Anna R. Karlin

Current Students

Former Students (in order of graduation)

Some of my teaching (very partial list)

Short Bio

Anna Karlin, the Bill and Melinda Gates Chair in Computer Science and Engineering, received her Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1987. Before coming to the University of Washington, she spent 5 years as a researcher at (what was then) Digital Equipment Corporation's Systems Research Center. Her research is primarily in theoretical computer science: the design and analysis of algorithms, particularly probabilistic and online algorithms. She also works at the interface between theory and other areas, such as economics and game theory, data mining, operating systems, networks, and distributed systems.

Some quotes

The real problem of humanity is the following: We have Paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions and godlike technology.
                                                 Edward O. Wilson

When everyone says the same thing about some complex topic, what should come to your mind is, wait a minute, nothing can be that simple. Something’s wrong.
                                                 Noam Chomsky

People wish to be settled; only in so far as they are unsettled is there any hope for them.
                                                 Ralph Waldo Emerson

Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.
                                                 Bertrand Russell

Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.
                                                 Ruth Bader Ginsburg

When a thoughtless or unkind word is spoken, best tune out. Reacting in anger or annoyance will not advance one's ability to persuade.
                                                 Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals.
Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral.
                                                 Martin Luther King Jr.

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.
                                                 C.S. Lewis

What is it you wanted me to reconcile myself to? I was born here, almost 60 years ago. I'm not going to live another 60 years. You always told me `It takes time.' It's taken my father's time, my mother's time, my uncle's time, my brothers' and my sisters' time. How much time do you want for your progress?
                                                 James Baldwin

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.
                                                 Martin Niemöller

When my brothers try to draw a circle to exclude me, I shall draw a larger circle to include them.
                                                 Pauli Murray

I don’t think that meaningful constructive social change can take place unless the large majority of the population have come to the realization that modifications of existing systems cannot achieve the kinds of goals that they think are right and just. At that point, you can have radical social change. If it’s forced prior to that, I think it ends up in some kind of authoritarian structure again.
                                                 Noam Chomsky

The computer is useless. It can only answer questions.
                                                 Pablo Picasso