Jeff Rickel, 40; Worked on Artificial Intelligence and Taught at USC
Jeff Rickel, a computer scientist at USC who made significant contributions in the field of artificial intelligence, died Sunday of cancer. He was 40.
An assistant professor at the USC School of Engineering’s department of computer science, Rickel also was program director in the intelligent systems division of USC’s Information Sciences Institute.
Rickel was born in Madison, Wis. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M; and a master’s and doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin.
He came to the USC Information Sciences Institute in 1995.
“Jeff’s research on interactive virtual humans was highly influential, and earned recognition and respect around the world,” said W. Lewis Johnson, director of the USC Center for Advanced Research in Technology for Education at the USC Information Sciences Institute.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
