Andrei Ruckenstein

Ruckenstein joined the faculty of Boston University as Professor of Physics in 2007. He was an Assistant Professor at the University of California San Diego from 1985 to 1988, and an Associate Professor and Professor at Rutgers from 1988 to 2007.

Ruckenstein received his A.B. magna cum laude at Princeton in 1978, and received his M.S. (1981) and Ph.D. (1984) in Physics from Cornell. Additionally, he received a Degree in Music (Conducting/Piano) from the Romanian National School of Music in 1971.

Ruckenstein’s research focuses primarily on three areas: statistical mechanics models of classical computation, strongly correlated systems, and new models for higher education. In the context of computational problems, he has worked to develop a new approach to reversible classical computation by mapping a universal reversible classical logic circuit into a quantum planar vertex model that encodes the result of the computation in its ground state. In addition, he has explored the connection between the problem of single gene transcription and classical computation. In terms of correlated systems, he has investigated models of marginal Fermi liquid behavior at Lifshitz transitions in models of correlated systems, which support the evolution from hole to electron Fermi surfaces. Finally, in his work as a University administrator he has explored new models of Higher Education that can address structural issues with the current model of research-intensive universities.

Ruckenstein is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, a 1994 recipient of the Senior Humboldt Prize, and a Fellow of the Sloan Research Foundation.