Thomas Anantharaman
Encyclopedia
Thomas S. Anantharaman is a computer statistician specializing in Bayesian inference
approaches for NP complete problems. He is best known for his work with Feng-hsiung Hsu
from 1985-1990 on the Chess playing computers ChipTest
and Deep Thought
at Carnegie Mellon University
which led to his 1990 PhD Dissertation: "A Statistical Study of Selective Min-Max Search in Computer Chess". This work was the foundation for the IBM chess-playing computer Deep Blue which beat world champion Garry Kasparov
in 1997.
Anantharaman obtained a B.Tech.
degree in Electronics in 1982 from the Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University
(now IIT-BHU). He got (in 1977) IIT-JEE rank (AIR) # 2. Anantharaman went to USA and joined Carnegie Mellon University as a PhD student where he worked on the chess playing computers ChipTest and DeepThought with Feng-hsiung Hsu. Anantharaman received his PhD
degree in 1990 and joined the field of biotechnology and Feng-hsiung Hsu joined IBM to design the Deep Blue IBM super-computer, which defeated Garry Kasparov in the historic chess match.
In 1985, Carnegie Mellon University graduate students Feng-hsiung Hsu
, Anantharaman, Murray Campbell
and Andreas Nowatzyk used spare chips they'd found to put together a chess-playing machine that they called ChipTest. By 1987, the machine, integrating some innovative ideas about search strategies, had become the reigning computer chess champion. A successor, Deep Thought, using two special-purpose chips, plus about 200 off-the-shelf chips, working in parallel, achieved grandmaster-level play.
Following this work, Anantharaman focused his attentions into the field of biostatistics and the application of Bayesian methods to the analysis of single molecule Optical Mapping technologies. Currently he is working as Senior Bioinformatics Software Engineer at Opgen, Inc, Madison, Wisconsin.
Bayesian inference
In statistics, Bayesian inference is a method of statistical inference. It is often used in science and engineering to determine model parameters, make predictions about unknown variables, and to perform model selection...
approaches for NP complete problems. He is best known for his work with Feng-hsiung Hsu
Feng-hsiung Hsu
Feng-hsiung Hsu is a computer scientist and the author of the book Behind Deep Blue: Building the Computer that Defeated the World Chess Champion...
from 1985-1990 on the Chess playing computers ChipTest
ChipTest
ChipTest was a 1985 chess playing computer built by Feng-hsiung Hsu, Thomas Anantharaman and Murray Campbell at Carnegie Mellon University. It is the predecessor of Deep Thought which in turn evolved into Deep Blue....
and Deep Thought
Deep Thought (chess computer)
Deep Thought was a computer designed to play chess. Deep Thought was initially developed at Carnegie Mellon University and later at IBM. It was second in the line of chess computers developed by Feng-hsiung Hsu, starting with ChipTest and culminating in Deep Blue...
at Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
which led to his 1990 PhD Dissertation: "A Statistical Study of Selective Min-Max Search in Computer Chess". This work was the foundation for the IBM chess-playing computer Deep Blue which beat world champion Garry Kasparov
Garry Kasparov
Garry Kimovich Kasparov is a Russian chess grandmaster, a former World Chess Champion, writer, political activist, and one of the greatest chess players of all time....
in 1997.
Anantharaman obtained a B.Tech.
Bachelor of Technology
The Bachelor of Technology is an undergraduate academic degree conferred after completion of a three or four year program of studies at an accredited university or accredited university-level institution...
degree in Electronics in 1982 from the Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University
Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University
The Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University is an engineering institute under the aegis of Banaras Hindu University , situated in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. IT-BHU has 13 departments and 3 inter-disciplinary schools, providing technical education with an emphasis on its industrial...
(now IIT-BHU). He got (in 1977) IIT-JEE rank (AIR) # 2. Anantharaman went to USA and joined Carnegie Mellon University as a PhD student where he worked on the chess playing computers ChipTest and DeepThought with Feng-hsiung Hsu. Anantharaman received his PhD
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...
degree in 1990 and joined the field of biotechnology and Feng-hsiung Hsu joined IBM to design the Deep Blue IBM super-computer, which defeated Garry Kasparov in the historic chess match.
In 1985, Carnegie Mellon University graduate students Feng-hsiung Hsu
Feng-hsiung Hsu
Feng-hsiung Hsu is a computer scientist and the author of the book Behind Deep Blue: Building the Computer that Defeated the World Chess Champion...
, Anantharaman, Murray Campbell
Murray Campbell
Murray Campbell is a Canadian computer scientist.He is a Senior Manager in the Business Analytics and Mathematical Sciences Department at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, New York, USA...
and Andreas Nowatzyk used spare chips they'd found to put together a chess-playing machine that they called ChipTest. By 1987, the machine, integrating some innovative ideas about search strategies, had become the reigning computer chess champion. A successor, Deep Thought, using two special-purpose chips, plus about 200 off-the-shelf chips, working in parallel, achieved grandmaster-level play.
Following this work, Anantharaman focused his attentions into the field of biostatistics and the application of Bayesian methods to the analysis of single molecule Optical Mapping technologies. Currently he is working as Senior Bioinformatics Software Engineer at Opgen, Inc, Madison, Wisconsin.