Eitan Grinspun

Eitan Grinspun is a distinguished computer scientist whose work has revolutionized computer graphics and animation technology. As Associate Professor at Columbia University and Director of the Columbia Computer Graphics Group, he has made significant contributions to computational mechanics and graphics processing. His academic journey includes positions at prestigious institutions, including a role as Professeur d'Université Invité at l'Université Pierre et Marie Curie and research scientist at the Courant Institute. His groundbreaking research has earned him numerous accolades, including the NSF CAREER Award, Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, and recognition as an NVIDIA Fellow and Caltech Everhart Distinguished Lecturer. The impact of his work extends beyond academia, with his technologies being integrated into major commercial software like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and utilized by leading film studios including Disney, Pixar, and Weta Digital. His research has significantly influenced both scientific computing and entertainment technology, finding applications in medical research at various universities and physics research at institutions like MIT and University of Toronto. After receiving his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology in 2003 and his undergraduate degree in Engineering Science from the University of Toronto in 1997, Grinspun has continued to advance the field of computer graphics and computational physics, earning recognition in major media outlets including Scientific American and The New York Times.