Aaron Lauda
Research & Practice Areas
Categorification, representation theory, low-dimensional topology, and topological quantum computation
Center, Institute & Lab Affiliations
- Center for Quantum Information Science and Technology, Member
Biography
Aaron Lauda is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Southern California, studying representation theory, low-dimensional topology, and applications in mathematics and theoretical physics. He holds a joint appointment in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and is a member of the USC Center for Quantum Information Science and Technology. He completed his Ph.D. in pure mathematics in 2006 at Cambridge University, following a master’s degree in Physics from UC Riverside. He spent five years as a Ritt Assistant Professor at Columbia University before joining USC in 2011. Lauda is a recipient of the Sloan Research Fellowship, an NSF CAREER award, and is a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society and the Simons Foundation. From 2017-2020 he directed an NSF Focused Research Grant supporting a collaboration involving a team from USC, UCLA, Caltech, and Columbia. In 2021 he was awarded a Doctorate of Science D.Sci from Cambridge University. Currently he is directing the Simons Collaboration in Mathematical and Physical Sciences New Structures in Low-Dimensional Topology.
Education
- Sc.D. Mathematics, Cambridge University, 2021
- Ph.D. Pure Mathematics, Cambridge University, 2006
- M.S. Physics, University of California, Riverside, 2003
- B.S. Pure Mathematics, University of California, Riverside, 2002
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Tenure Track Appointments
- Professor of Mathematics and Physics & Astronomy, University of Southern California, 11/15/2021 –
- Professor of Mathematics, University of Southern California, 04/2014 –
- Associate Professor of Mathematics, University of Southern California, 11/2013 – 04/2014
- Assistant Professor of Mathematics, University of Southern California, 07/2011 – 11/2013
Research, Teaching, Practice, and Clinical Appointments
- Jerrold E. Marsden Postdoctoral Fellow, Fields institute, Toronto, Canada, Spring 2007
- Ritt Assistant Professor, Columbia University, 2006-2011
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Research Specialties
Categorification, representation theory, low-dimensional topology, and topological quantum computation
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- Doctor of Science (ScD), University of Cambridge, 2021
- Fellow (or Equivalent) of National Society in Discipline, Fellow of the American Mathematical Society, 2019-2020
- NSF CAREER award, 2013-2019
- Mathematics and Physical Sciences-Simons Fellows in Mathematics, 2016-2017
- Sloan Research Fellowship Recipient, 2011-2013
- USC Zumberge Research and Innovation Fund Award, 2012-2013
- Rayleigh-Knight prize, Spring 2005
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Administrative Appointments
- Dean’s Leadership Fellow for the Natural Sciences & Mathematics, 02/16/2019 –
- Member of the Dornsife Committee on Appointments, Promotion, and Tenure (DCAPT), 08/16/2017 –
- Chair, 08/16/2023 – 08/15/2026
- Member of the Dornsife Committee on Appointments, Promotion, and Tenure (DCAPT), 08/16/2023 – 08/15/2024
- Dean’s Leadership Fellow for the Natural Sciences and Mathematics, 08/16/2022 – 08/15/2023
- Vice Chair, 08/16/2022 – 08/15/2023
- Member of the Dornsife Committee on Appointments, Promotion, and Tenure (DCAPT), 08/16/2020 – 08/15/2023
- Dean’s Leadership Fellow for the Natural Sciences and Mathematics, 08/16/2021 – 08/15/2022
- Dean’s Leadership Fellow for the Natural Sciences and Mathematics, 08/16/2020 – 08/15/2021
- Dean’s Leadership Fellow for the Natural Sciences and Mathematics, 02/16/2019 – 08/15/2020
- Member of the Dornsife Committee on Appointments, Promotion, and Tenure (DCAPT), 08/16/2017 – 08/15/2020
Committees
- Member, RTPC Promotions Committee, 2016-2017
- Member, Dornsife College Promotion Committee, 2015-2016
Review Panels
- USC, USC Graduate School Dismissal Panel, 2018-2019