Bio
Jan Vondrak is a Professor of Mathematics at Stanford University, since 2016. He obtained his PhD in Applied Mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2005. In 2005-06, he was a postdoctoral researcher at Microsoft Research, and between 2006-09, he was a postdoctoral teaching fellow at Princeton University. Between 2009-15, he was a research staff member at IBM Almaden.
His research is in the areas of combinatorial optimization, approximation algorithms, algorithmic game theory, and probabilistic combinatorics. More specifically, he has worked on optimization of submodular functions, matroids, combinatorial auctions, online algorithms and prophet inequalities.
Academic Appointments
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Professor, Mathematics
2026-27 Courses
- Graduate Teaching Seminar
MATH 355 (Aut) - Graph Theory
MATH 107 (Win) - Modern Mathematics: Discrete Methods
MATH 61DM (Aut) -
Independent Studies (1)
- Advanced Reading and Research
MATH 360 (Aut, Win, Spr)
- Advanced Reading and Research
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Prior Year Courses
2025-26 Courses
- Applied Matrix Theory
MATH 104 (Win) - Modern Mathematics: Discrete Methods
MATH 61DM (Aut)
2024-25 Courses
- Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, and Modern Applications
MATH 51 (Win) - Modern Mathematics: Discrete Methods
MATH 61DM (Aut)
2023-24 Courses
- Introduction to Combinatorics and Its Applications
MATH 108 (Spr) - Linear Algebra and Matrix Theory
MATH 113 (Win)
- Applied Matrix Theory
Stanford Advisees
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Doctoral Dissertation Reader (AC)
Zhiqi Li -
Orals Chair
Prasanna Ramakrishnan -
Doctoral Dissertation Advisor (AC)
Kevin Rizk -
Doctoral (Program)
Sanjana Das