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Deborah Estrin facts for kids

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Deborah Estrin
Deborah Estrin.jpg
Born
Deborah Lynn Estrin

(1959-12-06) December 6, 1959 (age 65)
Citizenship United States
Alma mater University of California, Berkeley (BS)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MS, PhD)
Known for mobile health, small data, networked sensing
Scientific career
Fields Computer Science
Institutions Cornell Tech
Doctoral advisor Jerome H. Saltzer
Doctoral students Chalermek Intanagonwiwat, Gene Tsudik, Jeremy Elson

Deborah Estrin (born December 6, 1959) is a brilliant computer scientist. She is a professor at Cornell Tech, a university in New York City. She helped start a non-profit called Open mHealth. This group works on using technology for health. She also gave a famous TEDMED talk about "small data" in 2013.

Professor Estrin is well-known for her work with sensor networks. These are like tiny smart devices that collect information. She also studies mobile health, which uses phones and other devices to help people stay healthy. Her ideas about "small data" are also very important. She is one of the most cited computer scientists ever. This means many other scientists use her work in their own research.

In 2009, she became a member of the National Academy of Engineering. This was because she designed and used wireless sensing systems. These systems help monitor the environment.

Deborah Estrin's Journey in Computer Science

Deborah Estrin started her university studies in 1977. She went to the University of California, Berkeley. There, she studied electrical engineering and computer science. After earning her bachelor's degree in 1980, she moved to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Earning Her PhD

At MIT, she continued her studies. She received her PhD in 1985. Her advisor was Jerry Saltzer, another important computer scientist. She has also received special honorary degrees. These degrees recognize her amazing work. She got one from EPFL in 2008 and another from Uppsala University in Sweden in 2011.

Teaching and Research

Professor Estrin taught computer science for many years. From 1986 to 2001, she was a professor at the University of Southern California. Then, from 2001 to 2013, she taught at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). At UCLA, she was the first director of a special center. It was called the Center for Embedded Networked Sensing (CENS). This center focused on tiny connected sensors.

In 2012, Cornell Tech announced that she would join their team. She was the very first professor hired for their new high-tech campus in New York City. At Cornell Tech, she holds a special title: the Robert V. Tishman '37 Professor of Computer Science. She also started the Health Tech hub. She directs the Small Data Lab and is part of the Connected Experiences Lab.

Focus on Mobile Health and Data

Professor Estrin's research looks at how we can use mobile phones and sensors. These devices can collect and analyze data. This information can then be used to help people with their health and well-being. Her non-profit, Open mHealth, is a great example. It created ways for health apps to share data safely. This helps app developers store and understand health information.

Her research also explores how recommendation systems work. These are like the suggestions you get on websites. She also studies the privacy of your information. This means how your data is used and kept safe.

Awards and Family

Professor Estrin has received many awards for her research. In 2003, Popular Science magazine named her one of their "Brilliant 10." In 2007, she became a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2009, she joined the National Academy of Engineering. She is also a fellow of the ACM and the IEEE. These are important groups for computer scientists and engineers.

In 2018, she received a MacArthur Fellowship. This is sometimes called a "genius grant." She earned it for creating open-source platforms. These platforms use mobile devices and data. They help solve big challenges, like managing personal health.

Deborah Estrin comes from a family of computer scientists. Her parents, Gerald Estrin and Thelma Estrin, were also computer science professors at UCLA. Her sister is Judy Estrin, and she is married to Ache Stokelman.

Awards and Honors

Professor Estrin is also featured in the Notable Women in Computing cards.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Deborah Estrin para niños

  • Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science
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