctoral students, including Pierre-Evariste Dagand, extending his academic legacy.
- Contributing to type theory and its applications in programming language design.
- Holding a professorship at the University of Strathclyde, where he continues to advance research in computer science.

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Conor McBride was born on **February 18, 1973**, in **Newtownards, United Kingdom**. He pursued his academic career at the **University of Edinburgh**, where he earned his PhD under the supervision of **Rod Burstall**, a notable computer scientist.

### Career and Research
McBride’s research focuses on **functional programming, type theory, and dependent types**. His most significant contribution is the **Epigram programming language**, introduced in **2004**, which explores the use of dependent types in functional programming. Epigram was designed to unify programming and formal verification, allowing programmers to write code that is both executable and provably correct.

His PhD thesis, *Dependently Typed Functional Programs and Their Proofs*, is a foundational work in the field, demonstrating how dependently typed programs can be structured to include their own proofs of correctness. This work has influenced subsequent programming languages and tools, particularly in the realm of formal methods.

### Academic Influence
McBride has supervised several doctoral students, including **Pierre-Evariste Dagand**, further extending his impact on the field. He is currently employed at the **University of Strathclyde**, where he continues to contribute to research in computer science and type theory.

### Publications and Recognition
McBride’s work is widely cited in academic literature, and he holds multiple identifiers in scholarly databases, including:
- **ISNI**: 0000000043055408
- **GND ID**: 1066288755
- **VIAF ID**: 21672684
- **DBLP Author ID**: 34/6643

His research has been instrumental in shaping modern approaches to functional programming and formal verification.

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## References

1. [ORCID Public Data File 2023](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-1487-0886/employment/9501634)
2. [Mathematics Genealogy Project](https://www.genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=152361)
3. Mathematics Genealogy Project
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. IdRef
6. [E-Theses Online Service](http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.561753)