Recently, the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) announced its Class of 2025 Fellows. Teng Shang-Hua, an alumnus of the School of Computer Science at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), has been elected as an NAI Fellow.
Alumni Profile:
Teng Shang-Hua
School of Computer Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Class of 1985, B.S. in Computer Science and Technology
Professor, University of Southern California
Biography:
Professor Teng Shang-Hua is an internationally renowned expert in theoretical computer science. He currently serves as a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Southern California and holds the Seely G. Mudd Chair in Computer Science and Mathematics.
In academic research, Professor Teng has produced a remarkable body of work. His research interests span the theoretical analysis of intelligent heuristic algorithms, machine learning theory, and scalable algorithms for big data and network science. In collaboration with Daniel Spielman, he proposed the theory of smoothed analysis of algorithms, a landmark breakthrough that resolved long-standing theoretical questions regarding the efficiency of the simplex algorithm in linear programming. This seminal contribution not only revealed the intrinsic reasons behind the practical efficiency of the simplex method but also advanced the theoretical foundations of linear programming. As a result, he became the first Chinese scholar to receive the Gödel Prize—the highest honor in theoretical computer science—in 2008. Subsequently, Professor Teng led the development of scalable Laplacian solvers, introducing innovative algorithms for the fast solution of large-scale sparse linear systems. These results brought critical breakthroughs to network systems research and earned him the Gödel Prize again in 2015, making him the only Chinese scholar to have received this prestigious award twice.
In industrial practice, Professor Teng has actively promoted the translation of theoretical research into real-world applications. He has collaborated extensively with leading companies including Intel, IBM, Akamai, and Microsoft, contributing to advancements in compiler optimization, internet technologies, and social networks. He holds 15 patents, effectively facilitating the transfer of academic innovations to industry. In 2014, the Simons Foundation awarded him the title of Simons Investigator, recognizing him as one of the most original theoretical computer scientists of our time. His recent research has addressed multiple mathematical problems that have remained open since the 1980s, with a particular focus on complex scenarios involving “multiple agents simultaneously participating in multiple simple games.”
Professor Teng has also maintained long-term and close collaboration with research institutions and scholars in China, contributing to the development of related disciplines domestically. In recognition of these efforts, he received the 2023 CCF Overseas Distinguished Scientist Award.
In addition, Professor Teng has received numerous prestigious honors, including the Fulkerson Prize, the ACM STOC Best Paper Award, the ACM STOC Test-of-Time Award, and the ACM SIGecom Test-of-Time Award. He is a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and a Sloan Research Fellow.
Statement of Acceptance:
“As a researcher in theoretical computer science, it is a great honor to receive such recognition in the field of applied and practical innovation. This distinction reflects the collective wisdom and talent of many engineers and scientists from our partner institutions. It has been my great privilege to work with them. Their spirit of innovation and breadth of knowledge have broadened my perspective and helped me grow into a more rigorous and grounded theorist.”
About the NAI Fellowship:
NAI Fellowship is the highest professional distinction awarded by the U.S. government to emerging inventors. Fellows of the Class of 2025 collectively hold more than 5,300 U.S. patents and include Nobel laureates, recipients of the U.S. National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, as well as members of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Medicine. The newly elected Fellows work across cutting-edge fields such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and regenerative medicine, addressing some of the most critical and urgent global challenges.
Founded in 2012, the NAI Fellows Program has brought together 2,253 leading innovators to date, who collectively hold more than 86,000 U.S. patents and over 20,000 licensed technologies. These innovations are estimated to have generated USD 3.8 trillion in economic impact and created approximately 1.4 million jobs, demonstrating the enduring value of translating scientific research into products and services that benefit society.
Author: School of Computer Science
Contributing Unit: School of Computer Science (School of Cyberscience Security, School of Cryptography)
Editor: Wu Di
Chief Editor: Sun Jia
Translated by: Rebecca
Proofread by: Zara
