Thomas M. Liggett
Encyclopedia
Thomas Milton Liggett is a mathematician at the University of California, Los Angeles. He works in probability theory
, specializing in interacting particle processes.
He has contributed to numerous areas of probability theory
, including subadditive ergodic theory
, random graphs, renewal theory
, and is best known for his pioneering work on interacting particle processes, including the contact process, the voter model, and the exclusion process. His two books in this field have been influential.
Tom Liggett was the managing editor of the Annals of Probability
from 1985–1987. He held a Sloan Research Fellowship
from 1973–1977, and a Guggenheim Fellowship
from 1997–1998. He was the Wald Memorial Lecturer of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics
in 1996, and was elected to the National Academy of Sciences
in 2008.
Liggett moved at the age of two with his missionary parents to Latin America, where he was educated in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and San Juan (Puerto Rico). He graduated from Oberlin College
in 1965, where he was influenced towards probability
by Samuel Goldberg, an ex-student of William Feller
. He moved to Stanford, taking classes with Kai Lai Chung
, and writing a PhD thesis in 1969 with advisor Samuel Karlin
on problems associated with the invariance principle. He joined the faculty at UCLA in 1969, where he has spent his entire career since.
Probability theory
Probability theory is the branch of mathematics concerned with analysis of random phenomena. The central objects of probability theory are random variables, stochastic processes, and events: mathematical abstractions of non-deterministic events or measured quantities that may either be single...
, specializing in interacting particle processes.
He has contributed to numerous areas of probability theory
Probability theory
Probability theory is the branch of mathematics concerned with analysis of random phenomena. The central objects of probability theory are random variables, stochastic processes, and events: mathematical abstractions of non-deterministic events or measured quantities that may either be single...
, including subadditive ergodic theory
Ergodic theory
Ergodic theory is a branch of mathematics that studies dynamical systems with an invariant measure and related problems. Its initial development was motivated by problems of statistical physics....
, random graphs, renewal theory
Renewal theory
Renewal theory is the branch of probability theory that generalizes Poisson processes for arbitrary holding times. Applications include calculating the expected time for a monkey who is randomly tapping at a keyboard to type the word Macbeth and comparing the long-term benefits of different...
, and is best known for his pioneering work on interacting particle processes, including the contact process, the voter model, and the exclusion process. His two books in this field have been influential.
Tom Liggett was the managing editor of the Annals of Probability
Institute of Mathematical Statistics
The Institute of Mathematical Statistics is an international professional and scholarly society devoted to the development, dissemination, and application of statistics and probability. The Institute currently has about 4,000 members in all parts of the world...
from 1985–1987. He held a Sloan Research Fellowship
Sloan Fellowship
The Sloan Research Fellowships are awarded annually by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation since 1955 to "provide support and recognition to early-career scientists and scholars". This is distinct from the Sloan Fellows in business....
from 1973–1977, and a Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
from 1997–1998. He was the Wald Memorial Lecturer of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics
Institute of Mathematical Statistics
The Institute of Mathematical Statistics is an international professional and scholarly society devoted to the development, dissemination, and application of statistics and probability. The Institute currently has about 4,000 members in all parts of the world...
in 1996, and was elected to the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
in 2008.
Liggett moved at the age of two with his missionary parents to Latin America, where he was educated in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and San Juan (Puerto Rico). He graduated from Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
in 1965, where he was influenced towards probability
Probability theory
Probability theory is the branch of mathematics concerned with analysis of random phenomena. The central objects of probability theory are random variables, stochastic processes, and events: mathematical abstractions of non-deterministic events or measured quantities that may either be single...
by Samuel Goldberg, an ex-student of William Feller
William Feller
William Feller born Vilibald Srećko Feller , was a Croatian-American mathematician specializing in probability theory.-Early life and education:...
. He moved to Stanford, taking classes with Kai Lai Chung
Kai Lai Chung
Chung Kai-lai , was a Chinese American mathematician famous for his significant contributions to modern probability theory.-Biography:...
, and writing a PhD thesis in 1969 with advisor Samuel Karlin
Samuel Karlin
Samuel Karlin was an American mathematician at Stanford University in the late 20th century.Karlin was born in Yanova, Poland and immigrated to Chicago as a child...
on problems associated with the invariance principle. He joined the faculty at UCLA in 1969, where he has spent his entire career since.