Dr. Elijah Polak

Professor

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Biography

Elijah Polak is a Professor Emeritus in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences department at the University of California, Berkeley. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Melbourne in Australia in 1957, followed by his Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from UC Berkeley in 1959 and 1961, respectively. He has been a faculty member at UC Berkeley since 1961, contributing to the academic community with over 200 published papers and four books on topics ranging from mathematical programming and optimal control to computational methods in optimization. Polak has also served as a Guggenheim Fellow and has held numerous senior postdoctoral fellowships in esteemed institutions in the United Kingdom. He is a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and a member of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) and the Mathematical Programming Society. His research interests include numerical methods, engineering optimization, and algorithmic strategies for consistent approximations in optimization problems.

Research Interests

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.