We are pleased to announce that Professor Jean Lafont has been recognized as a 2024 Fellow of the American Mathematical Society (AMS). This prestigious honor has been awarded to Professor Lafont in acknowledgment of his significant contributions to the field
of geometric group theory. Professor Lafont's outstanding research, dedication to teaching, and commitment to the mathematical community have earned him this well-deserved recognition.
Professor Lafont completed his doctorate at the University of Michigan in 2002, under the guidance of Ralf Spatzier. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Binghamton University from 2002 to 2005, where he collaborated with Tom Farrell. In 2005, he joined Ohio State
University (OSU) as a postdoctoral researcher to work with Mike Davis, and has since become a valued member of the OSU faculty. He has successfully advised 10 PhD students, mentored 8 postdocs, and served as department chair from 2018-2024. His research was
previously recognized with a Sloan Research Fellowship in 2008, and he was recently awarded his seventh consecutive NSF research grant.
Asked to comment on his research and career at OSU, Professor Lafont says:
“Geometric group theory is a fairly new field in mathematics, having emerged in the early 1980s. It tries to understand groups, which are algebraic objects, by studying the geometry of spaces on which these groups act. I was attracted to this area because
it is highly interdisciplinary, using tools from a wide variety of classical areas of math. This makes it quite fun, as depending on the problem you can find yourself using algebraic techniques, doing analysis, arguing combinatorially, or playing with topological
ideas.
OSU has traditionally had a very strong research group in geometric group theory. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the area, the size of our mathematics department is a definite asset. I’ve particularly enjoyed our robust PhD and postdoctoral programs,
as the presence of young minds and fresh ideas helps keep our group energized. The department is one of the major hubs for mathematical research in the Midwest. With the many visitors that come through to give seminar talks, or to collaborate with colleagues,
the research environment is particularly vibrant. This is a great place to do math!”
Please join us in congratulating Professor Lafont on this remarkable achievement!
Article contributed by Krystal Taylor and updated by Jean Lafont
