Theory

Carnegie Mellon University has a strong and diverse group in Theory working across colleges and departments for deep research opportunities.

The goals of the Theory group are, broadly speaking, to provide a mathematical understanding of fundamental issues in Computer Science, and to use this understanding to produce better algorithms, protocols, and systems, as well as identify the inherent limitations of efficient computation. 

Our Theory group maintains strong ties to other areas, such as computer systems, programming languages, and artificial intelligence, and we welcome students who have a combination of theoretical and application-oriented research interests.

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News

Portrait of Yang Liu.

Liu Receives NSF CAREER Award

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Yang Liu, an assistant professor in Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science, has received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award for his research advancing the mathematical foundations of algorithms, optimization and data analysis. Read More
Gates Center viewed from the Pausch bridge on the CMU Pittsburgh Campus

CMU Tops U.S. News Graduate CS Rankings

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Carnegie Mellon ranks first for overall graduate computer science programs, tied with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford University. Among computer science programs, CMU also earned No. 1 rankings in Programming Language, Artificial Intelligence, and Systems, along with a No. 2 ranking in Theory (tied with University of California Berkeley).

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