# M. Kirk (Marshall) McKusick

> Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley 1984

**Wikidata**: [Q102331200](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102331200)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/m-kirk-marshall-mckusick

## Summary  
M. Kirk (Marshall) McKusick is an American computer scientist who earned his Ph.D. in 1984 from the University of California, Berkeley under the supervision of Susan L. Graham. He is recorded in the Mathematics Genealogy Project as a doctoral graduate in computer science.

## Biography  
- **Born:** *not available*  
- **Nationality:** United States (inferred from education and advisor)  
- **Education:** Ph.D., Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley (1984)  
- **Known for:** Completing a doctoral dissertation under Susan L. Graham at UC Berkeley  
- **Employer(s):** *not available*  
- **Field(s):** Computer science  

## Contributions  
The source material provides only limited information about McKusick’s professional output. He completed a doctoral dissertation at UC Berkeley in 1984, with Susan L. Graham as his advisor. This work placed him within the academic lineage documented by the Mathematics Genealogy Project (ID 120384) and the zbMATH author database (identifier mckusick.marshall‑kirk). While specific publications, software projects, patents, or other concrete deliverables are not listed in the available data, his doctoral training under a prominent computer‑science researcher suggests a foundation in the theoretical and practical aspects of the discipline.

## FAQs  
### Q: When did M. Kirk (Marshall) McKusick receive his Ph.D.?  
A: He earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1984.  

### Q: Who supervised McKusick’s doctoral research?  
A: His doctoral advisor was Susan L. Graham, a noted American computer scientist.  

### Q: What field does McKusick specialize in?  
A: He is identified as a computer scientist.  

## Why They Matter  
McKusick’s significance stems from his inclusion in the scholarly genealogy of computer science. Earning a doctorate under Susan L. Graham connects him to a lineage of researchers who have contributed to foundational advances in programming languages, compiler construction, and software engineering. The Mathematics Genealogy Project records his academic heritage, which helps trace the diffusion of ideas across generations of computer scientists. Although specific achievements are not detailed in the source, his academic credentials reflect the rigorous training that underpins many developments in the field.

## Notable For  
- Ph.D. in Computer Science from UC Berkeley (1984)  
- Doctoral mentorship by Susan L. Graham  
- Listing in the Mathematics Genealogy Project (ID 120384)  
- Inclusion in the zbMATH author database (mckusick.marshall‑kirk)  

## Body  

### Academic Background  
- **University:** University of California, Berkeley  
- **Degree:** Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Computer Science, awarded in 1984  
- **Advisor:** Susan L. Graham, recognized for contributions to compiler theory and software engineering  

### Scholarly Record  
- **Mathematics Genealogy Project:** Entry ID 120384, documenting his dissertation and academic lineage.  
- **zbMATH Author Identifier:** `mckusick.marshall-kirk`, indicating a presence in mathematical literature databases, though specific works are not enumerated in the source.  

### Professional Context  
- **Occupation:** Computer scientist (as classified in Wikidata).  
- **Affiliations:** No explicit employer or institutional affiliation is provided beyond his doctoral institution.  

### Legacy and Influence  
- By completing a doctorate under a prominent advisor, McKusick contributes to the propagation of research themes prevalent in the 1980s computer‑science community, such as compiler construction, programming language design, and systems software.  
- His recorded academic lineage assists historians and researchers in mapping the evolution of ideas within computer science, ensuring that mentorship chains are preserved for future analysis.  

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

## References

1. Mathematics Genealogy Project