Karl Sigman

Karl Sigman

Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research

Karl Sigman uses probability theory, random process theory, and simulation theory to model and analyze systems in which randomness is inherent, such as in telecommunications systems, queueing systems, modeling US Presidential elections, inventory systems, and insurance risk businesses. This is known as “stochastic modeling”. He is also interested in the theory itself.

This is known as “stochastic modeling”. He is also interested in the theory itself.

Sigman in also is interested in developing probabilistic simulation algorithms for producing random objects with exact precision, so that numerical estimates of quantities of interest can be obtained with very high accuracy. Blockchain technology and bitcoin is yet another recent interest.

Sigman received a BA in pure mathematics from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1980, and then an MA (1983) in mathematics and an MS (1984) and PhD (1986) in industrial engineering and operations research, all from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a recipient of an NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award, and twice a recipient of The Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award from Columbia’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He is the current Director of Columbia University’s Center for Applied Probability.

Additional information

  • Professional Experience
    • Assistant Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, 2015 –
    • Lavon Duddleson Krumb Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, 2020 –
    • Adjunct Associate Research Scientist, Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, 2014 – 2015
    • Postdoctoral Research Fellow, SCELSE (Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering), NTU, Singapore, 2014 – 2015
    • Assistant Manager, National Environment Agency, Singapore, 2004 – 2008

       
  • Honors & Awards
    • ACS ES&T Engineering Best Papers of 2022 (Research Articles), 2023
    • Young Talent Award, Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 2022
    • Emerging Investigator, Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 2021
    • James J. Morgan Early Career Award: Honorable Mention, Environmental Science & Technology, 2020
    • Arab-American Frontiers Fellowship, The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2019
    • Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award, CH2M Hill/AEESP, 2015


       
  • Education
    • PhD, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University
    • MS, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University
    • BE, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)

Research Areas

  • Service Systems
  • Stochastic Modeling and Simulation
  • Presidential Election Modeling