Tanush Shaska

Infobox Scientist
box_width = 240px
name = Professor Tanush Shaska


image_size = 250px
caption = Rector, University of Vlora
birth_date = birth date|1967|12|3|df=y
birth_place = Vlora, Albania
death_date =
death_place =
residence = White Lake, Michigan, USA
citizenship = USA
nationality = USA
ethnicity = Albanian
fields = Mathematician
workplaces = Oakland University
University of Vlora
alma_mater = University of Florida
doctoral_advisor = Helmut Voelklein
John G. Thompson
academic_advisors =
doctoral_students = S. Wijesiri
notable_students =
known_for =
author_abbrev_bot =
author_abbrev_zoo =
influences =
influenced =
awards =
religion =


footnotes =

Tanush Shaska (3 December 1967) is an American mathematician and scientist who works in the areas of algebraic geometry and computational algebra.

Early years (1967–1990)

Tanush Shaska was born in December 3, 1967 in Vlora, Albania. His family was removed from the city and sent to Kocul soon after his birth. Both his parents were teachers, but were fired by the communist government for political reasons. Tanush completed his elementary education in Kocul and registered in the Gymnazium of Selenica in 1981. He would walk for two hours (each way) every day to go to school. In September 1983, he transferred to the Gymnazium Halim Xhelo in Vlora. During the third and fourth year in high school he won math olympiads in the city of Vlora, but was never allowed to continue in national competitions for political reasons. In June 1985 (17 years old) he graduated with highest honors from the Gymnazium Halim Xhelo. Even though his grades were excellent, he was not allowed to attend the university. He worked in a state farm (the famous "koperativa") until January 1988. During the years 1988-1989 he served in the Albanian army. In September 1990 he was finally allowed to attend the University of Tirana. Tanush was one of the first students to protest against the communist government in December 1990. He was part of the hunger strike against the government in February 1991. In March 1991 he left in a military boat from the port of Vlora and arrived in Monopoli, Italy.

cientific Career

Prof. Shaska graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Michigan in December 1994 and with a PhD in mathematics from University of Florida in March 2001. Since then he has held academic positions at University of California at Irvine, University of Idaho, and Oakland University. Currently he is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Oakland University and Professor of Mathematics at University of Vlora. Starting from 2008, he is serving as Rector of the University of Vlora in Albania.

Most of Prof. Shaska's research activity lies in the field of algebra and its applications. He has written extensively on automorphisms of algebraic curves, cryptography, coding theory, and computational algebra. Prof. Shaska is the founder of Albanian Journal of Mathematics and editor of several other journals.