Timothy Cochran

Timothy "Tim" Cochran was a renowned professor of mathematics at Rice University, recognized for his specialization in topology, particularly in low-dimensional topology and knot theory. Born on April 7, 1955, he excelled academically, graduating as valedictorian from Severna Park High School before pursuing his undergraduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and earning his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1982. Cochran's career included significant roles at prestigious institutions, culminating in his full professorship at Rice University in 1998. He made substantial contributions to the field, notably through his work on the solvable filtration of the knot concordance group and the introduction of the "slam-dunk move" in surgery diagrams. A dedicated mentor, he was honored as a fellow of the American Mathematical Society shortly before his untimely passing on December 16, 2014. His legacy continues to influence students and researchers in mathematics, particularly in the areas of knot theory and topology.