Automata Theory and Language Processing

Jeffrey D. Ullman is the Stanford W. Ascherman Professor of Engineering (Emeritus) in the Department of Computer Science at Stanford University and CEO of Gradiance Corp. After earning his B.S. from Columbia University in 1963 and Ph.D. from Princeton in 1966, he worked at Bell Laboratories before joining Princeton's faculty in 1969. In 1979, he moved to Stanford, where he served as chair of the Computer Science Department from 1990 to 1994. Ullman's contributions to computer science span databases, compilers, automata theory, and algorithms, authoring 16 influential books that have shaped generations of computer scientists. His work with Alfred Aho, particularly on compiler design and algorithms, earned them the 2020 Turing Award, the highest honor in computer science. Ullman's numerous accolades include election to the National Academy of Engineering, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and prestigious awards such as the Knuth Prize and the IEEE von Neumann medal. At Stanford, he developed courses on database systems, automata theory, and compilers, while also creating innovative online learning platforms through Gradiance Corporation. His teaching and mentorship have profoundly influenced the field, with many of his students becoming distinguished computer scientists in academia and industry.