# Richard K. Belew

> Ph.D. University of Michigan 1986

**Wikidata**: [Q102195496](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102195496)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/richard-k-belew

## Summary
Richard K. Belew is an American computer scientist and university professor known for his work in computational intelligence and evolutionary computation. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 1986 and has been a faculty member at the University of California, San Diego since that year.

## Biography
- Born: Not specified in source
- Nationality: American
- Education: Ph.D. University of Michigan 1986; also educated at University of Minnesota
- Known for: Computational intelligence, evolutionary computation
- Employer(s): University of California, San Diego (since 1986)
- Field(s): Computer science, university teaching

## Contributions
Richard K. Belew has made significant contributions to the field of computational intelligence, particularly in evolutionary computation and machine learning. As a professor at UC San Diego since 1986, he has mentored numerous doctoral students who have gone on to successful careers in computer science, including Filippo Menczer, Nicol N. Schraudolph, and Mark William Shannon Land. His research has focused on developing algorithms that can learn and adapt, with applications in optimization problems and artificial intelligence systems. Belew has published extensively in academic journals and conferences, advancing the theoretical foundations of evolutionary algorithms and their practical implementations.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Richard K. Belew's primary area of research?
A: Richard K. Belew specializes in computational intelligence and evolutionary computation, focusing on algorithms that can learn and adapt to solve complex optimization problems.

### Q: Where does Richard K. Belew work?
A: Richard K. Belew has been a professor at the University of California, San Diego since 1986.

### Q: Who were Richard K. Belew's doctoral advisors?
A: According to the source material, Richard K. Belew's doctoral advisors were Stephen Kaplan and Paul D. Scott.

## Why They Matter
Richard K. Belew has played a crucial role in advancing the field of evolutionary computation and computational intelligence over several decades. His work has helped establish foundational principles for algorithms that can adapt and learn, which are now essential in many AI applications. Through his mentorship of numerous doctoral students who have become leaders in their own right, Belew has created a lasting academic legacy that continues to influence the direction of computer science research. His contributions have helped bridge theoretical computer science with practical applications in optimization and machine learning.

## Notable For
- Ph.D. from University of Michigan in 1986
- Professor at UC San Diego since 1986
- Mentor to numerous successful computer scientists including Filippo Menczer
- Research in evolutionary computation and computational intelligence
- Extensive publication record in academic journals and conferences

## Body
### Academic Background
Richard K. Belew completed his doctoral studies at the University of Michigan in 1986, focusing on computational approaches to problem-solving. His dissertation work laid the groundwork for his future research in evolutionary computation.

### Professional Career
Since 1986, Belew has been a faculty member at the University of California, San Diego, where he has built a distinguished career in computer science education and research. His long tenure at UC San Diego has allowed him to develop deep expertise in his field and mentor multiple generations of computer scientists.

### Research Contributions
Belew's research has centered on evolutionary computation, a field that uses principles inspired by biological evolution to develop algorithms that can solve complex problems. His work has contributed to both the theoretical foundations and practical applications of these computational approaches.

### Academic Lineage
As a doctoral advisor, Belew has supervised numerous successful students including Nicol N. Schraudolph (Ph.D. 1995), James Ron Chen (Ph.D. 1993), and Filippo Menczer (Ph.D. 1995). This academic lineage demonstrates his influence on the next generation of computer scientists.

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## References

1. Mathematics Genealogy Project
2. [Source](https://pages.ucsd.edu/~rbelew/cvita07.pdf)