Dr. Michael Stonebraker

Professor

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Biography

Michael Stonebraker is a pioneer in database research technology with a notable career at the University of California, Berkeley, where he joined as an assistant professor in 1971 and taught in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) departments for twenty-nine years. Throughout his tenure, he was instrumental in the development of several groundbreaking database management systems, including the INGRES and POSTGRES systems as well as the federated data system, Mariposa. Stonebraker has founded multiple successful startups aimed at commercializing his research prototypes. He has authored numerous papers on database technology and has received several prestigious awards, including the ACM System Software Award in 1992 for his work on INGRES. In recognition of his contributions, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1998 and was named one of Forbes magazine's innovators driving Silicon Valley's wealth explosion in its 80th anniversary edition. He currently serves as an adjunct professor of Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

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.