Shayan Oveis Gharan: the computer scientist cracking the travelling salesman problem

Shayan Oveis Gharan, a computer scientist at the University of Washington in Seattle, has made a name for himself by refusing to settle for familiar techniques, constantly seeking new mathematical tools to crack hard problems. His work centres on the travelling salesman problem, one of the most famous challenges in combinatorial optimisation and theoretical computer science. Unlike most researchers who master a few trusted methods, Gharan deliberately ventures outside his comfort zone to find fresh approaches.