Anantharam Raghuram, a professor at Fordham University, has been awarded the 2026 Simons Fellowship in Mathematics, enabling him to further his research in a full academic year.
The Simons Foundation has honored Anantharam Raghuram, a professor at Fordham University, with the prestigious 2026 Simons Fellowship in Mathematics. This fellowship provides essential support for Raghuram to extend his research over an entire academic year.
Raghuram, who serves as the associate chair and professor of mathematics at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus, is among 50 mathematicians worldwide selected for this esteemed recognition. The fellowship aims to enhance research productivity by facilitating the transition from a single-term university sabbatical to a full year of uninterrupted study.
His project, titled “Automorphic Cohomology and L-functions,” explores the Langlands program, a comprehensive framework of conjectures that connect number theory with geometry. Raghuram’s research focuses on the special values of L-functions, which are intricate mathematical objects that lie at the intersection of algebra and analysis.
For Raghuram, this fellowship signifies a continuation of a remarkable academic journey that began in India’s premier institutions. Born in 1971 in Bengaluru, he grew up in a middle-class family, with his father working as a chemical engineer for India’s space research organization.
Raghuram displayed exceptional talent from a young age, winning the Karnataka State Mathematics Olympiad in the 11th grade. He later pursued a Bachelor of Technology in computer science and engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, graduating in 1992 with a remarkable second-place ranking in the highly competitive All India Joint Entrance Examination.
Although he initially majored in computer science, a mentor at IIT Kanpur introduced him to the “beauty” of pure mathematics, steering him toward a different academic path. Raghuram earned his doctorate from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai in 2001, where he was awarded the TAA-Harish-Chandra Memorial best thesis award.
Before joining Fordham University in 2021, Raghuram held significant leadership positions in India. He was the first chair of mathematics at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune from 2012 to 2021. Additionally, he contributed to inspiring students across India by presenting and helping produce the documentary “The Genius of Srinivasa Ramanujan.”
Raghuram’s contributions to the field of mathematics have garnered international recognition. He is an elected Fellow of both the Indian Academy of Sciences and the Indian National Science Academy, and he has previously received the Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship.
The Simons Fellowship now allows Raghuram to pursue international collaborations and delve into profound mathematical questions without the limitations of a teaching schedule, further enhancing his research capabilities.
According to The American Bazaar, Raghuram’s achievements reflect his dedication to advancing mathematical knowledge and inspiring future generations of mathematicians.