Stephen Altschul
Encyclopedia
For the former MTV news/current CBS news correspondent, see Serena Altschul
.
Stephen Frank Altschul (born February 28, 1957) is an American mathematician
who has designed algorithm
s that are widely used in the field of bioinformatics
(the Karlin-Altschul algorithm). Most notably, Altschul is the co-author of the BLAST
algorithm used for sequence analysis of proteins and nucleotides. He graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University
, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in mathematics
and has a Ph.D.
in the same field of research from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
.
Due to his interest, Dr. Altschul had considered trying to apply to graduate school in Biology. He instead decided to apply to programs in applied mathematics, with the hope of finding some applications of mathematics to biology to work on.
Serena Altschul
Serena Altschul is an American broadcast journalist, well known for her work at MTV News. She is the daughter of author Siri von Reis and Arthur Altschul, a former partner at Goldman Sachs.-Career:...
.
Stephen Frank Altschul (born February 28, 1957) is an American mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
who has designed algorithm
Algorithm
In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm is an effective method expressed as a finite list of well-defined instructions for calculating a function. Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing, and automated reasoning...
s that are widely used in the field of bioinformatics
Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is the application of computer science and information technology to the field of biology and medicine. Bioinformatics deals with algorithms, databases and information systems, web technologies, artificial intelligence and soft computing, information and computation theory, software...
(the Karlin-Altschul algorithm). Most notably, Altschul is the co-author of the BLAST
BLAST
In bioinformatics, Basic Local Alignment Search Tool, or BLAST, is an algorithm for comparing primary biological sequence information, such as the amino-acid sequences of different proteins or the nucleotides of DNA sequences...
algorithm used for sequence analysis of proteins and nucleotides. He graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and has a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in the same field of research from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
.
From Mathematics To Bioinformatics
During his undergraduate years, Dr. Altschul developed an interest in Biology. As a result, he started reading books about DNA. One of the books which he read was "The Double Helix" by Watson. Furthermore, he had also taken course on Evolutionary Biology. Dr. Altschul had also spent two summers working in laboratories at Rockfeller University where he helped to write computer codes for a X-ray crystallography project.Due to his interest, Dr. Altschul had considered trying to apply to graduate school in Biology. He instead decided to apply to programs in applied mathematics, with the hope of finding some applications of mathematics to biology to work on.