Dr. Ken Birman

Biography

Kenneth P. Birman is a Professor of Computer Science at Cornell University, serving as the N. Rama Rao Professor. His research involves various aspects of distributed systems, focusing on innovations in storage, fault tolerance, and the deployment of machine learning in high-speed data environments. Birman has been significantly involved in developing systems like Cascade and Derecho, which aim to optimize data storage and processing in real-time applications, such as healthcare and industrial automation. He has delivered lectures on systems programming and cloud computing, imparting knowledge gained from his extensive career that began long before 'cloud computing' became a widely accepted term. Birman has contributed to major projects and collaborations with companies like Microsoft, Cisco, and IBM, and his past research includes designing robust systems for the New York Stock Exchange and other critical applications. His teaching responsibilities reflect his vast experience, and he actively works to attract students to research areas related to distributed systems and machine learning. Birman’s commitment to education is evident in his encouragement for students to engage proactively with faculty and courses to carve out their paths in cutting-edge technologies.

Research Interests

Experience

Courses