Dr. Alistair Sinclair

Professor

Build a Statement of Purpose

Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. Alistair Sinclair. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.

Biography

Alistair Sinclair received a BA in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge in 1982 and a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Edinburgh in 1988. After a short period as faculty in Edinburgh, he moved to UC Berkeley in 1994, where he is currently the Kikuo Ogawa Kaoru Ogawa Professor in Computer Science and Statistics. Throughout his career, he has held visiting positions at DIMACS, Princeton University, Rutgers University, Microsoft Research, École Polytechnique, University of Paris-Orsay, University of Rome III, and EPFL. His honors include the 1996 ACM-EATCS Gödel Prize and the 2006 Fulkerson Prize, awarded by the Mathematical Programming Society and the American Mathematical Society, respectively. Sinclair has received accolades such as the test-of-time awards and the IMS Medallion Lecturer designation. He has also been recognized as a Fellow of the ACM. His research interests are centered around the applications of randomness in computer science, randomized algorithms, and Markov chain Monte Carlo, particularly at the intersection of computer science and statistical physics.

Research Interests

Algorithms Applied Probability Statistics Random Walks Markov Chains Computational Applications of Randomness Markov Chain Monte Carlo Statistical Physics Combinatorial Optimization

Experience

Professor

— Present

University of California, Berkeley • Berkeley, CA

Professor of Computer Science and Statistics.

Awards

#

ACM-EATCS Gödel Prize

#

Fulkerson Prize

#

ACM-SIGACT Distinguished Service Prize

Courses

Special Topics [COMPSCI 294] Combinatorics and Discrete Probability [COMPSCI 174] Randomness and Computation [COMPSCI 271]

Requirements for University of California, Berkeley

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
GRE Subject
Overall Score
Required:500
Overall
Required:500
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent Preparation comparable to undergraduate major at Berkeley in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics 2 full years lower-division work (Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Multivariable Calculus) 8 one-semester upper-division courses (Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Abstract Algebra, Linear Algebra)
Application Checklist
  • Graduate Application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Personal History Statement
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Unofficial Transcripts
  • C.V./Resume
  • Course and Textbook List
Specialization Notes

The Mathematics Subject GRE is required for the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. General GRE is optional.