Faculty

Dr. Laurence Boxer

Professor
College of Arts & Sciences – Computer & Information Sciences

Email:  boxer@niagara.edu
Website:  http://purple.niagara.edu/boxer
Phone:  (716) 286-8447
Fax:  (716) 286-8445
Office Location:  Marian House

Bio

Dr. Boxer teaches computer programming, as well as applications such as geographic information systems. His research interests are in the mathematical theory of computing, particularly in algorithms and digital topology. In 1993, Dr. Boxer was recognized by the College of Arts and Sciences for excellence in research.

Current Research

I have two major areas of interest, both of which fall under the mathematical theory of computing.

One area is the theory of algorithms, which involves finding solutions to programming problems and studying the computing resources (time and memory) required by these solutions. I am particularly interested in algorithms for parallel computers. Several of my recent papers are concerned with algorithms for coarse-grained parallel computers (roughly, a coarse-grained parallel computer is one whose number of processors is restricted to being small enough that a medium-sized organization might afford to purchase the machine).

Other areas in which I have done algorithms research include computational geometry, image processing, and string pattern matching. I am co-author of a highly praised textbook on algorithms.
A second area of interest is the emerging field of digital topology. A digital image is stored in computer memory as a collection of discrete dots (like grainy old newspaper photos), rather than as a "continuous body." Therefore, computing and recognizing geometric and topological properties of a digital image, consistent with the geometric and topological properties of the real-world continuous body modeled by the image (perhaps the simplest interesting property is connectedness), requires mathematical theory - digital topology - with a foundation very different from those of Euclidean geometry and Euclidean topology. Several of my recent papers are concerned with adapting computation of the "fundamental group" - a classical topic of algebraic topology - to digital images.

Current Involvement

Reviewer for many scholarly journals
Member of NU's ADA Committee
Member of Consultative Group for Computer Science Department at Niagara County Community College
Temple Beth Israel of Niagara Falls, NY: Ritual Director; webmaster; member, Board of Trustees
Temple Beth Tzedek of Amherst, NY: webmaster; member of Religious Committee; member of Simcha Shabbat committee
Participant in LYCA - Lewiston-Youngtown Clergy Association
Frequent participant in interfaith activities in Niagara County

Educational Background

BS in Mathematics with Honors, University of Michigan, 1970
AM in Mathematics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1971
PhD in Mathematics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1976
MS in Computer Science, University at Buffalo, 1987