Margaret Wright works in the Scientific Computing Department in the Computing Science Research Center at Bell Labs, Murray Hill, New Jersey. Her work involves two parts: basic research into theory and algorithms in optimization and linear algebra; and solution of real-world optimization problems. In her job, the interplay between research and practice goes in both directions. Solving practical problems effectively demands application of her technical knowledge and skills; and the experience of working on a practical problem often inspires fundamental research that moves in new and unexpected directions.
Given a real problem that may be only vaguely defined, a crucial first step for her is to understand the problem's content in terms of optimization; then she tries to express and shape the problem in a tractable form. Margaret is continually fascinated by the process of distilling a real problem into a mathematical model, exploring why it can or cannot be solved, determining algorithms for solving it, computing a numerical solution, testing the accuracy of the solution, and then possibly repeating the same steps for a modified or more complicated problem.
An especially rewarding aspect of her work at Bell Labs is the frequent opportunity for scientific collaborations. She and her colleagues in scientific computing and applied mathematics work together in a wide range of areas, including partial differential equations, linear algebra, optimization, and approximation. In addition, she participates in collaborations involving several disciplines. For example, an ongoing project is developing prediction and optimization tools to help design indoor wireless systems.
Margaret has a Ph.D. and M.S. in computer science from Stanford University with a concentration in numerical analysis, and a B.S. in mathematics, also from Stanford University. Her interest in optimization and real-world problems began when she worked at GTE Sylvania after finishing her Master's; her experiences there provided a first taste of the challenges, rewards, and frustrations of finding a practical solution in a reasonable time while trying to explore underlying mathematical and numerical issues. After receiving her Ph.D., she took a research position in the Department of Operations Research at Stanford, and then joined the staff at Bell Labs in 1988.
She believes that a broad background in mathematics and computer science is essential for an applied mathematician in industry. In her experience, topics that may seem irrelevant in school often turn out to be important later. She would like to see more interdisciplinary courses offered to both undergraduates and graduates, so that students can learn about the mathematics used in other areas and develop an appreciation for the mathematical needs in other disciplines. One of her strongest beliefs is that students should work hard to build communication skills, both written and oral; an ability to convey information clearly and effectively greatly enhances the chances for success in all scientific careers.
In 1994, Margaret was elected as President of SIAM, and took office in 1995. Her activities in professional organizations, especially SIAM, date back to her job at Sylvania, when she started attending meetings and participating in short courses. She views her professional activities as valuable experience and believes that students should become involved early in scientific societies. For people in nonacademic careers, scientific organizations provide a continuing and convenient way to meet colleagues, to share problems and solutions, and to keep up with what is going on in their own as well as related fields.
