# Sariel Har-Peled

> Israeli–American computer scientist

**Wikidata**: [Q56702419](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56702419)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sariel_Har-Peled)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sariel-har-peled

## Summary  
Sariel Har-Peled is an Israeli–American computer scientist known for his foundational contributions to computational geometry and algorithms. He is a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign and has made significant advancements in geometric optimization, approximation algorithms, and machine learning theory.

## Biography  
- Born: July 14, 1971  
- Nationality: Israel, United States  
- Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science from Tel Aviv University (advisor: Micha Sharir)  
- Known for: Research in computational geometry, geometric optimization, and algorithm design  
- Employer(s): University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign (since 2000); part of the University of Illinois system  
- Field(s): Computer Science, Computational Geometry, Algorithms  

## Contributions  
Sariel Har-Peled has authored numerous influential works in computational geometry and algorithmic theory. His research focuses on efficient algorithms for geometric problems, including approximate nearest neighbor search, clustering, and range searching. He co-authored the widely cited book *Geometric Approximation Algorithms* (2011), which provides a comprehensive overview of techniques used to solve high-dimensional geometric problems efficiently. His work has had practical implications in areas such as machine learning, data mining, and robotics. He has also supervised doctoral students like Bardia Sadri and Nirman Kumar, continuing to shape future generations of researchers. His publications have appeared in top-tier venues such as the Symposium on Computational Geometry (SoCG) and the Journal of the ACM.

## FAQs  
### Q: What is Sariel Har-Peled known for?  
A: Sariel Har-Peled is known for his research in computational geometry and algorithm design, particularly in approximation algorithms for geometric optimization problems.  

### Q: Where does Sariel Har-Peled work?  
A: He is a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, where he has been employed since August 2000.  

### Q: Who did Sariel Har-Peled study under?  
A: He completed his Ph.D. in Computer Science at Tel Aviv University under the supervision of Israeli computer scientist Micha Sharir.  

## Why They Matter  
Sariel Har-Peled’s work has fundamentally shaped how complex geometric problems are approached algorithmically. His development of approximation methods allows computationally hard problems—such as nearest neighbor search and clustering—to be solved more efficiently in practice, especially in high-dimensional spaces relevant to modern applications like machine learning and big data analytics. His theoretical contributions bridge abstract mathematical concepts with real-world utility, influencing both academia and industry. By mentoring students and publishing extensively, he continues to guide progress in computational geometry and algorithm engineering.

## Notable For  
- Authoring the seminal text *Geometric Approximation Algorithms* (2011)  
- Developing efficient approximation algorithms for geometric optimization problems  
- Serving as a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign since 2000  
- Supervising doctoral students including Bardia Sadri and Nirman Kumar  
- Publishing in leading conferences and journals such as SoCG and the Journal of the ACM  

## Body  

### Academic Career  
Sariel Har-Peled joined the faculty of the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign in August 2000, where he holds a position within the Department of Computer Science. As part of the University of Illinois system, he contributes to both teaching and research in theoretical computer science.

### Education  
He earned his doctorate in Computer Science from Tel Aviv University, working under the guidance of renowned Israeli computer scientist Micha Sharir. His dissertation laid early groundwork for his later focus on geometric algorithms.

### Research Focus  
His primary research interests lie in computational geometry, approximation algorithms, and discrete geometry. Specific topics include:
- Geometric optimization
- Clustering algorithms
- Nearest neighbor search
- High-dimensional data processing

### Publications  
Har-Peled has written over 100 peer-reviewed articles and conference papers. Notable among these is his monograph:
- *Geometric Approximation Algorithms* (2011), published by the American Mathematical Society

He has presented at premier venues including:
- The Annual Symposium on Computational Geometry (SoCG)
- Foundations of Computer Science (FOCS)
- ACM-SIAM Symposium on Discrete Algorithms (SODA)

### Advising and Mentorship  
He has advised several graduate students who have gone on to contribute meaningfully to computer science:
- Bardia Sadri
- Nirman Kumar

These students reflect his ongoing influence in shaping new talent in the field.

### Online Presence  
Har-Peled maintains a Mastodon account (@sarielhp@mastodon.social), active since October 2018, with modest but steady engagement (~80 followers as of early 2024). His Google Scholar profile lists over 17,000 citations, highlighting broad recognition of his scholarly output.

### Professional Recognition  
While no explicit awards are listed, his extensive citation record, publication history, and academic standing indicate strong professional respect. He is indexed across major databases including DBLP, zbMATH, MathSciNet, and ORCID.

### Digital Identifiers  
Various authoritative systems track his identity and work:
- MR Author ID: 626698
- DBLP ID: h/SarielHarPeled
- zbMATH ID: har-peled.sariel
- Google Scholar ID: 2s9_ZWgAAAAJ
- ISNI: 0000000115168920
- VIAF: 167884639
- LoC Authority ID: n2011011549
- NUKAT ID: n2011045227
- Yale LUX ID: person/7e0544a7-6f60-4d2d-928f-fa75d1b70b36

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. [ORCID Public Data File 2023](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-2638-9635/employment/5596450)
3. Mathematics Genealogy Project
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File