# Jon McAuliffe > Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley 2005 **Wikidata**: [Q102290395](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102290395) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jon-mcauliffe ## Summary Jon McAuliffe is an American computer scientist, statistician, and quantitative analyst. He serves as a researcher and leader at the Voleon Group, a quantitative investment firm, and has held significant roles in both academia and industry, including positions at Amazon and D.E. Shaw. He is recognized for his expertise in machine learning and statistics, having earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley under the supervision of prominent computer scientist Michael I. Jordan. ## Biography * **Education:** * **Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)** in Computer Science/Statistics, University of California, Berkeley (2005) * **Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)** in Computer Science, Harvard University (1995) * **Known for:** Contributions to machine learning, statistics, and quantitative finance; doctoral work under Michael I. Jordan. * **Employer(s):** * Voleon Group (2007–Present/Recent) * University of Pennsylvania (2005–2009) * Amazon (1999–2000) * D.E. Shaw (1996–1999) * Juno Online Services (1995–1996) * **Field(s):** Computer Science, Statistics, Quantitative Analysis * **Doctoral Advisor:** Michael I. Jordan * **Doctoral Students:** Ryan Giordano (2019), Jeffrey Regier (2016) ## Contributions Jon McAuliffe’s career is defined by the application of advanced statistical methods and machine learning to both academic research and financial markets. While specific publication titles are not detailed in the provided source, his contribution to the field is evidenced by his academic lineage and professional trajectory. In academia, McAuliffe contributed to the education of future researchers while serving as a university teacher at the University of Pennsylvania from 2005 to 2009. He supervised doctoral candidates Ryan Giordano and Jeffrey Regier, guiding them through to their respective graduations in 2019 and 2016. His own doctoral research was completed at UC Berkeley in 2005, a period during which he collaborated with Michael I. Jordan, a leading figure in machine learning. In the industrial sector, McAuliffe has applied his expertise in quantitative analysis to major technology and finance firms. He was an early employee at Juno Online Services (1995–1996) and subsequently worked at the investment firm D.E. Shaw (1996–1999) and the e-commerce giant Amazon (1999–2000). Since 2007, he has been associated with the Voleon Group, applying computer science and statistical models within the financial services sector. ## FAQs ### Q: What is Jon McAuliffe's educational background? A: Jon McAuliffe earned a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from Harvard University in 1995 and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from the University of California, Berkeley in 2005. ### Q: Who was Jon McAuliffe's doctoral advisor? A: His doctoral advisor was Michael I. Jordan, the renowned American computer scientist and statistician at UC Berkeley. ### Q: What companies has Jon McAuliffe worked for? A: He has held positions at Juno Online Services, D.E. Shaw, Amazon, and the Voleon Group. He also served as a university teacher at the University of Pennsylvania. ## Why They Matter Jon McAuliffe represents a critical bridge between theoretical computer science and practical quantitative application. His significance lies in his successful translation of high-level academic research into viable industrial strategies. By working under Michael I. Jordan—a pioneer in the field—McAuliffe is part of a lineage that has fundamentally shaped modern machine learning. His work matters because it demonstrates the utility of rigorous statistical training across diverse sectors, from early internet services (Juno, Amazon) to high-level finance (D.E. Shaw, Voleon Group). Furthermore, his role as a mentor at the University of Pennsylvania ensured the continuation of academic inquiry in statistics, as seen in the successful graduation of his doctoral students, Ryan Giordano and Jeffrey Regier, who continue to expand the field. ## Notable For * **Academic Lineage:** Serving as a doctoral student to Michael I. Jordan, one of the most influential figures in machine learning. * **Quantitative Finance Leadership:** Long-standing tenure at the Voleon Group, starting in 2007. * **Early Tech Career:** Employment at Amazon between 1999 and 2000, during the early expansion of the e-commerce giant. * **Mentorship:** Supervising Ph.D. candidates Ryan Giordano and Jeffrey Regier at the University of Pennsylvania. ## Body ### Education and Early Career Jon McAuliffe completed his undergraduate studies at Harvard University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science in 1995. Following his graduation, he entered the workforce at Juno Online Services (1995–1996). He then moved to the investment firm D.E. Shaw, where he worked from 1996 to 1999. After his tenure in finance, he joined Amazon in 1999, working there until 2000. In 2005, McAuliffe completed his Doctor of Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley. His thesis work was conducted under the supervision of Michael I. Jordan. ### Academic and Research Roles After obtaining his Ph.D., McAuliffe joined the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania. He served as a university teacher and researcher from 2005 to 2009. During his academic career, he advised two doctoral students: * **Ryan Giordano:** Completed his doctorate in 2019. * **Jeffrey Regier:** Completed his doctorate in 2016. ### Industry Leadership Concurrent with his later academic and research activities, McAuliffe has maintained a strong presence in the private sector. He began his association with the Voleon Group in 2007. His professional identity encompasses roles as a statistician, computer scientist, and quantitative analyst. ### Identifiers and Profiles * **DBLP Author ID:** 80/5859 * **Google Scholar ID:** Bxgu5DQAAAAJ * **ACM Digital Library ID:** 81100378439 * **Mathematics Genealogy Project ID:** 96061 ## References 1. Mathematics Genealogy Project 2. [Source](https://voleon.com/assets/jdm-cv.pdf) 3. Virtual International Authority File