Oral History Interview with Vipin Kumar

Abstract

This interview was conducted by CBI for CS&E growing out of the 50th Anniversary of the University of Minnesota Computer Science Department (now Computer Science and Engineering, CS&E). The interview begins with a brief discussion of educational background and Prof. Kumar’s early career at the University of Texas, Austin, while the bulk of the interview is on his time as a professor, now a Regents Prof. and William C. Norris Chair of Computer Science in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. Prof. Kumar discusses his research, collaborations, leadership roles (Director of the Army HPC SCI at UMN, Dept. Chair of CS, etc.)—focusing on his research in pattern recognition, AI, machine learning, and data science. Increasingly at UMN (and globally), his work has pioneered in partnering with other researchers to advance scientific discovery and help to better understand and address societal problems in areas ranging from climate science, water resources to bio-medical research. He also discusses the importance and rewards of working with talented students throughout his career and seeing and helping them grow, many of them to prosper at the top of their fields.