Peter Shor holds the distinguished position of Morss Professor of Applied Mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a role he has occupied since joining the MIT faculty in 2003. Born on August 14, 1959, in New York City, he earned his B.A. in mathematics from the California Institute of Technology in 1981, where he distinguished himself as a Putnam Fellow in 1978 and earned a silver medal at the 1977 International Mathematical Olympiad. Following completion of his Ph.D. in applied mathematics at MIT in 1985 under the supervision of Tom Leighton, he conducted postdoctoral research at the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute at Berkeley before embarking on an illustrious seventeen-year career at AT&T Bell Laboratories where he advanced from research staff member to prominent position within their laboratories. His academic journey reflects a consistent trajectory of excellence in theoretical computer science, marked by early recognition of his mathematical prowess and culminating in his current leadership role within one of the world's premier academic institutions.
Professor Shor is renowned for his revolutionary contributions to quantum computation, most notably for devising Shor's algorithm—a quantum algorithm capable of factoring large integers exponentially faster than any known classical algorithm, operating in polynomial time relative to the problem size. His groundbreaking discovery demonstrated that quantum computers could efficiently solve problems considered intractable for classical systems, particularly the integer factorization problem that underpins widely used cryptographic protocols like RSA. Beyond this seminal achievement, Shor established the theoretical foundation for practical quantum computing by developing quantum error-correcting codes that proved fault-tolerant quantum computation is possible despite inherent noise in quantum systems. These theoretical breakthroughs transformed quantum computing from a speculative concept into a rigorous scientific discipline with profound implications for cryptography, computational theory, and our fundamental understanding of quantum mechanics.
Recognized with numerous prestigious awards including the Nevanlinna Prize, Gödel Prize, and MacArthur Fellowship, Shor's influence has catalyzed the global development of quantum information science across both theoretical and experimental domains. His work continues to set the research agenda for quantum computing, inspiring generations of scientists and directly contributing to the ongoing international race to build practical quantum computers. Currently, his research program explores diverse areas within theoretical computer science including quantum algorithms, computational geometry, combinatorics, and quantum money protocols that leverage quantum properties for unforgeable currency. As both a visionary thinker and technical master, Peter Shor's contributions have permanently reshaped the landscape of computational theory while continuing to guide the development of quantum technologies that may revolutionize computing, cryptography, and scientific discovery in the twenty-first century.
