Manolis Vlatakis comes to UW–Madison from a postdoctoral research position at the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing at University of California—Berkeley after earning his PhD at Columbia University. At UW–Madison he will focus on algorithm analysis, optimization, game theory, dynamical systems, and quantum computing. Of UW–Madison he says, “From the moment I set foot on campus, I instinctively knew this was the right place for me.” Read below about his diverse interests, including Argentine tango, Cretan poetry, and sailing lessons!
Hometown:
I was fortunate to be born and raised in Kareas, a picturesque suburb of Athens, Greece, with roots in the enchanting island of Crete, where I spent my childhood vacations. After completing my undergraduate studies in Greece, my journey took me to the vibrant cities of New York and Berkeley, and now, I find myself in my new academic home, Madison.
Educational/professional background:
I completed my undergraduate studies at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens, working with Prof. Dimitris Fotakis. I then pursued my graduate and PhD studies at Columbia University under the guidance of Prof. Mihalis Yannakakis and Prof. Rocco Servedio. Most recently, I was a postdoctoral researcher at the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing at UC Berkeley, being part of the group led by Prof. Michael Jordan.
How did you get into your field of research?
My journey into research began in high school when I won third place in NASA’s Fundamental Aeronautics International Student Competition for next-generation supersonic airplane design. This experience opened my eyes to a world beyond pure mathematics and physics—a world where these disciplines merge to create knowledge with the potential to transform reality. The economic crisis in Greece further influenced my path, steering me towards computer science—a field where research can thrive even with limited resources, while remaining connected to humanity’s technological progress. I’m driven by the belief that in computer science, all you need is a well-defined problem and the dedication to solve it—a philosophy that continues to guide my work.
What are your areas of focus?
I focus on developing theories that enhance the real-world performance of algorithms and machine learning models. My key areas include algorithm analysis, optimization, game theory, dynamical systems, and quantum computing—each crucial for designing effective data science and AI-driven multi agent systems.
What main issue do you address or problem do you seek to solve in your work?
Inspired by Turing Award recipient Donald Knuth’s maxim, “the best theory is inspired by practice and the best practice is inspired by theory,” my academic goal is to bridge the gap between robust theoretical analysis and practical efficacy.
Historically, theoretical computer science has used worst-case scenarios as a benchmark, assuming that if an algorithm can perform under extreme conditions, it should excel in routine applications. However, many popular heuristics outperform in practice despite weak worst-case theoretical results. This paradox has fueled my research into modeling real-world imperfections and identifying the nuanced structures in problems, often complicated by the presence of multiple agents with diverse and sometimes conflicting incentives in modern AI tasks.
Thus, a core aspect of my work is designing innovative methods and exploring how real-world flaws and interactions influence the empirical performance of algorithms in machine learning and game theory.
What’s one thing you hope students who take a class with you will come away with?
As we step out of the Platonic realm of perfect truths that can explain only idealized worlds, I hope my students will grasp that whether we’re dealing with classical algorithms or modern AI-driven ones, understanding their performance requires appreciating the beautiful imperfection inherent in reality.
The perfect is a guiding star, but true insight comes from embracing real-world imperfections.
What attracted you to UW-Madison?
What initially captivated me about UW–Madison was the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences itself—the alignment of its mission and goals with my own research and teaching passions felt like a natural fit. The university’s international reputation, its rich academic resources, and the stunning beauty of the campus only deepened my interest. Moreover, my commitment to public education made the opportunity to join such a prestigious public university simply irresistible.
What was your first visit to campus like?
My first visit to Wisconsin was for my job interview, and from the moment I set foot on campus, I instinctively knew this was the right place for me. I am always an admirer of inspiring academic architecture—buildings that can ignite creativity in both scholars and students. The new structures, like the Computer Sciences department and the Discovery Building, made me fall in love with the campus even more. But what truly stole my heart was the walk along the stunning lakes surrounding the university. Perhaps it’s because the most significant ideas in science have often been discovered during a beautiful stroll.
What are you looking forward to doing or experiencing in Madison?
In addition to collaborating with colleagues and passionate students, I’m eager to explore Madison’s natural beauty, especially the lakes and trails, and immerse myself in the local culture, from the arts and music to the culinary scene—I’ve heard wonderful things about the city’s rich cheesemaking tradition. But what I’m most looking forward to is my first sailing lesson on the city’s beautiful lake; I can’t wait to experience the tranquility and inspiration that comes from being out on the water.
How does your work relate to the Wisconsin Idea?
Having experienced the economic crisis in Greece, I have always believed that public universities should not only be incubators for developing new scientists but also serve as platforms for fostering new perspectives and solutions to address local societal challenges. One of my goals during my tenure track is to extend beyond the confines of my personal research and explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and medical practice—a field that has become one of my academic hobbies. With UW-Madison housing one of the nation’s top hospitals, the university serves not just the citizens of Wisconsin but the entire country. My hope is that my research in AI-driven multi-agent systems and machine learning-powered medical treatment will lead to new services that will first and foremost benefit the people of Wisconsin.
Hobbies/other interests:
I have a deep love for traditional Greek dances and Byzantine chanting, connecting me to my cultural roots. During my university years, I discovered another passion—Argentine tango. Through tango, I learned the art of mutual respect, the beauty in diversity, and how every mistake can be an opportunity to explore a new path.
Whenever I find the time, I enjoy swimming long distances and cooking for friends and writing mantinades, a form of short Cretan poetry that allows me to express my thoughts and emotions in a uniquely lyrical but laconic way.