S. Keshav

S. Keshav
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Name	S. Keshav
Nationality	Canadian
Fields	Computer science, Computer networking
Workplaces	University of Waterloo, University of Cambridge
Alma mater	Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, University of California, Berkeley
Doctoral advisor	Randy H. Katz
Known for	Network simulation, Smart Grid, Mathematical Foundations of Computer Networking
Awards	ACM Fellow, IEEE Fellow

S. Keshav. He is a prominent computer scientist known for his foundational contributions to computer networking, particularly in the areas of network simulation and the application of control theory to computer networks. A professor at the University of Waterloo and previously a faculty member at Cornell University, his research has significantly influenced both academic study and industrial practice in networked systems. His work extends to sustainable computing, including the Smart Grid and energy-efficient data center design.

Biography

S. Keshav completed his undergraduate studies at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi before earning his Master of Science and Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was advised by Randy H. Katz. Following his doctorate, he conducted post-doctoral research at the International Computer Science Institute in Berkeley, California. He began his academic career as a faculty member in the Department of Computer Science at Cornell University, contributing to the growth of its networking research group. In 1999, he moved to the University of Waterloo, where he holds a position in the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science. He has also held visiting positions at institutions such as the University of Cambridge and has collaborated extensively with industrial research labs including AT&T Bell Labs and Nokia Bell Labs.

Research and contributions

Keshav's early and highly influential work includes the development of the Network Simulator (NS) and the Real-Time Protocol (RTP) control protocol, which became cornerstone tools for networking research and education globally. His research applies principles from control theory and queueing theory to problems in Internet congestion control and quality of service, leading to algorithms that improve the stability and fairness of shared network resources. A major focus of his later work is on energy informatics, where he has pioneered techniques for managing the Smart Grid and optimizing energy consumption in large-scale cloud computing infrastructures and data centers. He is also known for his textbook, Mathematical Foundations of Computer Networking, which provides a rigorous framework for the analysis of networked systems.

Awards and honors

In recognition of his contributions, Keshav has been elected a Fellow of both the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). His research papers have received awards at premier conferences, including the ACM SIGCOMM conference. He has been honored with a Premier's Research Excellence Award from the Government of Ontario and has held a prestigious NSERC Steacie Fellowship. Furthermore, his educational impact was recognized with the Distinguished Teacher Award from the University of Waterloo.

Publications

Keshav is the author of the seminal textbook An Engineering Approach to Computer Networking, published by Addison-Wesley, which has educated a generation of network engineers. His later work, Mathematical Foundations of Computer Networking, is published by Pearson Education. He has authored numerous highly cited research papers in venues such as the ACM SIGCOMM conference, the IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking, and the USENIX Annual Technical Conference. His publications span key topics in network protocols, simulation, congestion control, and sustainable computing.

Academic service and leadership

Keshav has served in significant editorial roles, including as an editor for the IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking and the ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review. He has been actively involved in the program committees of major conferences like ACM SIGCOMM, IEEE INFOCOM, and the USENIX Annual Technical Conference. At the University of Waterloo, he has provided leadership within the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science and has supervised numerous Ph.D. and Master of Mathematics students who have gone on to careers in academia and industry. He also co-founded the ACM SIGCOMM Workshop on Green Networking, helping to establish sustainability as a core research area in networking.

Category:Computer scientists Category:University of Waterloo faculty Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni Category:Indian Institute of Technology Delhi alumni