Expert in scientific computing takes helm at UBC Computer Science

UBC researcher Chen Greif—an expert in scientific computing with a strong record in undergraduate teaching and service—has accepted the position of head of the Department of Computer Science, effective January 1, 2016.  
 
Greif earned his PhD in applied mathematics from UBC and was recruited back to the university in 2002 after stints as a post-doctoral scholar at Stanford and as a senior software engineer in industry. He has published more than 30 peer-reviewed papers in top journals and conference proceedings, and has co-authored (with Uri Ascher) A First Course in Numerical Methods.

"These are exciting times for computer science,” says Greif. “I’m committed to solidifying and strengthening our stature as a leading Canadian computer science department in teaching, research and other fronts."

Greif has earned the department’s Incredible Instructor award three times. He has served on a wide range of department committees and since 2013 has served as the Associate Head of Undergraduate Affairs. Outside UBC, Greif has served on NSF grant review panels and has been an Associate Editor of the SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing since 2011.  

“UBC Computer Science is a top-ranked department, and I look forward to working with Chen, and the entire team at CS, to strengthen our undergraduate education, graduate training and research initiatives,” said Dean Simon Peacock in making the announcement.

“I’d also like to express my profound thanks to interim head Jim Little, and to Anne Condon for her exceptional efforts as head. Under Anne’s leadership, the department has hired excellent new faculty, successfully met the challenges of skyrocketing student enrolment, led the Department through a positive external review, and advanced our collective diversity goals.”
 
The Computer Science department head search committee included Alla Sheffer, Steve Wolfman, Rachel Pottinger, Ron Garcia, Michael Bennett, Jessica Wrinskelle, Michael Kwan and Mike Wu.