Rate Professor Alistair Moffat

Professional Summary: Professor Alistair Moffat

Professor Alistair Moffat is a distinguished academic at the University of Melbourne, Australia, with a prolific career in computer science, specializing in information retrieval and data compression. With decades of contributions to both research and education, he has established himself as a leading figure in algorithmic design and search technologies.

Academic Background and Degrees

Professor Moffat holds advanced degrees in computer science, reflecting his deep expertise in the field:

• PhD in Computer Science, University of Canterbury, New Zealand (1985)
• BSc (Hons), University of Canterbury, New Zealand (1981)

Research Specializations and Academic Interests

Professor Moffat’s research focuses on efficient algorithms and data structures, with particular emphasis on:

• Information retrieval systems and search engine technologies
• Data compression techniques and text indexing
• Algorithm design and performance optimization

His work bridges theoretical advancements with practical applications, contributing to the development of faster and more effective search mechanisms widely used in digital systems.

Career History and Appointments

Professor Moffat has had a long and impactful tenure at the University of Melbourne, alongside other significant roles:

• Professor of Computer Science, School of Computing and Information Systems, University of Melbourne (1998–present)
• Head of Department, Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, University of Melbourne (multiple terms, including 2007–2011)
• Early career positions at various institutions, contributing to teaching and research in computer science

Major Awards, Fellowships, and Honors

Professor Moffat’s contributions have been recognized through numerous prestigious accolades:

• ACM SIGIR Test of Time Award (2012) for impactful contributions to information retrieval research
• Fellow of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) for distinguished service to computing
• Multiple best paper awards at international conferences for innovative research outputs

Key Publications

Professor Moffat has authored or co-authored numerous influential works, including books and highly cited papers:

• ‘Managing Gigabytes: Compressing and Indexing Documents and Images’ (1994, with Ian H. Witten and Timothy C. Bell) – A seminal book on data compression and indexing
• ‘Compression and Coding Algorithms’ (2002, with Andrew Turpin) – A key resource in algorithmic compression techniques
• ‘Inverted Files for Text Search Engines’ (2006, ACM Computing Surveys, with Justin Zobel) – A widely cited survey on text indexing
• Over 200 refereed papers in top-tier journals and conferences such as ACM SIGIR, ACM TOIS, and IEEE Transactions

Influence and Impact on Academic Field

Professor Moffat’s research has significantly shaped the fields of information retrieval and data compression. His work on inverted file structures and compression algorithms underpins modern search engine technologies, impacting how vast datasets are indexed and retrieved efficiently. His publications, particularly Managing Gigabytes, are considered foundational texts, widely used in academia and industry. Additionally, his mentorship has guided numerous students and researchers, fostering innovation in computer science.

Public Lectures, Committees, and Editorial Contributions

Professor Moffat is actively involved in the academic community through various roles:

• Regular keynote speaker and presenter at international conferences such as ACM SIGIR and CIKM
• Served on program committees for leading conferences in information retrieval and algorithms
• Editorial board member for prominent journals, including ACM Transactions on Information Systems (TOIS)
• Contributor to curriculum development and educational initiatives in computer science at the University of Melbourne