Katsnelson Lev (1936, Bobruisk) - mathematician and educator.

In 1954, Lev Katsnelson moved to Riga. In 1959, he graduated from the University of Latvia, and in 1968, he defended his doctoral thesis in applied mathematics. From 1959, he worked as a junior and senior researcher, head of laboratory, and head of department at the Computing Centre and the Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Latvia. From 1960, he also taught courses in mathematical modelling, optimisation methods, linear and nonlinear programming, and other subjects at the University of Latvia.

In 1992, he emigrated to the United States, where he continued his research and production work in his field at leading American companies. He was a senior research scientist at Minko Technology Labs (Texas), an expert in mathematical modelling, software for integrated circuit design automation, quality control systems, statistical control methods, and computer system architecture. He developed effective numerical methods for calculating rigid systems of ordinary differential equations, large sparse systems of linear algebraic equations, linear and nonlinear programming, and optimisation with and without constraints. The results of these developments were used as the basis for modelling the architecture of the first Soviet supercomputer, Elbrus. He developed Chebyshev approximations for designing optimal electrical filters. Based on a complete solution to the approximation problem, software was created and implemented, and optimal filters were implemented at the Alfa (Riga), Svetlana (St. Petersburg), and classified (Taganrog) factories. He led a group developing numerical methods and software for modelling the construction of sea vessels. The developed software system was approved as a standard for all shipbuilding enterprises in the USSR. He led a group on the optimisation of semiconductor production. The developed software was used at the Alfa plant for many years. In the United States, he developed and implemented the Six Sigma System, which made it possible to increase the yield of usable semiconductor devices to 99.9997%.

Lev Katsnelson is the author of more than 100 publications in leading international journals in the United States, Germany, Russia, and Latvia and a laureate of the Latvian State Prize (1980) and a member of the New York Academy of Sciences (1996). In 1997, he was awarded an international prize by an international conference for the most outstanding development — the technology for designing high-speed microprocessors.