Ilias Diakonikolas is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Sciences. He received his Ph.D. in computer science from Columbia University. Before coming to UW-Madison, he was an Andrew and Erna Viterbi Early Career Chair at the University of Southern California and a faculty member at the University of Edinburgh. Prior to that, he was the Simons postdoctoral fellow in theoretical computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. His main research interests are in algorithms and machine learning. A major goal of his work is to understand the tradeoff between statistical efficiency, computational efficiency, and robustness for fundamental problems in statistics and machine learning. Areas of his current interest include high-dimensional robust statistics/learning, nonparametric estimation, and distribution testing. Ilias also has strong interests in applied probability, algorithmic game theory, and their connections to machine learning.
A word from Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau, Chair of Computer Sciences Department:
Professor Diakonikolas--or, more simply, Ilia--is a world leader in the algorithmic foundations of data analysis and machine learning. He is a prolific scholar and his work is widely recognized for its depth and impact. Although he has only recently joined UW-Madison, he is already known among his colleagues for his curiosity, creativity, and drive. The Computer Sciences department is fortunate to have such a scholar and teacher among our ranks.