Rekha Thomas

Rekha Thomas is a prominent Professor of Mathematics at the University of Washington (UW), where she specializes in optimization and applied algebraic geometry. She has held significant academic positions, including the Walker Family Endowed Professorship and previously served as the Robert R. and Elaine F. Phelps Professor from 2008 to 2012.135

Academic Background

• Ph.D.: Thomas earned her Ph.D. in Operations Research from Cornell University in 1994, under the supervision of Bernd Sturmfels.
• Postdoctoral Positions: She completed postdoctoral work at the Cowles Foundation for Economics at Yale University and the Konrad-Zuse-Zentrum for Informationstechnik in Berlin.
• Previous Faculty Position: Before joining UW, she was an assistant professor at Texas A&M University.12

Research Interests

Rekha Thomas's research primarily focuses on:

• Optimization techniques
• Computational algebra
• Algebraic geometry applications

Her work has garnered significant recognition, with numerous citations in academic literature.4

Contact Information

• Email: rrthomas@uw.edu
• Office Location: Padelford Hall C-438, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.23

In addition to her teaching and research, Thomas is actively involved in academic discussions and has participated in various seminars and podcasts related to mathematics.1