# Zachary Weinberg

> American computer scientist

**Wikidata**: [Q103049925](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q103049925)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/zachary-weinberg

## Summary
Zachary Weinberg is an American computer scientist and researcher known for his contributions to the software industry and academia. He has held significant roles at the Mozilla Corporation and Carnegie Mellon University and has been an active participant in the free software movement since 1996.

## Biography
- **Born:** 1978, Los Angeles, USA
- **Nationality:** United States
- **Education:** PhD in Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University (2018)
- **Known for:** Contributions to the free software movement and academic research in computer science.
- **Employer(s):** Carnegie Mellon University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Mozilla Corporation, Mozilla Foundation.
- **Field(s):** Computer Science, Software Engineering.

## Contributions
Zachary Weinberg has contributed to the field of computer science through both industrial software development and academic research. His professional career includes a tenure at the Mozilla Foundation from 2008 to 2010, followed by work with the Mozilla Corporation. In the academic sphere, he completed his doctoral studies at Carnegie Mellon University in 2018, where his research was supervised by Nicolas Christin.

Following his PhD, Weinberg served as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from September 2018 to August 2021. He subsequently returned to Carnegie Mellon University, holding an employment position from January 2021 until August 2023. Weinberg is also a long-standing figure in the free software movement, having joined in 1996. He maintains an active presence in the open-source community through GitHub (as zackw) and shares technical documentation and insights via his official blog and website, owlfolio.org.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Zachary Weinberg's primary area of expertise?
A: Zachary Weinberg is a computer scientist whose work spans software development in the industrial sector and academic research. He is particularly noted for his long-term involvement in the free software movement and his research roles at major universities.

### Q: Where did Zachary Weinberg receive his education?
A: Weinberg earned his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Carnegie Mellon University in 2018. During his time there, he worked under the doctoral advisement of researcher Nicolas Christin.

### Q: What organizations has Zachary Weinberg worked for?
A: Weinberg has been employed by the Mozilla Foundation and the Mozilla Corporation. In academia, he has held positions at the University of Massachusetts Amherst as a postdoctoral researcher and at Carnegie Mellon University.

## Why They Matter
Zachary Weinberg represents a bridge between the practical application of software in the commercial industry and high-level academic inquiry. His work at Mozilla, a central organization in the evolution of the modern web, combined with his tenure at top-tier research institutions like Carnegie Mellon University, positions him as a contributor to both the tools and the theories that define contemporary computing.

Furthermore, his commitment to the free software movement for over two decades demonstrates a dedication to the principles of open-source development. By participating in this movement since 1996, Weinberg has been part of the generational shift toward transparent and collaborative software engineering. His academic research, particularly in collaboration with Nicolas Christin, contributes to the broader understanding of computer science systems and security.

## Notable For
*   **Free Software Advocacy:** Active participant in the free software movement since 1996.
*   **Academic Research:** Earned a PhD from Carnegie Mellon University (2018) and served as a postdoctoral researcher at UMass Amherst.
*   **Industry Role:** Significant professional history with the Mozilla Foundation and Mozilla Corporation.
*   **Open Source Contribution:** Maintains a consistent presence in the developer community via GitHub and technical blogging at owlfolio.org.

## Body

### Academic Career and Research
Zachary Weinberg’s academic career is highlighted by his time at Carnegie Mellon University, where he obtained his Doctor of Philosophy in 2018. His doctoral research was conducted under the supervision of Nicolas Christin. Following his graduation, Weinberg moved to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he served as a postdoctoral researcher from September 2018 to August 2021. He later returned to Carnegie Mellon University for a professional appointment that concluded in August 2023.

### Professional Industry Experience
Weinberg has extensive experience within the Mozilla ecosystem. He worked for the Mozilla Foundation between June 2008 and September 2010. He is also affiliated with the Mozilla Corporation, an American software company focused on the software and service sectors. His work in these roles aligns with his broader involvement in the software industry.

### Free Software and Digital Presence
A proponent of open-source principles, Weinberg has been a member of the free software movement since 1996. He utilizes various digital platforms to share his work and interact with the community:
*   **GitHub:** Operates under the username zackw.
*   **Mastodon:** Active at zwol@hackers.town.
*   **Official Website:** Maintains owlfolio.org, which serves as his official blog and research repository.
*   **Twitter:** Uses the handle @elwoz.

Weinberg currently resides in Pittsburgh and continues to contribute to the field of computer science through his technical writing and software projects.

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  "birthDate": "1978",
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## References

1. [Source](http://comet.exp.sis.pitt.edu/comet/presentColloquium.do?col_id=12020)
2. Mathematics Genealogy Project
3. [ORCID Public Data File 2023](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-3216-2963/employment/13538167)
4. [ORCID Public Data File 2023](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-3216-2963/employment/13538143)
5. [ORCID Public Data File 2023](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-3216-2963/employment/287443)
6. [Source](https://research.owlfolio.org/scratchpad/citizenlab_si_2014_slides.pdf)