# Ken Birman > researcher in fault-tolerant distributed computing systems **Wikidata**: [Q15994934](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15994934) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Birman) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ken-birman ## Summary Ken Birman is an American computer scientist and university teacher known for his research in fault-tolerant distributed computing systems. He is an ACM Fellow, recognized for his significant contributions to the field. He is currently employed by Cornell University. ## Biography * Born: 1955-11-18, New York City * Nationality: United States * Education: University of California, Berkeley * Known for: Research in fault-tolerant distributed computing systems * Employer(s): Cornell University * Field(s): Computer science ## Contributions Ken Birman has made substantial contributions to the field of computer science, specifically in the area of fault-tolerant distributed computing systems. His expertise in designing systems that can maintain functionality despite component failures is critical for modern computing infrastructure. In recognition of his impact, he was honored as an ACM Fellow in 1999 by the Association for Computing Machinery. As a university teacher at Cornell University, Birman has also played a pivotal role in academic mentorship, guiding numerous doctoral students. His doctoral students include notable computer scientists such as Michael Reiter, Katherine Hua Guo (Ph.D. Cornell University 1998), and Mahesh Balakrishnan (Ph.D. Cornell University 2009), among others. Through his research and academic leadership, Birman has helped shape the understanding and development of robust distributed systems. ## FAQs ### Q: What is Ken Birman's primary area of research? A: Ken Birman's primary area of research is fault-tolerant distributed computing systems. This involves designing computer systems that can continue to operate reliably even when parts of the system fail. ### Q: Where does Ken Birman work? A: Ken Birman is employed by Cornell University, where he serves as a computer scientist and university teacher. He also resides in Ithaca. ### Q: What significant award has Ken Birman received? A: Ken Birman was recognized as an ACM Fellow in 1999 by the Association for Computing Machinery for his contributions to computer science. ### Q: Who was Ken Birman's doctoral advisor? A: Ken Birman's doctoral advisor was Martin H. Graham, an electrical engineer, university teacher, and computer scientist. ### Q: Has Ken Birman advised other computer scientists? A: Yes, Ken Birman has advised numerous doctoral students, including Michael Reiter, Katherine Hua Guo, and Mahesh Balakrishnan, who have gone on to become computer scientists themselves. ## Why They Matter Ken Birman's work is profoundly significant because it addresses the fundamental challenge of creating resilient and reliable computing systems. In an era where distributed systems underpin nearly every aspect of modern technology, from cloud computing to critical infrastructure, his research into fault-tolerant design ensures that these systems can withstand failures and continue to function. His recognition as an ACM Fellow underscores the lasting impact and high regard for his contributions within the computer science community. Beyond his direct research, Birman's role as a university teacher and doctoral advisor at Cornell University has been instrumental in shaping the next generation of computer scientists. Through his mentorship, he has disseminated his knowledge and research methodologies, influencing countless students who now contribute to the field, thereby extending his legacy and impact on the development of robust computing. ## Notable For * Distinguished researcher in fault-tolerant distributed computing systems. * Recipient of the ACM Fellow award in 1999 from the Association for Computing Machinery. * University teacher and computer scientist at Cornell University. * Doctoral advisor to a significant number of computer scientists, including Michael Reiter, Katherine Hua Guo, and Mahesh Balakrishnan. ## Body Ken Birman, also known by his alias Kenneth Paul Birman, is a male computer scientist and university teacher. He was born on November 18, 1955, in New York City, United States. He holds United States citizenship and resides in Ithaca. ### Education * Ken Birman received his education at the University of California, Berkeley. * His doctoral advisor during his studies was Martin H. Graham, who was an electrical engineer, university teacher, and computer scientist. ### Career and Affiliations * Birman is currently employed by Cornell University. * His primary occupations are computer scientist and university teacher. * He is recognized as a researcher specializing in fault-tolerant distributed computing systems. * In 1999, he was inducted as an ACM Fellow by the Association for Computing Machinery. ### Doctoral Students Ken Birman has served as a doctoral advisor to a number of individuals who have gone on to careers in computer science and related fields. His doctoral students include: * Michael Reiter (American computer scientist, engineer) * Alexey I. Vaysburd * Katherine Hua Guo (computer scientist, Ph.D. Cornell University 1998) * Mark Garland Hayden * Ranveer Chandra * Indranil Gupta * Venugopalan Ramasubramanian * Mahesh Balakrishnan (computer scientist, software engineer, university teacher, Ph.D. Cornell University 2009) * Benjamin Atkin * Frank Schmuck ### Online Presence and Identifiers Ken Birman maintains an official website at https://www.cs.cornell.edu/ken/. He has a Wikipedia presence with titles in English and Arabic. Various identifiers link to his professional and academic profiles: * ISNI: 000000011646334X * GND ID: 1089583656 * UOM ID: 30021 * VIAF ID: 54870064 * IdRef ID: 111171504 * NUKAT ID: n98028735 * NL CR Aut ID: utb2012686542 * KBR Person ID: 14346549 * Freebase ID: /m/0wy1wsf * DBLP Author ID: b/KPBirman * ACM Digital Library Author ID: 81309500626 * Library of Congress Authority ID: n88608764 * Mathematics Genealogy Project ID: 73698 * National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987007444364205171 * National Library of Poland MMS ID: 9810626699005606 * Nationale Thesaurus Voor Auteursnamen ID: 139490426 * WorldCat Entities ID: E39PBJdRtKVw6YygM3GH9RbfMP * Yale Lux ID: person/9cf78235-7e4f-445e-b4d0-a5dbfefb9912 ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Ken Birman", "alternateName": "Kenneth Paul Birman", "jobTitle": "Computer Scientist, University Teacher", "worksFor": {"@type": "Organization", "name": "Cornell University"}, "nationality": {"@type": "Country", "name": "United States"}, "birthDate": "1955-11-18", "birthPlace": "New York City", "alumniOf": [{"@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of California, Berkeley"}], "knowsAbout": ["Fault-tolerant distributed computing systems", "Computer Science"], "sameAs": [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Birman", "https://www.cs.cornell.edu/ken/", "https://viaf.org/viaf/54870064", "https://isni.org/isni/000000011646334X", "https://d-nb.info/gnd/1089583656", "https://idref.fr/111171504", "https://katalog.nukat.edu.pl/nukat/n98028735", "https://aleph.nkp.cz/F/?func=find-c&local_base=aut&ccl_term=ica=utb2012686542", "https://lccn.loc.gov/n88608764", "https://dblp.org/pid/b/KPBirman", "https://dl.acm.org/profile/81309500626", "https://mathgenealogy.org/id.php?id=73698", "https://www.nli.org.il/he/a/987007444364205171", "https://katalog.nukat.edu.pl/nukat/9810626699005606", "https://data.bibliotheken.nl/id/thes/p139490426", "https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n88608764" ], "description": "Researcher in fault-tolerant distributed computing systems." } ## References 1. Mathematics Genealogy Project 2. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/fellows/award-recipients) 3. Virtual International Authority File 4. [Source](https://viaf.org/viaf/data/viaf-20230206-links.txt.gz) 5. MAK 6. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File