Raised in Bronx, he went to Bronx High School of Science (diploma, 1942) and New York University.He earned a Ph.D. (1955) from Harvard University on the thesis Contributions to the Problem of Type (on Riemann surfaces) advised by Lars Ahlfors.
He joined Stanford University (1957) where he is now a professor emeritus.At the same place he joined theMathematical Sciences Research Institute (1990).He worked on geometric function theory,differential geometry, the two integrated in a thetheory of minimal surfaces,isoperimetric inequality, and other issues in the areas of astronomy, geometry, cartography and complex function theory.Osserman has also been head of mathematics at Office of Naval Research,a Fulbright Lecturer at the University of Paris and Guggenheim Fellow at the University of Warwick.He has edited numerous books and promoted mathematics, such as ininterviews with celebrities Steve Martinand Alan Alda