Dr. Lorenzo Orecchia

Biography

Lorenzo Orecchia is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Chicago. His research focuses on designing efficient algorithms to tackle fundamental computational challenges in machine learning and combinatorial optimization. He approaches these challenges by integrating ideas from both continuous and discrete optimization into a unified framework for algorithm design. Lorenzo earned his PhD in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley, under the supervision of Satish Rao in 2011. He later served as an applied mathematics instructor at MIT, supervised by Jon Kelner, in 2014. Lorenzo has received the SODA Paper Award in 2014 and co-organized the Simons semester on 'Bridging Continuous and Discrete Optimization' in Fall 2017. His research interests include Combinatorial Optimization and Machine Learning, where he aims to develop simple and efficient algorithms that address a spectrum of applications in Theoretical Computer Science, Mathematical Optimization, and related fields. The foundational aspect of his work harnesses convex optimization and first-order methods to create a cohesive design framework for combinatorial and continuous problems, allowing for faster and more interpretable algorithms. The focus of his groups includes the intersections of computer algorithms, AI research, and the interplay of theoretical principles across the disciplines of math, computer science, and physics.

Research Interests