Igor Sokolov
Igor Sokolov

PhD Candidate in Applied Mathematics and Computational Science

I am currently on the job market for postdoctoral positions and industry research roles starting in 2026.
I am a PhD candidate in Applied Mathematics at KAUST, supervised by Professor Peter Richtárik and affiliated with the Center of Excellence for Generative AI.
My research focuses on optimization algorithms for machine learning. In 2025 I was a research intern at the Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (AIRI), hosted by Alexander Tyurin.
Before my doctoral studies, I completed an MS in Applied Mathematics at KAUST and earned MS and BS degrees in Applied Mathematics and Physics from MIPT.

Interests
  • Optimization for Machine Learning
  • Federated Learning
  • Communication-Efficient Distributed Algorithms
Education
  • PhD in Applied Mathematics and Computational Science

    King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

  • MS in Applied Mathematics and Computational Science

    King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

  • MS in Applied Mathematics and Physics

    Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology

  • BS in Applied Mathematics and Physics

    Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology

7

Publications

300+

Citations

5

h-index

My Research and Hobbies

My research interests lie at the intersection of Optimization and Machine Learning, with a particular focus on Federated Learning and Communication-Efficient Distributed Algorithms. I have contributed to multiple publications at top-tier conferences including NeurIPS and ICML. Additionally, I serve as a reviewer for the TMLR journal and major machine learning conferences including NeurIPS, ICML, and ICLR.

Beyond academia, I am passionate about various activities, including hiking, rock climbing, and mountaineering.