Franco Preparata
Franco Preparata
An Wang Professor Emeritus of Computer Science
Overview
Research occupies much of Professor Preparata's time, at any hour of the day (and, occasionally, in the middle of the night!). But he also likes to apportion time to a variety of other interests: he is an avid reader of history, fiction, art, and archeology; frequently, he relaxes looking at his Zen garden, which he designed and built with his own hands (and back).
Brown Affiliations
Research
Research Overview
For the past three decades the focus of Franco Preparata's research has been the design and analysis of algorithms in their most general connotation. With the remarkable evolution of computer technology, his research interests have also been evolving. He has been deeply interested in fundamental algorithms and data structures, VLSI computation and layout, and parallel algorithms.
He is also currently interested in computational biology (also called 'bioalgorithmics'), an emerging discipline that entails the development and use of mathematical and computer science techniques to solve problems in molecular biology.
He is also currently interested in computational biology (also called 'bioalgorithmics'), an emerging discipline that entails the development and use of mathematical and computer science techniques to solve problems in molecular biology.
Research Statement
Following early research in switching and coding, culminating in the discovery of the nonlinear Preparata codes, for the past three decades the focus of Franco Preparata's research has been the design and analysis of algorithms in their most general connotation. With the remarkable evolution of computer technology, his research interests have been correspondingly evolving. He has been deeply interested in fundamental algorithms and data structures, VLSI computation and layout, and parallel algorithms.
Perhaps the most enduring interest has been computational geometry, a spin-off of algorithmic research aimed at the systematic investigation of methods for the most efficient solution of geometric problems. Geometric problems are ubiquitous in human activities. Sporadic, and frequently inefficient, computer solutions had been proposed before, but in the mid-1970s computational geometry emerged as a self-standing discipline targeted at this important area. The goal of computational geometry is to analyze the combinatorial structure of specific problems as the underpinning of efficient algorithms for their solution. The field burgeoned, and in the mid-1980s Prof. Preparata wrote a textbook on the subject that helped establish it in the instructional arena. Today an enormous body of geometric algorithms is known and this knowledge is increasingly indispensable in several applied areas such as geographic information systems, computer graphics, and computer-aided design and manufacturing. Within the last area, Prof. Preparata has also contributed to computational metrology—the assessment of the geometric quality of manufactured parts.
As another example of computer science interacting with other fields, today his main research focus is computational biology (also called "bioalgorithmics"), an emerging discipline that entails the development and use of mathematical and computer science techniques to solve problems in molecular biology. Since the discovery of the structure of DNA about 50 years ago and the digital underpinning of molecular biology, huge amounts of data have been generated in this field, making it necessary to resort to sophisticated computer science techniques for their analysis.
Perhaps the most enduring interest has been computational geometry, a spin-off of algorithmic research aimed at the systematic investigation of methods for the most efficient solution of geometric problems. Geometric problems are ubiquitous in human activities. Sporadic, and frequently inefficient, computer solutions had been proposed before, but in the mid-1970s computational geometry emerged as a self-standing discipline targeted at this important area. The goal of computational geometry is to analyze the combinatorial structure of specific problems as the underpinning of efficient algorithms for their solution. The field burgeoned, and in the mid-1980s Prof. Preparata wrote a textbook on the subject that helped establish it in the instructional arena. Today an enormous body of geometric algorithms is known and this knowledge is increasingly indispensable in several applied areas such as geographic information systems, computer graphics, and computer-aided design and manufacturing. Within the last area, Prof. Preparata has also contributed to computational metrology—the assessment of the geometric quality of manufactured parts.
As another example of computer science interacting with other fields, today his main research focus is computational biology (also called "bioalgorithmics"), an emerging discipline that entails the development and use of mathematical and computer science techniques to solve problems in molecular biology. Since the discovery of the structure of DNA about 50 years ago and the digital underpinning of molecular biology, huge amounts of data have been generated in this field, making it necessary to resort to sophisticated computer science techniques for their analysis.
Funded Research
Applying Universal Bases to Achieving the Full Potential of Sequencing-By-Hybridization (SBH)
(PI), National Science Foundation, $866,920, 2000-2003
Robust and Applicable Geometric Computing (PI), Army Research Office, $5,089,000, 1996 - 2000
Parallel Computing: From Algorithms to Global Enactment (PI), National Science Foundation, $283,996, 1994-1998
Acquisition of a Parallel Supercomputer (Co-PI), National Science Foundation, $300,000, 1994-1996
Exploitation of Coherence in Computational Geometry (PI), National Science Foundation, $144,451, 1991-1994
High-Performance Design Environments (Co-PI), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)/Office of Naval Research, $2,580,000, 1991-1996
Parallel Computing on Fixed Interconnections (PI), National Science Foundation, $83,501, 1989-1993
This includes all research funding since joining Brown University in 1991.
Robust and Applicable Geometric Computing (PI), Army Research Office, $5,089,000, 1996 - 2000
Parallel Computing: From Algorithms to Global Enactment (PI), National Science Foundation, $283,996, 1994-1998
Acquisition of a Parallel Supercomputer (Co-PI), National Science Foundation, $300,000, 1994-1996
Exploitation of Coherence in Computational Geometry (PI), National Science Foundation, $144,451, 1991-1994
High-Performance Design Environments (Co-PI), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)/Office of Naval Research, $2,580,000, 1991-1996
Parallel Computing on Fixed Interconnections (PI), National Science Foundation, $83,501, 1989-1993
This includes all research funding since joining Brown University in 1991.
Scholarly Work
View My Full Publication List Here
Background
Education and Training
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Dr.-Ing | University of Rome |
Honors and Awards
Libera Docenza, Italian University System, 1969
Darlington Prize, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)Circuits and Systems Society, 1993
Laurea Honoris Causa (honorary doctorate), University of Padova, Italy, 1997
Listing in American Men and Women of Science, Who's Who in the Midwest, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Education, Who's Who in the World (6th Edition), Who's Who in Technology, International Who's Who in Engineering
Darlington Prize, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)Circuits and Systems Society, 1993
Laurea Honoris Causa (honorary doctorate), University of Padova, Italy, 1997
Listing in American Men and Women of Science, Who's Who in the Midwest, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Education, Who's Who in the World (6th Edition), Who's Who in Technology, International Who's Who in Engineering
Affiliations
Affiliations
Fellow, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 1978
Fellow, Association for Computing Machinery, 1994
Fellow, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 1994
Member, International Society of Computational Biology
Fellow, Association for Computing Machinery, 1994
Fellow, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 1994
Member, International Society of Computational Biology