Persi Diaconis

Persi Diaconis
Diaconis in 2010
Born (1945-01-31) January 31, 1945
New York City, US
EducationCity College of New York (BS)
Harvard University (MA, PhD)
Known forFreedman–Diaconis rule
SpouseSusan Holmes
Scientific career
FieldsMathematical statistics
InstitutionsHarvard University
Stanford University
Doctoral advisorDennis Arnold Hejhal
Frederick Mosteller
Doctoral students

Persi Warren Diaconis (/ˌdəˈknɪs/; born January 31, 1945) is an American mathematician of Greek descent and former professional magician. He is the Mary V. Sunseri Professor of Statistics and Mathematics at Stanford University.

He is particularly known for tackling mathematical problems involving randomness and randomization, such as coin flipping and shuffling playing cards.