After four years the Algorithms & Randomness Center (ARC) and ThinkTank has a new director, as Prasad Tetali (CS & Math) takes over for founding director Santosh Vempala (CS), effective April 1.

Vempala, Distinguished Professor in the School of Computer Science, said ARC’s mission is “to help develop the mathematical theory of algorithms by supporting research in this area, and via interactions with applications and with other sciences and engineering disciplines.” The center’s main activities have included hosting weekly colloquia, outreach research lunches to engage scientists from other disciplines, organizing workshops and other research events, as well as supporting postdocs and competitive student fellowships.

College of Computing Dean Zvi Galil named Tetali, professor with a joint appointment in the schools of Computer Science and Mathematics, as the new ARC director following a national search. Besides supporting the existing activities, Tetali said the center will focus on collaborative events with industrial research labs and hosting visitors in support of thematic special-year activities.

“The first of such thematic years, starting Fall 2011,” Tetali said, “will be devoted to topics in the intersection of optimization and computer science.”