# Shwetak Patel

> American computer scientist

**Wikidata**: [Q7505887](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7505887)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shwetak_Patel)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/shwetak-patel

## Summary
Shwetak Patel is an American computer scientist and university teacher, known for his work in sustainability sensing, low-power wireless sensing, and mobile health. He is a faculty member at the University of Washington Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering and has received numerous accolades, including the MacArthur Fellows Program, the ACM Prize in Computing, and the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.

## Biography
- Born: 1981-12-09, Selma
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Doctor of Philosophy, Georgia Tech
- Known for: Contributions to sustainability sensing, low-power wireless sensing, and mobile health.
- Employer(s): University of Washington, University of Washington Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering
- Field(s): Computer science, academic

## Contributions
Shwetak Patel has made significant contributions to the field of computer science, particularly in the areas of sustainability sensing, low-power wireless sensing, and mobile health. His work has focused on developing innovative sensing technologies that leverage existing infrastructure to monitor environmental and health metrics without requiring specialized hardware. For these contributions, he was recognized as an ACM Fellow in 2016.

As a university teacher and academic, Patel has also played a crucial role in mentoring the next generation of computer scientists. He has advised numerous doctoral students, including Matthew Kay, Sidhant Gupta, Mayank Goel, Hanchuan Li, Lilian de Greef, Mohit Jain, Alex Timothy Mariakakis, and Eric Whitmire, many of whom have gone on to become computer scientists themselves. His research and mentorship have been acknowledged through prestigious awards such as the MacArthur Fellows Program, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers in 2013, and the ACM Prize in Computing in 2018. These accolades highlight the impact and innovation of his work in creating practical, accessible sensing solutions.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Shwetak Patel's primary occupation?
A: Shwetak Patel is primarily a computer scientist, university teacher, and academic. He is affiliated with the University of Washington Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering.

### Q: What are some notable awards Shwetak Patel has received?
A: Shwetak Patel has received several prestigious awards, including the MacArthur Fellows Program, the ACM Prize in Computing (2018), the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (2013), and was named an ACM Fellow (2016).

### Q: Where did Shwetak Patel receive his education?
A: Shwetak Patel earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Georgia Tech.

### Q: What specific areas of computer science is Shwetak Patel known for?
A: Shwetak Patel is known for his contributions to sustainability sensing, low-power wireless sensing, and mobile health.

## Why They Matter
Shwetak Patel matters due to his pioneering work in making sensing technologies more accessible and impactful, particularly in the domains of sustainability and health. His focus on leveraging existing infrastructure for sensing, rather than requiring new specialized hardware, has opened new avenues for monitoring and intervention. This approach has democratized data collection for environmental and health applications, making it possible to deploy solutions more broadly and cost-effectively.

His recognition as a MacArthur Fellow, an ACM Fellow, and an ACM Prize in Computing recipient underscores the profound influence of his research. These awards highlight not only the technical ingenuity of his contributions but also their potential for real-world societal benefit. Through his role as a doctoral advisor, he has also shaped the careers of numerous computer scientists, extending his impact through their future work. Without his innovations in low-power and sustainability sensing, the development of practical mobile health and environmental monitoring systems might have progressed at a slower pace, impacting public health and environmental conservation efforts.

## Notable For
*   Recipient of the MacArthur Fellows Program.
*   Awarded the ACM Prize in Computing in 2018.
*   Named an ACM Fellow in 2016 for contributions to sustainability sensing, low-power wireless sensing, and mobile health.
*   Received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers in 2013.
*   Doctoral advisor to numerous computer scientists at the University of Washington.

## Body

### Personal Life and Background
Shwetak Patel was born on December 9, 1981, in Selma. He is a male citizen of the United States and resides in Seattle. His given name is Shwetak.

### Education
Patel pursued his higher education at Georgia Tech, where he earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree. His doctoral advisor was Gregory Abowd.

### Career and Affiliations
Shwetak Patel is an American computer scientist, university teacher, and academic. He is employed by the University of Washington and is affiliated with the University of Washington Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. He is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery, having been recognized as an ACM Fellow in 2016.

### Research and Contributions
Patel's work is notable for its contributions to sustainability sensing, low-power wireless sensing, and mobile health. These areas involve developing innovative methods for data collection and analysis using computing technologies.

### Doctoral Students
As a doctoral advisor, Shwetak Patel has mentored several students who have gone on to become computer scientists. His doctoral students include:
*   Matthew Kay
*   Sidhant Gupta (PhD, University of Washington, Computer Science & Engineering, 2014)
*   Mayank Goel (PhD, University of Washington, Computer Science & Engineering, 2016)
*   Hanchuan Li (PhD, University of Washington, Computer Science & Engineering, 2018)
*   Lilian de Greef (PhD, University of Washington, Computer Science & Engineering, 2019)
*   Mohit Jain
*   Alex Timothy Mariakakis (PhD, University of Washington, Computer Science & Engineering, 2019)
*   Eric Whitmire (PhD, University of Washington, Computer Science & Engineering, 2019)

### Awards and Recognition
Shwetak Patel has received significant recognition for his work:
*   **MacArthur Fellows Program**: Awarded for his innovative contributions.
*   **ACM Fellow**: Recognized on December 8, 2016, for "contributions to sustainability sensing, low-power wireless sensing and mobile health."
*   **Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers**: Received in 2013.
*   **ACM Prize in Computing**: Awarded in 2018.

### Identifiers
*   **Aliases**: Shwetak Naran Patel, Пател, Шветак
*   **VIAF ID**: 322144647692671214689
*   **Freebase ID**: /m/0h664jl
*   **DBLP Author ID**: p/ShwetakNPatel
*   **ACM Digital Library Author ID**: 81100490064
*   **Library of Congress Authority ID**: no2015134255
*   **Mathematics Genealogy Project ID**: 134546
*   **WorldCat Entities ID**: E39PBJvhtgc6TQbTTgDj4cp9Dq
*   **MacArthur Fellows Program ID**: class-of-2011/shwetak-patel, 13

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## References

1. WorldCat
2. [Source](https://people.ece.uw.edu/patel_shwetak/)
3. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/fellows/award-winners)
4. [Source](https://www.acm.org/media-center/2016/december/fellows-2016)
5. [Source](https://news.cs.washington.edu/2016/02/18/uw-cse-shwetak-patel-luke-zettlemoyer-pecase-awards/)
6. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/award_winners/patel_3462843)
7. Mathematics Genealogy Project