# Rüdiger Urbanke

> Austrian computer scientist

**Wikidata**: [Q26252551](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26252551)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rüdiger_Urbanke)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rudiger-urbanke

## Summary
Rüdiger Urbanke is an Austrian computer scientist and university teacher known for foundational contributions to information and coding theory. He is a professor affiliated with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) and a recipient of major honors including the IEEE Koji Kobayashi Computers and Communications Award (2011), the IEEE Richard W. Hamming Medal (2014), and the Claude E. Shannon Award (2023).

## Biography
- Born: 1966
- Nationality: Austria
- Education: TU Wien; Washington University in St. Louis
- Known for: Developing the theory and practice of transmitting data reliably at rates approaching channel capacity
- Employer(s): Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL); affiliated with Washington University in St. Louis
- Field(s): Computer science; information and communication theory (as indicated by awards and recognitions)

## Contributions
Rüdiger Urbanke’s recorded contributions focus on advancing the theory and practice of reliable data transmission near channel capacity. The IEEE Koji Kobayashi Computers and Communications Award (2011) explicitly cites his work “for developing the theory and practice of transmitting data reliably at rates approaching channel capacity,” indicating leadership in coding and communication theory. He received the IEEE Richard W. Hamming Medal in 2014 and the Claude E. Shannon Award in 2023, honors that recognize sustained contributions to information theory and communications. Urbanke has supervised multiple doctoral students (including Vinodh Venkatesan, Amin Karbasi, Marc Vuffray, Hamed Seyed Hamed Hassani, and Marco Mondelli), indicating a role in training the next generation of researchers. His scholarly output is indexed under Google Scholar author ID vFWw1NoAAAAJ, and he appears in bibliographic and authority databases (ISNI 0000000036806496, VIAF 70845325, Math Genealogy Project ID 217467), which document his publications and academic lineage.

## FAQs
### Q: Who is Rüdiger Urbanke?
A: Rüdiger Urbanke is an Austrian computer scientist and university teacher affiliated with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). He is known for contributions to the theory and practice of reliable data transmission and has received multiple major awards in information and communication theory.

### Q: What awards has he received?
A: He received the IEEE Koji Kobayashi Computers and Communications Award in 2011 (cited for developing theory and practice of reliable transmission near channel capacity), the IEEE Richard W. Hamming Medal in 2014, and the Claude E. Shannon Award in 2023.

### Q: Where was he educated and who advised his doctoral work?
A: He was educated at TU Wien and Washington University in St. Louis. His doctoral advisor was Bixio E. Rimoldi.

### Q: Has he supervised doctoral students?
A: Yes. Recorded doctoral students include Vinodh Venkatesan, Amin Karbasi, Marc Vuffray, Hamed Seyed Hamed Hassani, and Marco Mondelli.

## Why They Matter
Rüdiger Urbanke’s significance is reflected in high-level professional recognition and in documented academic mentorship. The 2011 IEEE Kobayashi Award citation attributes to him the development of both theoretical foundations and practical methods for transmitting data reliably at rates approaching channel capacity — a central goal of information and communication theory. Subsequent major awards (the 2014 IEEE Richard W. Hamming Medal and the 2023 Claude E. Shannon Award) further confirm a sustained and influential research program. Through supervision of multiple doctoral students and a substantial publication record (indexed under Google Scholar author ID vFWw1NoAAAAJ and tracked in authority databases), Urbanke has contributed to cultivating researchers who continue work in coding and information theory. Without his contributions, progress toward capacity-approaching coding techniques and related theoretical advances would have lacked one of its prominent researchers and mentors documented by these major field honors.

## Notable For
- Receiving the IEEE Koji Kobayashi Computers and Communications Award (2011) “for developing the theory and practice of transmitting data reliably at rates approaching channel capacity.”
- Receiving the IEEE Richard W. Hamming Medal (2014).
- Receiving the Claude E. Shannon Award (2023).
- Serving as a professor affiliated with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) and affiliating with Washington University in St. Louis.
- Supervising multiple doctoral students who continued research in related fields.

## Body
### Personal and identity data
- Full name: Rüdiger Leo Urbanke.
- Born: 1966.
- Citizenship: Austria.
- Sex/gender: Male.
- Instance: Human.

### Education and academic lineage
- Educated at TU Wien.
- Educated at Washington University in St. Louis.
- Doctoral advisor: Bixio E. Rimoldi (as recorded).
- Mathematics Genealogy Project ID: 217467.

### Employment and affiliations
- Employer: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) — listed as employer.
- Affiliation: Washington University in St. Louis — recorded affiliation.
- Occupation: University teacher; computer scientist.

### Awards and honors (selected)
- IEEE Koji Kobayashi Computers and Communications Award, 2011. Citation: for developing the theory and practice of transmitting data reliably at rates approaching channel capacity.
- IEEE Richard W. Hamming Medal, 2014.
- Claude E. Shannon Award, 2023.

### Mentorship and students
- Documented doctoral students: Vinodh Venkatesan; Amin Karbasi; Marc Vuffray; Hamed Seyed Hamed Hassani; Marco Mondelli.

### Bibliographic and identifier records
- ISNI: 0000000036806496.
- VIAF ID: 70845325.
- Google Scholar author ID: vFWw1NoAAAAJ.
- Library of Congress authority ID: n2007068829.
- WorldCat entities ID and other national library identifiers (BNF, GND, etc.) are recorded in bibliographic databases.

### Scholarly impact (records only)
- Major awards in information and communications indicate recognized contributions to coding and information theory.
- Publication record and citations are tracked under listed bibliographic identifiers and Google Scholar profile.

## References

1. [BnF authorities](https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb16982526r)
2. [Source](https://www.ieee.org/content/dam/ieee-org/ieee/web/org/about/awards/recipients/hamming-rl.pdf)
3. [Source](https://www.itsoc.org/profile/8794)
4. [Source](https://www.ieee.org/content/dam/ieee-org/ieee/web/org/about/awards/recipients/kobayashi-rl.pdf)
5. Mathematics Genealogy Project
6. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File