I am currently a Data Science Fellow at UCSD, affiliated with the CSE department, the ITA, and the Qualcom Institute.

Prior to this, I was a visiting Research Scientist at Facebook Reality Labs, exploring the intersection of Distributed Computing, Social Networks, and Augmented Reality. In June 2018, I graduated with my PhD in Computer Science & Engineering from the University of Washington (UW). My advisor was Paul Beame, and I was a part of both the Theory and MISL groups. I also spent time at Microsoft Research, working with the DNA Storage and the Theory groups. Previously, I obtained a BS from the Department of Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).

My research explores the algorithmic foundations of fundamental data science problems. Throughout my PhD and industry research, I have worked on efficient clustering, similarity search, graph algorithms, and parameter estimation. I have also proven new lower bounds for distributed and sequential models. Overall, my goal is to provide deep insight into complex tasks, invoking diverse tools from theoretical computer science, statistics, and discrete mathematics.

For more information, take a look at my Publications, or at a higher level, my CV and Research Statement.

Contact

crashtchian@eng.ucsd.edu