# Richard Irving Gisselquist

> Ph.D. Dartmouth College 1970

**Wikidata**: [Q102194243](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102194243)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/richard-irving-gisselquist

## Summary
Richard Irving Gisselquist was an American computer scientist recognized for his contributions to the field of high-performance computing. He earned his Ph.D. from Dartmouth College in 1970 and subsequently applied his expertise as an employee of Cray, the prominent supercomputer manufacturer. His career bridged the gap between academic mathematics and industrial computer science.

## Biography
*   **Born:** 1946
*   **Died:** January 22, 2007, in Minneapolis
*   **Nationality:** United States (implied by education and employer location)
*   **Education:**
    *   Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Dartmouth College (1970)
    *   Bachelor's Degree, Gustavus Adolphus College (1966)
*   **Known for:** Work in computer science and supercomputing
*   **Employer(s):** Cray
*   **Field(s):** Computer Science, Mathematics

## Contributions
Richard Irving Gisselquist's career was defined by a strong foundation in mathematics and a transition into the burgeoning field of supercomputing. Academically, he completed his Ph.D. at Dartmouth College in 1970, a program supervised by notable mathematicians John W. Lamperti and J. Laurie Snell. His scholarly work is tracked under the Mathematics Genealogy Project (ID 38755) and the DBLP computer science bibliography (ID 56/2135), indicating a formal record of academic publication in computer science and mathematics.

Professionally, Gisselquist was affiliated with Cray, a leading American supercomputer manufacturer. By working at Cray, an organization established in 1972 and headquartered in Seattle, Gisselquist contributed to the information technology and industrial service sectors during a critical period of advancement in high-performance computing. His role involved the development or support of supercomputing technologies that defined the industry's standards for processing power.

## FAQs
### Q: When and where did Richard Irving Gisselquist earn his Ph.D.?
A: Richard Irving Gisselquist earned his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Dartmouth College in 1970.

### Q: Who were Richard Irving Gisselquist’s doctoral advisors?
A: His doctoral advisors were John W. Lamperti and J. Laurie Snell.

### Q: What company did Richard Irving Gisselquist work for?
A: He was employed by Cray, an American supercomputer manufacturer.

### Q: When did Richard Irving Gisselquist pass away?
A: He passed away on January 22, 2007, in Minneapolis.

## Why They Matter
Richard Irving Gisselquist matters as a representative of the early generation of computer scientists who transitioned from rigorous academic mathematics to the specialized field of supercomputing. His academic lineage, trained under established probabilists like Snell and Lamperti, provided the theoretical rigor necessary for the complexities of high-performance computing. By bringing this expertise to Cray, he played a role in the industry that drove significant advancements in computational speed and capability. His work helped cement the United States' leadership in the supercomputing sector during the late 20th century.

## Notable For
*   **Academic Lineage:** Served as a doctoral student under John W. Lamperti and J. Laurie Snell at Dartmouth College.
*   **Industry Affiliation:** Employment with Cray, a defining entity in the American supercomputer industry.
*   **Scholarly Record:** Maintained profiles in the DBLP and the Mathematics Genealogy Project, signifying verified contributions to scientific literature.
*   **Educational Achievement:** Earned a Ph.D. in 1970, a relatively early era for formalized Computer Science doctorates.

## Body
### Academic Foundations
Richard Irving Gisselquist laid his educational groundwork at Gustavus Adolphus College, where he completed his bachelor's degree in 1966. He advanced to Dartmouth College, earning his Ph.D. in 1970. His dissertation work was guided by a dual advisorship comprising John W. Lamperti and J. Laurie Snell, both respected figures in mathematical probability and statistics.

### Professional Career in Supercomputing
Gisselquist applied his academic training within the private sector as an employee of Cray. The organization, founded in 1972, is historically significant for its dominance in the supercomputer industry. Operating out of the United States, Cray focused on the industrial and service sectors of information technology. Gisselquist’s association with the firm places him within the professional sphere of high-end computational research and development during the formative decades of the industry.

### Personal Details
Richard Irving Gisselquist was born in 1946 and identified as male. He died on January 22, 2007, in Minneapolis. His life and career are documented through various identifiers, including MR Author ID 450827 and DBLP Author ID 56/2135.

## References

1. [Source](https://gustavus.edu/quarterly/files/quarterly-spring-07.pdf)
2. Mathematics Genealogy Project
3. [Source](https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/richard-gisselquist-obituary?pid=86114017)