Name:
Ed Lazowska
Title:
Professor and Chair
Company:
Department of Computer Science & Engineering, University of
Washington
How I arrived at my present job (academic and other influences): I was a strong student in high school in Washington DC in the 1960's, and found my way to Brown University. I had little idea what my major would be, except that it would be something technical. I drifted pretty badly, but eventually stumbled into an introductory computer science course. At Brown, Andy van Dam was the impresario of an extraordinary collection of undergraduates, graduate students, staff members, and faculty. I was sucked into this group by the TA's in the course. It changed my life -- I learned what it was like to be truly passionate about something. Andy, being a control freak, had a way of picking careers for each of his progeny, and he told me I should go to graduate school at the University of Toronto, where he had sent (and would send) a slew of other Brown students -- John Gannon, Frank Tompa, John Guttag, David Elliott, John Zahorjan, Brad Silverberg, and many others. At Toronto, I was advised by Ken Sevcik, another wonderful person who had a major influence on my career. I decided to go into teaching because I wanted to directly touch lives the way Andy had.
How I organize my day: I have an admin to organize my day for me. Plus, lots of little lists. Otherwise, all hell would break loose.
Amount of time spent working daily (at home and office): About 15 hours: 11 at UW and 4 at home.
What I do to get myself thinking creatively: Procrastinate until the very last minute, when desperation stimulates creativity.
My problem-solving strategy: I have always done my best work -- whatever the nature of the work -- as part of a team. So my strategy is to find the best people to work with, and get to work.
What I do to relieve stress: Bicycle or rollerblade to work; take it out on my wife and kids.
My hero, mentor, or person I most admire and why: Andy van Dam, because he has shaped the world of computing through the undergraduates he has mentored.
What I do to mentor those who work for me: A department chair has a great job: it's to create opportunity for others. So that's what I try to do: identify the very best people, and create an environment where they can achieve their potential. As a research advisor, the trick is to recognize the different styles and needs of each student. Learning to do research is an incredibly personal experience -- you can't learn it, or teach it, from a book.
How a negative event changed my life in a positive way: Got a D in Physics; moved into Computer Science.
What values are the most important to me and what I value in others: Hard work, integrity, commitment to the organization rather than to oneself
What inspires, motivates, or gets me excited about my job on a daily basis: This is going to sound stupid, but it's the chance to really push things forward. The sense that I can make real progress excites me tremendously.
Biography: Ed Lazowska is professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington. Lazowska received his A.B. from Brown University in 1972 and his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in 1977. He has been at the University of Washington since that time. His research concerns the design and analysis of distributed and parallel computer systems; 18 Ph.D. students have completed their degrees working with him. Lazowska is chair of the NSF CISE Advisory Committee, Chair of the Computing Research Association, a member of DARPA Information Science And Technology study group, a member of the NRC Computer Science and Telecommunications Board, and a member of the Technical Advisory Board for Microsoft Research. He is a Fellow of the ACM and of the IEEE. At the University of Washington, he was selected to deliver the 1996 Annual Faculty Lecture, and to receive the 1998 Outstanding Public Service Award. In 1999, he led his department to the UW Brotman Award for Instructional Excellence.
Last Modified:
Location: www.acm.org/crossroads/dayinlife/bios/ed_lazowska.html