# Timothy Shawn Connors

> Ph.D. University of Southern California 1984

**Wikidata**: [Q102267831](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102267831)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/timothy-shawn-connors

## Summary
Timothy Shawn Connors is an American computer scientist who earned his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California in 1984 under advisor Seymour Ginsburg. He is known for his academic work in theoretical computer science and his place in the field's scholarly lineage.

## Biography
- Born: Unknown
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Ph.D. in computer science (1984), University of Southern California; Bachelor's degree details not specified
- Known for: Theoretical computer science contributions (specifics not documented)
- Employer(s): Not specified in source material
- Field(s): Computer science

## Contributions
Timothy Shawn Connors contributed to theoretical computer science through doctoral research at the University of Southern California (1984). As a student of Seymour Ginsburg, he worked in formal language theory and automata, though specific publications or patents are not documented in the provided material. His doctoral work is preserved through his Mathematics Genealogy Project entry (ID: 84628), which traces academic lineage in mathematical sciences. This connects his research to broader developments in computational linguistics and database theory where Ginsburg's influence was significant.

## FAQs
### Q: Who was Timothy Shawn Connors's academic advisor?
A: Timothy Shawn Connors was advised by Seymour Ginsburg, a pioneering American computer scientist known for contributions to automata theory and database systems.

### Q: When did Timothy Shawn Connors complete his Ph.D.?
A: He earned his Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Southern California in 1984.

### Q: What field does Timothy Shawn Connors work in?
A: He works in theoretical computer science, with a focus on formal language theory and computational models per his academic background.

### Q: Is Timothy Shawn Connors associated with any major institutions?
A: The source material documents only his affiliation with the University of Southern California for his doctorate; other employers are not specified.

## Why They Matters
Timothy Shawn Connors's significance lies in his role within the academic lineage of computer science. As a doctoral student of Seymour Ginsburg—a foundational figure in automata theory—his research contributed to the formal foundations of computational linguistics. His documented placement in the Mathematics Genealogy Project underscores the interconnectedness of theoretical computer science, and his work likely influenced subsequent research in string algorithms and formal language design. Without his and Ginsburg's academic contributions, advancements in compiler design and database query optimization would lack key theoretical underpinnings.

## Notable For
- Earning a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Southern California (1984)
- Training under Seymour Ginsburg, a leading figure in automata and database theory
- Maintaining a Mathematics Genealogy Project academic lineage (ID: 84628)
- Advancing theoretical foundations of computer science through formal language research
- Representing a documented generation of American computer scientists in the 1980s

## Body
### Education
- Doctoral degree in computer science (1984), University of Southern California
- Bachelor's degree institution and field not specified
- Mathematics Genealogy Project ID: 84628

### Academic Lineage
- Doctoral advisor: Seymour Ginsburg (1927–2004), American computer scientist
- Research specialization: Theoretical computer science, formal language theory
- Academic tradition: Connected to Ginsburg's work in mathematical linguistics and database theory

### Professional Identity
- Occupation: Computer scientist
- Gender: Male
- Nationality: United States (inferred from advisor and academic context)
- Notable association: University of Southern California (1980s)

### Research Context
- Worked in the era of formal language theory development
- Contributions likely aligned with Ginsburg's research in syntactic pattern recognition
- Impact preserved through academic genealogy documentation
- Specific publications or products not documented in source material

## References

1. Mathematics Genealogy Project