David E. Shaw, whose full name is David Elliot Shaw, is an American computer scientist, entrepreneur, and investor. He is best known for his contributions to the field of computational finance and for founding the investment management firm D.E. Shaw & Co. He was born on March 29, 1951.

Mr. Shaw began his academic career with a strong focus on computer science. He earned his Ph.D. in computer science from Stanford University in 1980, studying under the guidance of computer graphics pioneer Ivan Sutherland. After completing his doctoral studies, he joined the faculty at Columbia University, where he conducted research in computer science and computational biology.

In 1988, David E. Shaw left academia and founded D.E. Shaw & Co., a firm that would go on to pioneer the use of quantitative and systematic approaches to trading and investing. Under his leadership, the firm developed sophisticated computer algorithms and mathematical models to make investment decisions across various financial markets. D.E. Shaw became known for its innovative strategies and its ability to leverage technology in the world of finance.

Mr. Shaw is also known for his involvement in scientific research beyond finance. He has contributed to various fields, including computational biochemistry and molecular dynamics simulations. In 2002, he founded D.E. Shaw Research, a separate company focused on computational biochemistry research. This company has been involved in projects related to understanding the behavior of biological molecules through simulations, which has implications for drug discovery and other scientific advancements.

David E. Shaw’s work and contributions have earned him recognition and awards in both the fields of computer science and finance. He is considered a pioneer in the application of computational methods to finance and has left a lasting impact on both academia and industry.