# Olga Sorkine-Hornung

> computer scientist and professor of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH)

**Wikidata**: [Q21264478](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21264478)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olga_Sorkine-Hornung)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/olga-sorkine-hornung

## Summary  
Olga Sorkine‑Hornung (born 1981 in Moscow) is a Soviet‑born computer scientist and university professor at ETH Zurich. She is renowned for her pioneering contributions to digital geometry processing, computer graphics, and computer animation, and was elected an ACM Fellow in 2020.

## Biography  
- **Born:** 1981, Moscow (then Soviet Union)  
- **Nationality:** Soviet Union  
- **Education:** Tel Aviv University (degree unspecified)  
- **Known for:** Advancing digital geometry processing and visual computing  
- **Employer(s):** ETH Zurich (professor, since 2011)  
- **Field(s):** Computing, computer graphics, geometric modeling, computer animation  

## Contributions  
Olga Sorkine‑Hornung’s research has reshaped how geometric data is processed and visualized. Her work on **digital geometry processing** introduced algorithms that enable realistic deformation, surface reconstruction, and animation of complex 3‑D models. These methods are widely cited in computer‑graphics literature and have been incorporated into industry‑standard tools for film, gaming, and scientific visualization. In 2020 the **Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)** honored her as an **ACM Fellow** “for contributions to digital geometry processing, computer animation, computer graphics and visual computing.” Her research output, indexed in the DBLP database (author ID s/OlgaSorkine), includes numerous high‑impact papers that continue to influence both academia and industry. The **Rössler Prize** (2017) recognized her outstanding scientific achievements at ETH Zurich, further cementing her reputation as a leading figure in visual computing.

## FAQs  
### Q: What is Olga Sorkine‑Hornung’s primary research area?  
A: She specializes in digital geometry processing, computer graphics, geometric modeling, and computer animation.  

### Q: Which prestigious award did she receive in 2020?  
A: She was elected an **ACM Fellow** for her contributions to digital geometry processing and visual computing.  

### Q: Where does she work as a professor?  
A: She has been a professor at **ETH Zurich** (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) since 2011.  

## Why They Matter  
Sorkine‑Hornung’s algorithms have become foundational in the manipulation of complex 3‑D geometry, enabling realistic animation and efficient mesh processing that were previously infeasible. Her contributions underpin many modern graphics pipelines used in movies, video games, and virtual‑reality applications. By mentoring doctoral students such as Alec Jacobson and Olga Diamanti, she has cultivated a new generation of researchers who continue to expand the field. Without her work, the speed, quality, and accessibility of geometric processing tools would be markedly lower, slowing progress across visual‑computing disciplines.  

## Notable For  
- **ACM Fellow (2020):** Recognized for seminal work in digital geometry processing and visual computing.  
- **Rössler Prize (2017):** Awarded by ETH Zurich for outstanding scientific achievement.  
- **Professor at ETH Zurich (since 2011):** Holds a leading academic position at one of Europe’s top technical universities.  
- **Influential publications:** Highly cited papers on mesh deformation, surface reconstruction, and animation algorithms.  
- **Mentorship:** Doctoral advisor to notable researchers including Alec Jacobson and Olga Diamanti.  

## Body  

### Early Life and Education  
- Born in 1981 in Moscow, then part of the Soviet Union.  
- Completed higher education at **Tel Aviv University**, where she later pursued her doctorate.  

### Academic Career  
- Joined **ETH Zurich** as a professor in 2011, focusing on computer graphics and geometric modeling.  
- Serves as a member of the **Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)** and was named an **ACM Fellow** in 2020.  

### Research Contributions  
- Developed core algorithms for **digital geometry processing**, enabling realistic deformation and editing of 3‑D meshes.  
- Pioneered techniques in **computer animation** that improve the physical plausibility of animated characters.  
- Published extensively; her works are indexed under DBLP author ID **s/OlgaSorkine**.  

### Awards and Honors  
- **Rössler Prize (2017):** Recognizes exceptional research at ETH Zurich.  
- **ACM Fellow (2020):** Honors her impact on computer graphics and visual computing.  

### Mentorship and Legacy  
- Supervised doctoral students **Alec Jacobson** and **Olga Diamanti**, who have become prominent researchers in graphics and geometry processing.  
- Continues to influence the field through collaborations, conference keynotes, and open‑source releases of her algorithms.  

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## References

1. Czech National Authority Database
2. Mathematics Genealogy Project
3. [Source](https://www.acm.org/media-center/2021/january/fellows-2020)
4. [Source](http://www.academia-net.de/alias/Profil/1210838)