# Mati Tombak

> Estonian computer scientist (born 1942)

**Wikidata**: [Q102217349](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102217349)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mati-tombak

## Summary
Mati Tombak is an Estonian computer scientist born in 1942, known primarily for his role as an academic supervisor who mentored notable figures in the field, including cryptographer Helger Lipmaa.

## Biography
- Born: 1942-01-25 (specific date from etis.ee, place not provided)
- Nationality: Estonian
- Education: Saint Petersburg State University; doctoral advisor Ülo Kaasik
- Known for: Supervising doctoral student Helger Lipmaa
- Employer(s): Not specified in source material
- Field(s): Computer science

## Contributions
Mati Tombak's most documented contributions lie in academic mentorship within computer science. He served as doctoral advisor to Helger Lipmaa, who became a prominent cryptographer and computer scientist. While specific publications or projects are not detailed in the provided material, Tombak's role in guiding Lipmaa's work represents his primary academic impact. His supervision facilitated the development of expertise in cryptography in Estonia, influencing the next generation of computer scientists through formal academic channels. No patents, companies, or open-source projects attributed to Tombak appear in the source material.

## FAQs
### Q: Who was Mati Tombak’s doctoral student?
A: Mati Tombak supervised Helger Lipmaa, an Estonian cryptographer and computer scientist born in 1972.

### Q: Where was Mati Tombak educated?
A: Mati Tombak studied at Saint Petersburg State University, where he worked under doctoral advisor Ülo Kaasik.

### Q: What is Mati Tombak’s nationality?
A: Mati Tombak holds Estonian citizenship.

### Q: When was Mati Tombak born?
A: Mati Tombak was born on January 25, 1942.

### Q: How is Mati Tombak recognized in academic networks?
A: He is listed in the Mathematics Genealogy Project (ID: 85649) and holds a VIAF identifier (1724503) for academic tracing.

## Why They Matter
Mati Tombak's significance stems from his role in advancing computer science in Estonia through academic mentorship. By guiding Helger Lipmaa to become a leading cryptographer, he directly influenced the development of Estonia's technological expertise. Without Tombak's supervision, Lipmaa's contributions to cryptography might not have materialized, potentially altering Estonia's impact in the field. His educational lineage underscores the importance of doctoral supervision in preserving and transferring knowledge across generations of computer scientists.

## Notable For
- Supervising doctoral student Helger Lipmaa, a key figure in Estonian computer science and cryptography
- Mathematics Genealogy Project listing (ID: 85649) tracing his academic lineage
- Birth date verification via etis.ee (January 25, 1942)
- VIAF identifier (1724503) for academic cataloging
- Wikimedia Commons category highlighting his public image

## Body
### Academic Lineage
- Doctoral advisor: Ülo Kaasik (Saint Petersburg State University)
- Doctoral student: Helger Lipmaa (born 1972, Estonian cryptographer/computer scientist)

### Identifiers
- VIAF ID: 1724503
- Mathematics Genealogy Project ID: 85649
- National Library of Latvia ID: 000307794 (qualifier: "Tombak, Mati, 1942-")
- Wikimedia Commons category: [Mati Tombak](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Mati_Tombak_2007.jpg)

### Basic Information
- Given name: Mati
- Family name: Tombak
- Birth date: 1942-01-25 (reference: etis.ee)
- Citizenship: Estonia
- Languages: Estonian
- Sex or gender: Male
- Occupation: Computer scientist

### Academic Recognition
- Wikipedia languages: Estonian and Wikimedia Commons
- Sitelink count: 2 (across Wikimedia projects)
- No awards or honors documented in source material

## References

1. Mathematics Genealogy Project
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. [Source](https://www.etis.ee/CV/Mati_Tombak)